Imbuto rewards more girls, guardian angels

A total of 82 female students from Gasabo, Kicukiro and Nyarugenge, the districts that make up Kigali City, who excelled in last year’s national exams were yesterday recognised by Imbuto Foundation at a ceremony held at Nyamirambo stadium.The event was presided over by Education minister, Vincent Biruta on behalf of First Lady Jeannette Kagame, the Imbuto Foundation patron.At the same occasion, 12 Guardian Angels (Malayika Murinzi) were given cows and certificates for showing remarkable compassion and selflessness, by adopting and caring for orphaned children.Those who excelled at primary and ordinary level received certificates as well as bags with scholastic materials, cash and watches, while those who excelled at A’ level received certificates, laptops and money.Nyarugenge district mayor Solange Mukasonga thanked Imbuto Foundation for its continuous concern for Rwanda’s future.She also stressed the importance of awarding the Guardian Angels, saying they are model citizens taking care of children who in no way are related to them.“The Guardian Angels placed enough importance on children, who are Rwanda’s future, to take care of them without asking for help or complaining. They truly deserve to be rewarded,” she said.There was also a discussion moderated by Imbuto role model Germaine Abayezu where parents and children discussed the reasons for poor grades that are still registered by female students.The students blamed it on domestic chores, saying parents still have the mentality that it is the girls who should work. On the other hand, parents blamed the low grades on television and negative groups. The parents berated today’s permissive society, saying without all the ‘immoral ideas being transmitted to their children’, academic standards would not be compromised.However, a teacher from Ecole Notre Dame de Citeaux who asked not to be named, said the problem lies in the increasingly shaky families where some children come from.“Girls are naturally more sensitive than boys. She cannot concentrate in class if she is scared that her parents will divorce at any moment,” the teacher asserted.In his closing remarks, Minister Biruta asked parents to closely monitor their children to avoid them being corrupted by the immoral ideas the parents had pointed out.He also urged them to keep girls in school since most of them dropped out before reaching A level.“A child’s rights, a girl’s rights are never going to be respected in a dysfunctional family. Dignity and claritycomes from the grass roots. It is time we looked at the stem from the roots, not from the branches,” he said.The national campaign to reward best performing female students was launched last Friday by Mrs Kagame, where close to 90 best performing girls from the districts of Musanze, Rubavu, Gakenke, Burera and Rulindo were awarded for their outstanding performance in last year’s national exams. The campaign began in 2005 in an effort to promote girls’ education.Imbuto Foundation aimed to encourages high academic performances among school girls with support fromparents, teachers and local leaders. More than 400 girls will this year be recognised for their performances.

National

Imbuto rewards more girls, guardian angels