Structure Street Kids of Rwanda operates one live-in centre, the Kimisagara Centre, which comprises two buildings in the Kimisagara area of Kigali. There we house 75 children: 50 boys, and 25 girls. Currently, we can only afford to send 30 of the children to school; the other 45 study at the center. The buildings are stark and simple; they have shared bedrooms, a classroom, pit toilet, and cooking areas. There is no running water or electricity, so jugs of water must be carried in by hand. The buildings are located on a steep hillside accessible only by foot paths. Funds are needed to complete the finish work on the newer building and to bring water and electricity to the center. |
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The other 295 girls and boys live with foster families in the Gisozi district of Kigali, and Street Kids of Rwanda provides for their food, clothing, and schooling. Some children are able to attend school, while others go to classes provided by our organization. The foster children gather three times weekly to share food, songs, and prayer with the pastors on our staff. |
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Education Street Kids of Rwanda sends as many children as possible to local schools, but there is not enough money to provide a public education for all of them. Classes are taught by volunteers for those children who cannot attend school. There is a single classroom at each centre, so teachers must work with a variety of levels and learning abilities in each class. Many of the children have never attended school before coming to the centre, so most are studying at primary levels. |
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| Primary school in Rwanda costs roughly $12 per year, but there are the added expenses of school uniforms, pens & pencils, notebooks, school texts, and book bags. The total cost can be up to $50. Secondary school is much more expensive at $270 per year. Only nine students at Street Kids of Rwanda are currently able to attend secondary school. If you would like to sponsor a child, please visit our donation page. Some of the older children take vocational training in areas such as sewing and mechanics. |  |
Vision Street Kids of Rwanda is currently raising money to build a single, larger complex with housing capacity for up to 400 children, running water, electricity, and other basic amenities, as well as multiple class rooms, vocational training areas, volunteer quarters, a dining hall, and health centre. Most of the food for the children will be grown in our own garden on the grounds. We plan to bring all of the children from our various programs into this facility when it is completed. |
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Our vision is a Rwanda where children do not have to beg on the street for survival. We believe that no child should be left to face a life of hardship and abuse, and we will work to give care, shelter, food, housing, and education to as many as possible. When the Kigali centre is finished, we plan to create outreach programs and centres in the other provinces of Rwanda, and eventually to reach beyond into other African nations. |
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Webmaster Myles Matteson: Page Last Updated 10/2006 |
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