National children’s summit to go provincial

Children leaders answer questions during a recent press briefing

This year’s National Children’s Summit themed: “Children and Self-reliance will be held at the provincial level to encourage open discussion among young children in the rural areas of Rwanda according to the ministry of Gender and Family Promotion.

According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender and Family promotion Henriette Umulisa, the move aims at providing an environment for children to share their views within their community setting, while also engaging local leaders who are directly responsible for supporting them, and implement the children’s summit recommendations.

Over the years, the national children’s summits have been held in Kigali City. This year’s children’s summit which is running for the ninth time will also be attended by children from several countries, including Rwandan children from the Diaspora.

During a press briefing on Thursday November 28, Umulisa said that this year’s summit’s focus is aimed initiating ways of educating the young ones on self reliance as a way attaining development.

“We need to educate the young ones to become self reliant at an early age, and this is the responsibility of the community especially the parents. That is the only way we will instill a culture of self reliance among Rwandans in the future,” she said.

The Executive Secretary of the National Children’s Council Zaina Nyiramatama said that the government is working on new initiatives of guiding young Rwandans and especially promoting their rights.

Some of the current initiatives include developing a child and family law, education on being proud to be Rwandan and encouraging them to have income generating activities at an early age.