Written by Pius, director of GNPDR Street-connected children are often seen as a public security problem instead of children in need of protection, healing, and opportunity. In Rwanda, many children living on the streets are periodically chased by security people in plain clothes, rounded up, and taken to rehabilitation centers…
Dieu Don is a 14-year-old boy who had lived on the streets of Kigali in Rwanda for two years due to family conflict and violence. One day, he met the street outreach team from GNPDR and accepted counseling from them. This led to him asking GNPDR if they could help…
Elisha and Daniel are two boys who are being supported by the Street Kids outreach programme run by GNPDR. Both lads have just returned from the government-run rehabilitation center, where they were sent after being accused of theft (never proven) and held for 1 year. Thankfully for them, on release…
Ivan (in school uniform) met GNPDR staff when he was 13 years of age and living on the street. He was very hopeless and unhealthy as he was taking drugs! Our staff advised him to stop taking the drugs, return home and go back to school, which would shape his…
The drop-in sessions for street kids continue to be run by GNPDR staff Angelique and Jeremiah. Some of the recent sessions were a bit lower in number, and this was primarily for two reasons. Some weren’t there simply because they gone to look for food, but, more positively, others weren’t…
Mateo is 22yrs old, in primary 5 class, and has spent most of his life living on the streets. During that time he did drugs, and glue, and had periods of time in and out of detention. He always had links with his mum and siblings, and sometimes would live…
Umutoni is 16 years old and was just three years old when her parents separated and her mum moved out leaving the girl in the care of her father. Initially it was OK for her living with her dad, but when he remarried, and step-siblings came along, Umutoni’s step-mother wanted…
Ntwari is 15 years old and currently in primary 6 (top year of primary). His mum has been in prison since he was small – just two or three years old. Initially, the neighbours originally looked after him and his sister, but after a few years this got less reliable,…
Supporting children who are living and begging on the streets of Kigali has always been one of the core pillars of GNPDR’s work. Where possible they seek to help the children to return home, or be placed in foster care, and to re-engage with education. But sadly, despite the number…
written by Pius Nyakayiro Gilbert is grateful for the street children programme – Here is his story. Gilbert was a street kid for 4 years, taking drugs, hopeless, and at risk of anything… Angelique and Jeremiah spent time helping him to change his mind and go back home and eventually…
