District to come to rescue of the girl-child

HUYE – The district has unveiled a plan to come to the rescue of the girl-children especially those, who dropped out of school, being used as housemaids, for them to be enrolled in different schools within the district. Speaking after a district security meeting held on Thursday, Mayor, François Uhagaze, explained that the first target will be house helps, minors involved in brick-making and those being used as farm labourers. The Mayor noted that by the end of December, this year, all minors will have been picked out of their ‘jobs’ in order to prepare them for school the following year. Uhagaze, noted that girls are mostly deprived of their right to education and their case needs to be prioritised, adding that those working as housemaids, are exposed to the high risk of being sexually abused by their employers. “They are often sexually abused and impregnated. Such cases explain the high number of street children in towns,” he said. “I think getting them into schools, whether formal or informal is a good way to protect them,” he added. The district will assist teens in their new life by giving them school materials and uniforms as a way of encouraging them to continue going to school. He called upon parents to guarantee the future of their children by registering them in schools. “Enabling children attend school is the best heritage parents can leave with their children. We are encouraging parents and the community at large to heed this call,” said Uhagaze. Ends