Toronto-based charitable organization, Sleeping Children Around the World (SCAW), has partnered with the Rotary Club Kigali Virunga (RCKV) to donate 5,000 bed kits to underprivileged children in Rwanda. The joint effort involves distributing these kits across five districts—Kamonyi, Gicumbi, Rwamagana, Bugesera, and Gasabo—from October 2 to October 4.
The beneficiaries, children aged 6 to 12, with an equal gender split, each receive a bed kit containing a mattress, bedsheets, blankets, clothing, shoes, a school bag with books, a mosquito net, and a plastic bath basin.
The distribution is a collaborative initiative, with volunteers from both SCAW and RCKV, along with district officials, ensuring that these essential items reach the children who need them the most.
Fred Bushayija, Corporate Services Division Manager of Kamonyi District, expressed gratitude for the initiative, stating, “Producing bed kits locally provided employment and ensured that they went to families in need. These kits are not affordable to everyone, so the benefiting districts appreciate the support.”
Dr Doug MacDougald, head of traveling volunteers from SCAW, highlighted the organization’s 53-year history of distributing over 1.7 million bed kits globally. In their first distribution in Rwanda, partnering with RCKV, they aim to provide better sleep, protection from mosquitoes, and improved learning conditions for children.
MacDougald explained, “The bed kits are donated by Canadian contributors, and our volunteer efforts ensure that 100% of the donated funds go directly to the child and their family. We hope this contributes to a better life for these children, and we plan to return next year to address ongoing needs.”
Livingstone Nkuusi, President of RCKV, emphasized the importance of the bed kits, containing 10 essential items that enable children to have a good night’s sleep and attend school with renewed energy. The club plans to extend its initiatives beyond Gicumbi and focus on empowering impoverished families to establish small businesses for sustainable income generation.
Repost from article by Heritier Bahizi on Wednesday, October 04, 2023