From 28 August to 02 September 2025, the National Child Development Agency (NCDA), in collaboration with the National Electoral Commission and Local Government, organized the Children’s Forum Committee elections which took place from the village to the provincial and City of Kigali level. 

With the overarching goal of giving children a platform to express their views on issues that affect them, the Children’s Forum Committee play a vital role in strengthening child participation in national development. The elections create a meaningful space where children’s voices are heard and respected, ensuring that decision makers consider their views by upholding the principle of the best interests of the child.

At each level the elected committees are composed of six members who are the president, the vice president, the secretary, two advisors and the representative of children with disabilities.

Campaigning for different positions, children’s agenda focused on upcoming with solutions to underlying challenges affecting them. Among the challenges, include violence against children, school dropout, street children phenomenon, child labour and discrimination against children with disabilities among others.

Isimbi Kellia, the President of the Children’s Forum Committee in the City of Kigali, pledged to advocate for her fellow children and promote their talents. She also praised the platform, noting that it will help her strengthen the leadership skills she has long aspired to develop.

The elected children's forum committees at Provincial level and City of Kigali

Other key plans that were raised by children during the campaign are establishing children’s evening sessions (Umugoroba w’abana) and promotion of children’s talents as well as introducing platforms to support vulnerable children.

The elections of children’s committee at district level in Gasabo District were attended by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Uwimana Consolee,  NCDA Director General Ingabire Assumpta and District Executive Director Bayasese Bernard. 

In her remarks, Minister Consolee urged the elected committee to fulfil the responsibilities they were entrusted with and reflect good image among peers. She called on them to embrace patriotism and commit to serve the country.

Children’s Forum is a platform where children channel their views which are also considered into government priorities.

The elected committees serve as the national voice for children and a channel where children can express their views on national issues and their implementation by ensuring children’s participation. They are also structures where children are trained with leadership and socialization skills at their early age.

This year’s elections were particularly significant as they were the first to be conducted under the new Ministerial Guidelines regulating Children’s Forums. The updated framework expands the structure of these forums to include provincial committees, the City of Kigali committee, and the national committee, thus providing a more inclusive and coordinated approach to child representation. The election of the National Children’s Forum Committee is scheduled for December 2025, during the school holidays.