Closure of SACCA’s Girls’ Centre

It is with much regret that our partner SACCA has announced it plans to close its Girls’ Rehabilitation Centre by September. Expectations are that income for work on rehabilitation and reuniting children with family will reduce significantly as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, and funding will not be sufficient to support continuation of the rehabilitation work.

This does not mean that SACCA is closing down its work with children. Support for those already in SACCA’s care will be maintained and strengthened with an increased focus on strengthening the capacity of poorer families where children have been reintegrated In terms of both addressing living standards and income. The established support for children in education will continue.

There had been a major drive to reunite girls with family early in the year and virtually no new girls joined the Centre after March due to lockdown across Rwanda. So there were just 12 children in the Girls’ Centre at the end of June. Plans are under way to place them safely and, in 4 cases where girls are older, establish them in independent living (which was being planned before the closure decision).

The Volunteer House, much loved by visitors over many years, will also be closing. But SACCA’s work with children and families is very much continuing.