Christmas Appeal
This Christmas we are appealing for support for children in primary education.
Reintroducing children to education is a key step in rehabilitating children who have been on the street – and in fact lack of opportunity to go to school is a significant factor in many children leaving home for the streets in the first place. So enabling children to continue through at least Primary school is an important strand in their continuing support. And of course primary education is a foundation for not just continuing education, but for life.
There are no fees for primary education in Rwanda, but families must pay for uniforms, books and learning materials and there are other contributions levied by the schools. This is often beyond the means of families where children have been reintegrated. This has been exacerbated by the economic impact of lockdown, which though lifted now caused dire difficulties for many poor families in urban areas.
It costs £30 to send a child to primary school for a year, and our partner SACCA is looking to support at least 117 children in this way.
· £5 pays for a uniform
· £12 for books and materials for the year
· £13 for school levies
Primary schools reopened in Rwanda for years 4 – 6 on 2 November for the first time since lockdown in March. And for younger children schools will reopen early in the New Year.
Primary education is such a basic building block in children’s lives – help support our appeal by donating at Campaign Donations
And buy the Christmas present of a child’s education for this coming year in our online shop – a card will be sent to your friend or relative explaining the gift. Gift Card
Here are the stories of some of the children that SACCA supports in primary education. (Names and pictures are changed.)
Emmerance’s story
Emmerance lived with her mother, brother and sister. Her father was a beggar in Kigali city, being disabled. Her mother moved in with a new partner who rejected her children – an unfortunately common reason for children leaving home for the streets. The children lived in an abandoned property for 2 months, begging on the streets during the day for food scraps, clothing and water.
Local authorities found Emmerance and her siblings and took them to SACCA in January 2014. SACCA reached out to their mother and supported her in resuming care of her children. In February 2014, Emmerance's mother took her family back home in Kayonza. SACCA are still supporting the family through counselling, life skills training and education support.
Emmerance had a very poor education before coming to SACCA, but now has progressed to Primary Year 5.
Marie’s story
Marie’s mother cannot be located and her father died of HIV in 2018 when she was only 7 years old. She was living with her father, but when he went to hospital she had no support. She was living on the streets for a few days before local authorities brought her to SACCA. In SACCA’s safe environment Marie had counselling sessions to help her recover from her ordeal.
After 2 months an aunt found out that she was in the care of SACCA, and Marie was happy to be reunited with her aunt and cousins in Kayonza. Her aunt can provide food and shelter for Marie, but needs a level of continued support from SACCA, as she earns a very low income. SACCA provides Marie with educational materials and a uniform for school.
Marie had not been to school before coming into the care of SACCA, however in the few months she was with them she was introduced to school and started Primary School in January 2019.
Support our Christmas Appeal
With your help we can continue to provide essential support for children in Rwanda.