UNICEF, Orinfor partner to enhance change

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), yesterday handed over an assortment of media equipment to the public broadcaster, Orinfor, as part of a partnership between the two institutions to carryout educative programmes, aimed at behavioural change among the youth and mothers in the country. The equipment, which included laptops, voice recorders and external hard disks, was handed over to the acting Director General of Orinfor, Willy Rukundo, by UNICEF deputy representative, Deguene Fall. The programmes will include an anti drug abuse campaign, which will bring together 125 children in 25 media clubs across the country, engage seven community radio stations in the drive and also establish a children’s journal. Rukundo observed that the support comes at a time when the government focuses on the youth. “This is a milestone in the struggle to improve the lives of children and mothers,” noted Rukundo. “The equipment will be used to tackle various problems affecting the Rwandan youth, such as drug abuse,” Rukundo stated. “There would be no need of talking about great achievements that Rwanda is registering today, when our children are dying,” he said. “We will use the support for the good of the people, especially mothers and children”. Fall stated that the core business of UNICEF in Rwanda is to ensure that mothers have healthy pregnancy that results into healthy children, who would grow up as good citizens ready to transform the country. “Our core business and transformation cannot be achieved without the media. We will do what we can to ensure that drug abuse is no longer a problem among the Rwandan youth. We can not achieve anything without addressing the needs and also coming up with programmes that tackle the development of young people, said Fall. She said that next year, UNICEF will come up with concrete measures to tackle the development of the youth and fight against drug abuse. “The success of Rwanda is not only for Rwandans but for the entire continent. You have done very well since the tragedy of 1994 Genocide,” Fall, who promised further support, said. “We will do all we can as development partners to make sure that Rwanda continues to shine on the continent”. She urged the broadcaster to provide opportunities and space for communities and local leaders to discuss their problems. bosco.asiimwe@newtimes.co.rw

National

UNICEF, Orinfor partner to enhance change