Canal+ Rwanda donated hygiene supplies and food items to vulnerable mothers last Friday. The organisation supports children through ABATO, which promotes education to improve their living conditions.
The activity was in line with the celebration of the annual International Women’s Day, which is observed on March 8.
According to Sophie Tchatchoua, Managing Director of Canal plus Rwanda, the event was part of the CSR activity of Canal+ International Group which mainly focuses on education, women and environment.
She said that they started working with A-BATO in September 2021 after the launch of a new TV channel, Nathan TV, the first French education channel in the continent introduced to help children comprehend much more of what they learn in school about different subjects taught in a friendly mechanism.
She explained that Canal+ had paid school fees for 20 children studying under A-BATO before extending the initiative to Rwanda. They also gave them different school materials.
“We decided that it won’t be the last initiative and should only be the first,” said Tchatchoua. “If children don’t have any food, they can’t go to school. So, we are supporting them through education, but also with the first needs.”
The Managing Director noted that Canal+ will continue to consult A-BATO in order to meet the needs of children as well as their parents through a long-term partnership that the company is looking forward too.
Clarisse Petit (Human Resources Director at Canal + International), said that the donation was part Of their program, Onfree, which was designed to help people in African Countries. It’s currently expanding and is currently operating in 15 countries, she said.
She added: “Canal Plus is a business company present in many countries in Africa. But we want, as it is done in Rwanda, to help people, not only for business, but also for education, for development of young children, but also for the development of women.”
Samuel Nzeyimana is the Co-founder and Finance Officer at A-BATO. He said that 20 primary school students have been able to study well with Canal+. They also hope to expand the partnership to support secondary school students.
Nathan TV, his TV channel, was a gift that he described as an amazing gift. It is helping the students he leads to learn French and be entertained.
He thanked Canal+ for joining their organisation to celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD) mothers, recognising the role they play in the education of their children.
Representative of the mothers, Alphonsine Nyirahabimana said that they are happy to get the donations and to be celebrated as women. She added that they will be able wash clothes for their children, do dishes, clean up their homes, and cook with dirt-free equipment.
She stated that her child no longer comes home from school without a Canal+ school report because he is now debt-free. This, she claimed, has helped him succeed in his studies.
Canal+ Rwanda is a subsidiary of Canal + International Group. This group is a leader in publishing premium channels and distribution of pay TV offers.
The group is experiencing strong development with a major presence on the Asian, African, and European markets.
editor@newtimesrwanda.com
Source: rnewtimes
