Irakoze Soleil
Age: 16
Class: P.5
Place of residence: Kinyinya/kagugu
Background.
I have two siblings and live with both of my parents.
My family was so poor that they couldn’t afford paying for my school fees and even providing the basic needs. This forced my brother to go on the street and I also stopped studying for a while.
After this Organization identified us and decided to support me and my family, I resumed studying and they are paying for my fees and other materials. They also helped to bring my brother back home and life at home has changed in a positive way.
I am now a happy girl and have hope to realize my dreams.
Ishimwe Pacsaline
Age: 13
Class:P3
Residence: Kinyinya/Kagugu
Background
I was born in a family of 5 kids, my mum passed away in 2018 and due to life being hard, dad also was caught smuggling illegal drugs and was also imprisoned in 2019.
Then life became so heavy for us and we were forced to run on the streets.
Empower The Future organization Picked me from the street and found a foster family where I stay until now.
Life has never been the same since they picked me up as I am now back in school where my school fees and all the requirements are being taken care of.
We are also given food for further sustainability and the parents I stay with now were taught life skills to enable them take care of us.
Am happy and dream of becoming a great person in the future when I complete my education.
Kamikaze Melissa
Age 17
Female
Background
My name is Kamikaze Melissa, a female aged 17 years.
I currently live in Kamonyi district but previously lived in Kigali and I only stay with my mother. I don’t know my dad as my mum tells me he left her when I was just 1 ½ years old.
I left home for the streets due to lack of food and other basic needs, and also trying to look for my father who I thought could help. Unfortunately I didn’t see him even up to date but am told he is still alive.
Empower The Future picked me from the streets, took me back home, provided for us food, taught my mum a sewing skill and gave her a machine, and sent me back to school, paying for my education up to date.
I would love to share my life excitement that I was able to excel in last year’s national Examinations where I got the best grades which enabled me to get admitted to a boarding school for the rest of my advanced level.
I could not realize how better I can do in school and how far I can move if Empower The Future had not picked me and helped me realize this dream.
Am now a thriving young lady, pursuing my Education with no difficulties now and so excited about my future.
Kamugisha Janvier
Age: 19
Class: p6
Residence: Muhororo village
I am born of 10 siblings, the third born child, has both parents and lives with them.
Due to my family being big and poor, we lacked food at home and life was so unbearable in that situation. So I found myself forced to go out on the streets to try to survive and the hard life experience didn’t stop.
Ever since I was picked and supported by this Organization, my life and mindset has changed. I am now in school studying with fees and all other requirements being catered for by Empower The Future Organization.
Am no a hopeful youth and excited about the change in my life.
I am Niyigena Diane,
a female aged 15 years old. I stay in the Batsinda center in Kigali city.
I am a born from a family of three and I grew up not knowing my dad up to now. I have no idea about him.
My mother got married to another man and my life became so miserable living with him where he always called me a bastard, not only that but also beating me and mum all the time. This led to mum leaving his house and staying on her own.
Life being so hard, mum decided to do an illegal business of smuggling drugs which led her to get arrested and sentenced to many years in prison until now.
Our step dad used to tell us to go and ask mum for food and money for our rent from prison.
Being that I did not know my biological father who I think could have treated me well and my mother was imprisoned, it was such an insulting and depressing situation that I couldn’t withstand. So I was forced to leave and search for a new life and the only option was the street.
Life was so unbearable on the streets until I was picked and supported by this Organization.
They helped and got me a foster family where I am staying happily and also a chance to access education.
I am now in Grade 4b and dream of completing my education.
Name UMUKUNZI Natashah
Age: 14
Class: p6
Background
I am born from a big family and not well off.
My Parents have 11 children all together and are divorced. My mom tries to get the children in school and none of them have lived on the street.
My family took in Diane and Fiette and we are staying with them through the support of this Organization.
Sandrine Ingabire
Age: 20
Class: p.6
Residence: kinyinya
Background:
My mother left when I was a kid and dad she stayed with her step mom who also left and i remained with dad only. Dad wasn’t able to take me, so he decided to take me to my auntie’s place who I stayed with for some good years until I was around 15 years old.
The challenge I always faced was that my uncle(husband to my aunt) always attempted to rape me which I resisted and it resulted into him torturing me with no reason. This forced me to run to the streets because life treated me badly under those situations.
Going to the streets didn’t positively change life but instead I continued to suffer.
I was picked by this Organization and it changed my whole life. They took me back to school, paid my fees, gave me clothes, reunited me with my dad and gave us food.
Am now living happily and plan to learn more life skills to support me as my dream is to become a great business woman.
Name: Uwimana Claudine
Age: 15
Gender: Female
Class: P5
Background
I stay in Kinyinya
I live with my both parents but dad is not so supportive. I have 7 siblings.
Since we were a big family and poor, my parents couldn’t afford to provide for us food, pay for our fees and we were all home not going to school.
This forced me to run to the streets as by then it was a better option than staying home but still life wasn’t like i expected at the street
I endured very many experiences at the street like bullying, attempted rape and many other harsh circumstances.
God answered my prayers when this Organization identified and picked me from the street. I was taken back home to reunite with my family, back to school, paying for my fees, gave my family food for sustainability.
Am now grateful and very hopeful to achieve big in life.
Empower the Future is a non-profit that aims to assist vulnerable street children through family reunification, life skill empowerment, and human rights promotion.
