GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, July 13, 2018 – In an effort to support early childhood development in Rwanda, the Tamari Foundation in partnership with Imbuto Foundation and in collaboration with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda officially inaugurated on Monday, July 9, 2018, an Early Childhood Development (ECD) Center in Karambi Cell, Rutsiro District.
The Karambi ECD Center started receiving students back in January 2018. It now serves 120 children aged between three and six along with their families. Over 300 other children are served as well from home-based clusters.
The facility, which is located near Rwacof’s coffee plantations and washing stations, has three stimulation rooms, a kitchen, sports facilities, among others. Fifty children of the growers who supply coffee to Rwacof already go to the ECD Center.
“Today, it is an honor for us to inaugurate Karambi children a place where they can flourish, thanks to our trained caregivers,” said Sandrine Umutoni, the Director General of Imbuto Foundation during the inauguration ceremony.
In turn, Della Tamari – the Vice President of Tamari Foundation, delivered a speech whereby she highlighted the importance of education and its essential role in improving the livelihoods of the future generations.
“Engage, educate, empower. These three words incarnate beautifully the incredible mission of the Imbuto Foundation. Faithful to the vision of the First Lady and under her guidance, the Foundation has been constantly working to improve the lives of the Rwandese,” said Ms. Tamari.
Imbuto Foundation, an initiative of the Rwandese First Lady Jeanette Kagame, and Tamari Foundation, established by Mr. Abdallah W. Tamari – the Founder of Sucafina, and Mrs. Samia Tamari , aim through this program to provide children with comprehensive services, which start from a mother’s early pregnancy stage, up until the age of six, including the provision of health, nutrition, early learning and protection services to families and children. The goal of the program is to develop the child’s physical, mental, intellectual and social growth.
It is worth noting that the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda also contributed to the establishment of the Center as part of its continued support of early childhood development and promotion of healthy communities.
With the help of Imbuto Foundation and the engagement of Kahawatu Foundation, Sucafina’s Sustainability implementer, a holistic approach will be encouraged and pursued to make a difference in the daily lives of farmers, in order to improve their living standards, which will in return impact their lives and the lives of their children.
Watch the report aired by Kigali Today TV on this project:
About Tamari Foundation
Abdallah W. and Samia Tamari created this Foundation out of a personal passion and vision for active philanthropy which they both experienced in a deeply rich way within their education and upbringing. The mission of the Tamari Foundation is to offer a catalyst for change and the keys to knowledge through a variety of educational initiatives and projects focusing on human well-being within developing nations. This is done with the intent of creating a lasting culture of responsible citizenry through impacting one life at a time. Learn more at http://tamarifoundation.ch/about-us/
About Imbuto Foundation
In 2001, Protection and Care of Families against HIV/AIDS (PACFA) was established as a project under the Office of the First Lady, to mobilize resources desperately needed in the fight against HIV/AIDS. This initiative primarily focused on providing a holistic approach for dignified lives of families, including women deliberately infected with HIV/AIDS during the Genocide against the Tutsi. Over the years, PACFA grew to embrace more programs and in 2007, it changed its name to Imbuto Foundation to reflect its evolution and new fields of activity, through programs in health, education, youth, and economic empowerment. Learn more at http://www.imbutofoundation.org/
About Kahawatu Foundation
Kahawatu Foundation is a private Foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Foundation was established in 2012 to respond to the decreasing productivity and quality of coffee in East Africa and to address subsequent socio economic consequences. Learn more at: www.kahawatu.org