{{Rwanda plans to be an orphanage free country. There are over 3, 153 children aged between 0 to 30 years living in 34 orphanage homes. }}

A survey conducted by the National Commission for Children has revealed that 72% of children in the orphanages actually have parents.

It’s against this back drop that Representatives of institutions with children affairs in their docket, are converging in Kigali to brainstorming on ways children can be placed in families.

The children in orphanages have been categorised according to age and those with parents.

According to national children commission, the big number of children have both or either parent, accounting for 72%, and there are 1,000 children totally orphans. 22% are aged between 18 and 30 years.

The commission officials say the children above 18 years should be integrated into Rwandan society, to render their contribution to nation building, while children below 18 years old will be placed in safe families.

Zayina Nyiramatama, the executive secretary of the National Commission for Children, emphasised that Rwandan children don’t deserve to live in orphanages.

“Orphanages will be closed gradually. It will be done with the help of health experts such as psychiatrists, and social workers. We will take time to analyse each children individually, get to know their background and place in appropriate families. We will also monitor them whether they are staying in those families”.

Claudine Nyinawagaga, the country director of hope and homes for children, said that the first phase of placement will be according to their status, that is those with parents or either parent and those without parents.

The last alternative will be adoption when deemed necessary.

“There is what we call international adoption. It comes as a second option, but the first step to have children brought up in families. We have seen that 72% of the children in orphanages have parents or at least one parent, that’s where we are putting our efforts”.

In a move to have ‘orphanage-free’ Rwanda close to 200 children have been placed in Guardian Angels or Malayika murinzi families.