Today marks the 10th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda when up to a million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed. Thousands of children were left without parents or sent to different orphanages from their siblings. Some went to live with relatives and foster families but this has resulted in many finding themselves orphaned again by their guardians dying from Aids, while others have been rejected.
Some went to live with relatives and foster families but this has resulted in many finding themselves orphaned again by their guardians dying from Aids, while others have been rejected.
As a result of these problems many children have chosen to form families of their own with the eldest taking responsibility for their siblings. There are now more than 10,000 child heads of households across the country. An organisation called Uyisenga N Manzi was set up in 2002 to provide care and support for them, funded by the UK charity SURF - The Survivors Fund.
Felicity Finch has been to visit one of Uyisenga's projects in a small village in Kijoukiro on a hillside overlooking the capital, Kigali, where new houses are being built for families. Ancilla Mukarubuga, their advocacy officer, accompanied her.
Disclaimer
The 大象传媒 is not responsible for the content of external websites.
