Government institutions and Faith-Based Organizations operating in Rwanda have agreed to strengthen partnership in the fight against issues hindering the development of families in Rwanda. This followed a consultative meeting held at Kigali Marriott Hotel on October the 3rd, 2017, that discussed the role of faith-based organizations in family development.
The meeting was in line with one of the recommendations of the 14th National Dialogue Council which called for broad partnership in addressing issues hindering family development.
The establishment of a family development forum that brings together government institutions and religious organizations was one of the recommendations from the one-day meeting.
The meeting also recommended that religious organizations should include family development in their plans of action.
The need for religious organizations to play a greater role in family development was emphasized by different speakers. Prof Anastase Shyaka the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Governance Board (RGB) emphasized that churches should be a link between spiritual principles and real life.
Esperance Nyirasafari, the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion stressed the need to strengthen the fight against family-related problems noting that though the country has achieved a lot in various domains challenges still remain.
“We still have cases of gender-based violence, violence and rape against children, malnutrition, poor hygiene, street children and children dropping out of schools,” Minister Nyirasafari said.
“With the help of religious organizations that are strewn in all corners of the country, together we can address these challenges,” she added.
Various Church leaders who spoke at the meeting agreed that religious organizations can play a vital role in family development.
“This meeting has noted with concern that there are 1000 orphan children who are yet to get foster families, if we church leaders owned up this issue, we would mobilize our followers and all these children would be in families in a matter of days,” said Bishop Alexis Birindabagabo, of Gahini diocese.
The consultative meeting on the role of religious organizations in family development was attended cabinet members; Julienne UWACU, the Minister of sports and culture, Dr Alvera Mukabaramba the Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Isaac Munyakazi the Minister of State in the Ministry of Education
Source: www.rgb.rw