Tubarerere mu muryango (TMM)
The government of Rwanda is deeply committed to ensuring that all children can grow up safe and protected in families. In collaboration with UNICEF, it has established the Tubarerere Mu Muryango (TMM - Let’s Raise Children in Families) programme to ensure that all children living in institutional care in Rwanda are reunited with their families or placed in suitable forms of family-based alternative care. The TMM programme began in May 2013: Phase 1 was evaluated in 2017 using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to consult 289 individuals.
TMM PROGRAMME BRIEF
The Tubarere Mu Muryango /Let’s Raise Children in the Family (TMM) is a Rwanda national program that was established to implement the Strategy for National Child Care Reform (2012). The Strategy originated from children of Rwanda, during the 7th National Children’s Summit in early 2012, when they stated their wish to see every child in Rwanda growing up in a loving and protective family. Thus, the Government of Rwanda made a strong commitment to transform Rwanda’s child care and protection system into a family-based system of care. The Strategy details how children living in institutions should regain their right to be raised in a safe and supportive family environment and is grounded in Rwandan culture.
Prior to the initiation of the TMM programme, there were a substantial number of children in institutional care in Rwanda: a survey in 2012 found 3,323 children and young adults in 33 government-registered facilities. Global evidence indicates that the use of such large-scale institutions can be profoundly harmful to children, leading to developmental delays, lower levels of intelligence, problems forming relationships, and exposure to abuse and neglect. The potential harm caused by institutional care is exacerbated by low-quality care, and in Rwanda indicators such as low carer-to-child ratios suggest poor quality care in many facilities.
The TMM programme builds on existing government commitment to close down institutions and strengthen family-based care, which is reflected in a number of policy documents. National policy is in keeping with global guidance, which also calls for the development of alternatives to institutional care and the prioritization of support to families. Both UNICEF and the government acknowledge that care reform is neither a simple nor a quick process, and that it requires a substantive programme of work carried out effectively and in a manner that respects the best interests of the child.
Both UNICEF and the government of Rwanda recognize the importance of developing a wider child protection system that addresses all forms of abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence. Such a system requires laws and policies, an effective social workforce, strong community structures, and supportive attitudes and social norms. The TMM programme and care reform is being used as an effective catalyst for wider improvements in child protection. It is implemented by the Government of Rwanda in partnership with UNICEF and different NGOs with financial support from USAID.
The documents uploaded below provide more information about the programme.
2. TMM Summary Evaluation Phase I
3. Programme Brief on building Social Workforce
6. Operational Guide for Inclusive children's reintegration