Communities provide a bigger family for orphaned children in Rwanda
Hanna Frejd, UNICEF
© UNICEF/2009/Frejd
Clementine, age 18, and her sister, both HIV-tested and safe in eastern Rwanda.
RWANDA (March 3, 2009) — Bamporeze is a non–governmental organization that started a community–based protection program for children orphaned by AIDS in Rwanda soon after the genocide, in 1995. Around 150,000 people live with HIV in Rwanda; 19,000 of them are children.
Clementine, age 18, lives in eastern Rwanda and has been deeply affected by HIV/AIDS.
“My parents died from an AIDS–related illness a few years ago,” she said, “but no one told us what they had or that we, too, should be tested.”
Clementine and her siblings were tested and now have a larger group they can rely on—an extended "family" consisting of members of the community, mobilized by Bamporeze, who found out about Clementine and her siblings after their parents died.
Community support for orphans
While working with orphans, Bamporeze realized that foster families were not sustainable for all the orphans.
“There were just too many orphans,” said Bamporeze founder and coordinator Jeanne D’Arc Muhongayire. “So we decided to see how we could work with the whole community to try to rebuild children’s lives to create a feeling of a common responsibility for orphans.”
To create this larger family, Bamporeze, with support from UNICEF, helped orphaned children continue their education, learn skills and access information on reproductive health and life skills. Children in Clementine’s area also started their own agricultural cooperative to earn income to buy books, medicines and clothes. Bamporeze helped them find mentors who could be like parents to them.
A mentor to serve as parent
“When Clementine and her siblings lost their parents, they were initially isolated from the other families,” said Patrick, who works with Bamporeze. “This happens to other children as well, and as their homes are spread out, it is hard to reach all of them to tell them that they are not alone.
© UNICEF/2009/Frejd
Clementine’s home in Rwanda; both of her parents died of AIDS–related illnesses several years ago.
“In fact,” Patrick continued, “I spend a lot of my time walking from one children’s household to another to ensure that all are registered with us and have access to the services. I then selected a mentor from the village—a person they trust and think can give them the support they need.”
“Our mentor comes to visit us every day,” said Clementine. “I talk to her about anything and she has introduced me to other children like us. It is good to know that we are not alone.”
Government bears responsibility
Bamporeze’s community–based program for orphans has succeeded in registering every orphaned child with local authorities.
“This means that local government now also knows about these children and bears responsibility for their well–being,” said the Head of UNICEF Rwanda’s HIV and AIDS Section, Bernardine Mukakizima.
“Bamporeze has helped initiate a program that serves as an example to other communities in this country,” she added. “We don’t have to wait for foster families or adoptions or even rely on them, if a community is mobilized and feels a sense of ownership for its children, then orphaned children around this country will know that they are not alone.”
