About 2,200 adults that learnt reading, writing and counting and passed well in Gakenke district were on Wednesday 15th.May.2013 given certificates of performance.
The District Mayor Deo Nzamwita says in 2011, 13percent of the district’s populations, about 18, 000 people were illiterate.
A Catholic Church bishop awarding certificates
This number has slightly reduced and only 5000 people remain illiterate. The district’s goal is to have no illiterate people by 2014. The newly learned adults were asked to keep upgrading themselves through reading different things like bibles, newspapers and available books.
The mayor of the district appreciated the role of church leaders and volunteers that played a part in tutoring these adults. Church leaders provided rooms for tutoring in churches, in schools and even cell’s offices were used for volunteers to teach the adults.
The Bishop of Ruhengeri Diocese Vincent Harorimana who was in attendance of this function that represented the Bible Society in Rwanda says a lot of efforts has been put in fighting poverty and illiteracy in Rwanda therefore people should make use of them.
Adults in the above photograph can now read and write
Bible Society in Rwanda distributed about 190 bibles in the district. The bishop reminded people especially those who were given the bibles that good souls makes good body and asked them to read bibles so often to get used to reading and to have good souls.
“When you have a will and you’re courageous, age cannot stop you from learning” said Philomene Mukahirwa a 36 year old and one of the adults who got certificates.
For Daniel Girukubonye a 70 year old man, “education is not only for the young, with hard work and the need to study, you learn. I can now read the bible and other books, a thing that was a dream before.”
In the same function, World Vision Organization gave out about 7000 lamps with solar system to help pupils read at home and do their homework.