Child Poverty

Hannah Project in Byumba

Hannah Ministries is an organization in the diocese of

Byumba which works with children at risk: orphans, children

infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, children living in "child led"

households, and street children. Originally set up by

Josephine Mujawiyera, wife of Archbishop Onesphore Rawje,

the work was subsequently led by Victoire Uwamaliya, wife

of Bishop Emmanuel Ngendahayo, after he became Bishop

of Byumba in 2011.

Sadly Victoire tragically died in May 2015. The Diocese of

Byumba has set up a Victoire Foundation in her memory to

continue to support those vulnerable members of society

who find it most difficult to support themselves. More funds are urgently needed to save more lives. Sadly the income has reduced in recent years.

Rwanda Direct sends regular support to Hannah Ministries.

The Hannah Project supports "child led" households to access:

• Education

• Food

• Medical Expenses

• Vocational Training

• HIV/AIDS Care & Counselling

• Self-sustainable development

The Hannah Project raises awareness of the children's problems with other community members and advocates for their rights to be protected. It has organized voluntary committees to protect the children at sector administration unit level i.e. local government. It has created and supported exchange forums and mutual counselling between children and adults.

In 2012 Victoire asked the children to define their needs as they perceived them. 4 categories were identified and the Hannah Project endeavoured to help as below

Agriculture/animal rearing

Enabled 620 child headed families to apply modern farming and soil erosion practices by:

Increasing land productivity by rotationally distributing 620 animals: 20 cows, 300 goats and 300 chickens.

Enabling these families to cultivate selected seeds for vegetables and cereals

Trading

Enabled 620 child headed families to be involved in small business by:

Improving their access to the means of production.

Offering technical training leading to new employment opportunities.

Build own house

Hannah Project constructs and repairs houses for extremely needy families

Continue studies

To improve kindergarten learning for 240 children.

To increase access to vocation skills for 20 families in youth vocational training centres.

To provide 99 families with learning materials in kindergartens

Scripture Union Street Children Programme

Scripture Union Rwanda is running a project helping children who are at risk. This project started in 2009 and is caring for 31 children.

2 types of children are supported:

children taken from the streets who were spending the whole day begging, just returning to their families/relatives at night the street being the major part of their lives
children from the poorest families who are not able to cover basic needs like food, clothing and school fees.

Summary of SU actions in support of these Vulnerable Children:

Everyday care such as giving them food, paying school fees, giving them school materials, paying for simple medical treatments
Monthly parents meetings
Support to children in lessons teaching and helping them to do home work
Visiting the children at their schools
Organizing field trips and Sunday school attendance for the children
Playing with the children, various games during the day
Providing activities on Saturdays e.g. showing films, playing, sports club and so on
Helping children in spiritual life through teaching the word of God using various materials books.
Visiting them at home with their parents once per week
Teaching them general life skills.