More than 50 young children aged between 3 and 22 are selected after showing their talents during competitions organized by Partners Churches of Compassion International-Rwanda. The competitions included athletics, music, Bible knowledge, poetry and eloquence.
Sports clubs in Nyaruguru district have just selected some of these young talents. Cédric Tuyisenge, 19, is one of the sportsmen who now belong to the district athletics club. He excels in the long jump.
Uwase Déborah, aged 8, is studying in a primary school in the Cyahinda sector. She has shown that she is good in the 100-metre race.
“My parents and other children in my school tell me that I am very fast in the race. Before I didn’t pay any special attention to it. Now the district authorities see it too. I am confident that I will be followed. Later I will be known all over the country,” says Uwase in her shyness.
“I can easily jump up to 6 metres in length. Today, because of stress, I did 5.69 metres. My wish is to continue training. The goal is to reach the highest level,” says Tuyisenge.
The director of Youth and Sports in Nyaruguru district, Théogène Muhoza, said he was surprised by the good level of sport of the young people who participated in these competitions.
“We found particular talents in these children. Some of them are even stronger than those who are already in the clubs of the district. (..). All of them will be reintegrated into the district’s sports clubs so that they have the space to develop their talents. In collaboration with other partners, this detection program should continue even beyond Compassion International,” says Director Muhoza.
The district coordinator of Compassion International’s activities, Victor Masengesho, says the ultimate goal of the talent-spotting program is to make these children more successful.
“It is about detecting the presence of particular talents in young children to enable them to receive targeted training. The aim is that these children will later become champions in the areas in which they excel,” says coordinator Masengesho.
For this non-governmental organization (NGO), every child must be known, loved and protected. Thus, in its annual program called “talent detection,” Partners Churches of Compassion International-Rwanda organize competitions for more than 5,000 children. These children benefit from its support in the Nyaruguru district. The winners receive gifts. The aim is to educate young people, from early childhood, in competition. They are encouraged to reach the top of their abilities.
This talent identification program started in 2019. With the Covid-19 pandemic, it was not possible to encourage the selected children to go further. For the future, Masengesho promises a scrupulous follow-up of the talents.
Domice Gasarabwe & Gerard Rugambwa
