18 year aged Innocent Nsabimana, a resident of Rukura cell, Gashenyi sector in Gakenke district said he quit school due to severe punishments from his teacher.

Nsabimana Innocent on his bicycle

Nsabimana Innocent, who is a bicycle rider at base trading centre and a retailer at Base market, narrates: “My teacher used to beat me so much and sent me for my parents one day, but when I told my parents they beat me as well.”

Nsabimana says he was in primary four when he dropped out of school. He went to Kigali city to look for money but he agrees knowing how to read and write.

Nsabimana reveals that although he was in school, he loved working for money and to him, beating paved his way to looking for money.

However, Nsabimana regrets dropping out of school saying he would be a secondary school leaver and hoping for a better future.

Ndikumana, a primary school teacher applauds the government that banned beating children in schools, because some teachers forced some children to leave school through severe beatings.

He adds that it’s good to advise a child or punish in another way because canning breaks the bone but does not change behavior.  

The historically marginalized in Rusatira sector in Huye district that are in 22 families have been given houses for accommodation and 13 of them provided with domestic animals including cows.

Arsène Kabalisa the executive secretary of Rusatira sector said that apart from the cows which could not be given to all people, the sector administration is going to give all of them pigs to rear. Only one family of these 22 families which is of the Islam will be given a goat instead of a pig.

Kabalisa said, “We looked for the money to buy them pigs now we have it. Some of them have already finished building kraals where to keep these pigs and others are still building them and when they are all done we will take them to Rugogwe market and get them their pigs. We will buy them matured pigs which will have piglets soon so as to get out of poverty quickly.”

Rachel Uwizeyimana a historically marginalized who is a resident in Macunda village in Rusatira sector appreciated the cow she was given and hopes to be provide for herself with the help of her cow in the near future.

“With the pigs that will be given to us soon, I believe I will be able to get school uniform for my brother who is out of the school now and slowly, I will be able to fight against poverty.” She said.

Street children being housed in Cyanika Sector, Burera district

Following increasing number of street children that have been loitering around Cyanika boarder streets, on 9^th May 2012 the police gathered 23 children that they found idle and are currently begin taught discipline.

Cyanika Sector Executive secretary Jean Marie Vianney Nkanika said that the operation is meant to instill discipline into those streets children who most of the times have gone out of control of their parents.

Of the 23 children, 8 of them are primary school defaulters and the rest are complete school dropouts.

In an interview with one of the children aged 15, he said that he left school to begin smuggling at the boarder as it earns quick money.

Most of these children are often found carrying luggage and other smuggling despite their tender age since the eldest of the 23 is 19 years old.

Through partnership of Rwanda police and local leaders in Cyanika sector, resolutions were made to curb down street children proliferation by establishing communal discussion tables with the culprits’ parents as explained by Nkanika

In the year 1994, Rwanda faced one of the worst human tragedies in the history. Over a million Tutsis were massacred in just a hundred days.

Repercussions of such an experience are diverse and challenging; one of them is raising orphans whose parents were victims of that deadly act.

In an event to mourn genocide victims this year 2012, Gisagara district IBUKA coordinator raised concerns about genocide orphans social needs. This event took place on 20^th April 2012 with residents of Mugombwa, Muganza and Mukindo sectors present.

Mr Emmanuel Nshimiyimana the IBUKA representative said that “Orphans live in their homes alone, which houses they close for 3 months while they left for school. On their way back from school, they are entangled in loneliness, insufficient funds and sorrow of their lost dear ones.”

“They too need to have child basic necessities and counselling services.” Added the representative

Such problems have often let down performance in class thus living them with low grades to pursue further in education under both government and FARG sponsorship.

Minister of sports and culture, Protais Mitali who was the chief guest responded to the posed wishes by saying that he will do advocacy for them wherever possible.

He also reminded all Rwandans that such Orphans’ problems should be a responsibility of every Rwandan as the government can never solve them alone.

A 14 years old Nteziyaremye Vincent from Rulindo district, in Shyorongi sector of the Northern Province decided to join street life in Ruhango district of the southern after being expelled from school for not availing a school uniform.

The poor Nteziyaremye accuses his parents for having rejected his rights to education by not buying him a school uniform which made him decide to run to another province to find his way of life that made Nteziyaremye former student to street child.

The parents of Nteziyaremye are said to be Habyarimana Francois and Mukamugemana Annunciate both dwellers of Rulindo district in the Northern Province of Rwanda.

Nteziyaremye explained that he left his home and went to Ruhango district in the southern province where he got a house work in Ntenyo cell, Ruhango district.

However poor Innocent Nteziyaremye reiterated that his employees would harshly beat him adding that this let him leave the place and joined other street children.

Nteziyaremye collects used aluminum materials in Ruhango district and sells them earning at least 200-400 RFW on which he depends for his survival.

“There is no good with street life, if I get a good Samaritan to take me at school i can immediately” he said.

Ruhango district authorities have continuously urged parents to protect their children preventing them from street life. However some children have remained at the streets despite joint efforts of rescuing them and reintegrating some with their guardians.

Health officials in Rulindo district have vowed to fight the continuing pregnancy problem in high schools which disrupts studies of teenage girls and their general livelihood.

Gato F, in charge of AIDS control.

The disclosure was made this Tuesday 21/02/2012 by Gato Fredrick in charge of Aids control while addressing a one day meeting on social wellbeing of Rulindo residents.

He revealed that teenage pregnancies are not only a burden to the bearers but also to the family and the country in general, “ when a girl gets pregnant while at school , it discourages her hope and her future life and also causes burden to her family and the country .” said Gato.

Mr.Gato went on to say that through pregnancies most of teenage girls are likely to acquire HIV/Aids which he said to be the most worrying epidemic that hinders the countries development.

Parents and all responsible citizens were urged to be committed in the fight against teenage pregnancies saying that teenagers are the future of Rwanda.

According to the recent research, statistics indicate that at least 14 young girls got pregnant both in high and the 12 years basic education last year.

Jean D’ Amour  , a district official in charge of health said that most cases related to pregnancies and sexual affairs were found to be common in day scholars hence urging parents and authorities to be alert making sure that students reach at school on time as well as a safe and timely back home.