At-Risk Youth Education Sponsorship Program

Dear Friends and supporters, I sincerely hope that you, your loved ones are keeping safe and healthy during this challenging time in Rwanda and across the globe.

No words are adequate to express the gratitude that we, the EDD family feel each time we see the impacts of your generosity  in lives of our beneficiaries, that show us how kind-hearted you are. You will always remain one of EDD’s dearest friends. Below are some of EDD activities that have been going on since January up to now.

1. GRADUATION

On 16^th January 2020, number of 43 kids who have been in our rehabilitation program since 1^st October last year have all graduated as they have successfully completed the rehabilitation program. Partners such as parents of the kids and government officials from different governmental institutions like National Commission for Children (NCC) and National Rehabilitation Service (NRS) as well as local authorities from sector and district level were present for the ceremony. Kids were enthusiastically excited to see themselves having completed the rehab program and going back home with their parent. Upon graduation, We have been able to give them reintegration kits including school materials and uniform and we are very thankful for everyone who contributed for the smooth carrying out of this noteworthy program especially for the successfully reintegration of these kids back into their respective families.

2. NEW CHILDREN RECRUITMENT

In January we also carried out a recruitments of 64 new kids and they came at the center in two groups   where on 20^th January 2020 and 27^th January 2020 we welcomed 35 kids and 27 kids respectively.

Our social workers went to GIKONDO  transit center which is a collection center where all street children are normally gathered from different parts of the sites, In GIKONDO  transit center our social workers went twice to conduct a screening on the first stage of the recruitment process where they identified the age range (10-17), origin of the kids and location of their parents. The social workers introduced EDD to the new children who would join us later then, on second step of recruitment process, there happened a handover between EDD social workers and GIKONDO transit center, and the selected group of kids were brought to EDD guided by social workers. On their arrival at the center they were welcomed by other children and EDD staff team including Executive Director as he introduced himself with the entire staff team and in return he requested new children to introduce themselves mentioning their ambitions and dream for the future. Upon completion of general introduction, they were shown around the center, highlighting on key areas, then after they were distributed into families where they were well welcomed with warm hugs by family mentors.

In Families, new kids were immediately provided the basic need materials such as clothes, shoes and hygienic materials like soaps toothpaste and toothbrushes, after having done a shower they went for lunch with other children as well as staff team in way of continuing to make them get accustomed to the center and feel more well welcomed and safer than they used to be on street or in detention centers. After having lunch there was a time for various educative games and dances just to help them feel at home and more so relaxed. In the following days of welcoming sessions, we conducted a heath check-up as well as general body screening, we also carried out the assessment for the kids education levels just to know their education background.

Currently, kids have already started the journey of healing sessions and now they have completed the diagnostic session whereby our psychologists and social workers with a number of different approaches they facilitated the kid identify, describe and name the real problem that they have been facing as root causes that pushed them to leave them families and join street life as breakout. We are always thankful for your great supports that help us to actualize our mission of transforming street kids into valuable members of society

3. PARENTS PROGRAM

In context of family empowerment, on 27^th February2020 we also carried out parents program whereby parents of the kids in rehab process were invited at the center for sessions like diagnostic where parents were helped to identify and name their own problems as well as signed a therapeutic contract with counsellors and on 13^th March 2020, another session of restoring parental attachment was carried out in the way of building relationship between parents and kids.

4. LOCKDOWN

Since 18^th March we are have been locked down and only essential staff (nurse, counsellors, social workers, cooks and security guards) are on site. We sent as many kids as possible to their families and provided them with ration kits but we still have been left with 26 children whose parents did not come to collect them (or were not in a position of care for them due to domestic violence, alcoholism etc.)

We have trained children and staff on social distancing and regular hand-washing and installed hand –washing stations throughout the center. We also give the children lemon water every day to build up their immunity. So far luckily all of the children and staff are healthy and safe. We are continuing to provide every necessary effort to make sure that kids and staff keep safe and healthy.

Conclusively, thank you for your great generosity, we at Les Enfants de Dieu(EDD) greatly appreciate your assistance and your sacrifice .It is your support that helps us to further our mission of transforming street kids and their parents into valuable members of the society.

Your support is extremely valuable beyond estimation and we wish you to navigate through this global difficult times with strength, safety and innermost peace .

Sincerely ,

Thaddee Nzaramba

Partnerships Coordinator

Les Enfants de Dieu