The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) “Compassion International-Rwanda,” with the collaboration of the district authorities, has just organized a symposium on the coordination of child protection activities in Nyaruguru. The role of each actor was examined with a fine-tooth comb, with a view to eliminating all forms of violence against children.
Violence against children inhibits their development. It hinders their learning abilities and compromises their school performance.
Civil and security authorities at district level and from 11 sectors in Nyaruguru met last week. They participated in a colloquium on the coordination of their child protection actions.
Compassion International remains convinced of the need to act in concert with the administrative and security authorities. “We carry out activities to protect children from all forms of violence. To achieve this goal, we work with the authorities. Self-evaluation of our activities is a regular process because every child must be known, loved and protected,” says Pastor John Nkubana, national coordinator of Compassion International-Rwanda’s activities.
The Vice-Mayor of Social Affairs of Nyaruguru district, Colette Kayitesi, does not hide her appreciation for the services of this NGO. “With Compassion International, we have a perfect partnership. We consult each other every time for the selection of the most vulnerable children to be assisted. It is a large partner that intervenes in 11 sectors of the district,” she says.
However, the role of the parents remains crucial, especially the father. “Both parents must work together to protect their children. In particular, the father must play his role as a father,” says Colette Kayitesi. “The education of the child from an early age is not the business of mothers alone,” she insists.
The protection of the child is based first of all on the knowledge of his or her rights from the family to the district level, according to the executive secretary of the Cyahinda sector, Yvette Nirere. She recounts the responsibility of the authorities participating in this colloquium.
“The protection of the child must first start in the family. It is therefore up to us to pass on our knowledge to parents as well as to our collaborators who are in charge of the cells and villages,” Nirere said.
According to Victor Masengesho, coordinator of the NGO’s activities in Nyaruguru district, Compassion International-Rwanda currently assists 5021 children.
Currently, at national level, the organization supports more than 106,000 children. They come from the most vulnerable families in the country’s 30 districts. The budget for 2020/2021 was more than one billion three hundred million Rwandan francs (1,300,000,000 Frw).
Domice Gasarabwe & Gerard Rugambwa
