New initiative to support foster parents

Homes for Children, a local organisation, working in partnership with the government to integrate children from orphanages into families, has launched an initiative to facilitate the process. One of the main key challenges cited in the ongoing orphan integration programme is the capacity of certain families to sustain children in their new homes.The initiative is designed to build the capacity of affected families.“If we are not capable of handling these children with the care that any other child deserves, we are automatically getting it wrong and this calls for an urgent response if we are to build a strong foundation for the children into our families, observed Bridget Hitimana, the Homes for Children`s Community Development Officer. She noted that after children spend many years away from their families or in orphanages, there is a possibility of them developing certain bad attitudes and behaviours. She attributed this to the children having grown up in totally different backgrounds which affect their social interactions. “We look forward to linking the two parties in a way that encourages them to accommodate each other with the long term goal of making the children become law abiding citizens,” she said.The launch saw the training of family heads ready to adopt children from the three sectors of Gikondo, Gatenga and Kigarama in Kicukiro District.The Executive Secretary of the National Children’s Commission (NCC), Zaina Nyiramatama, yesterday said the integration exercise is progressing well.She pointed out that between last year to May this year, at least 622 children had been integrated into families.“As we continue with the exercise, we are also putting in place monitoring mechanisms to ensure that these children are not only safe but also work to prevent new abandonment.” Nyiramatama added that the commission has partnered with other stakeholders to ensure that support is provided to families that have taken over children.