Around 360,000 people predominantly women and children, survived the genocide in Rwanda. The majority of these widows and orphans now live in desperate poverty and lack of proper shelter, education and the means to earn money to buy basic necessities such medicine and food. Many are still severely traumatised by their experiences of genocide, and feel guilty that they survived when their loved ones died. They often live with painful physical wounds from the genocide such as machete scars.

Thousands of women and girls raped and infected with HIV in a deliberate campaign of the genocide. Many are dying because of lack of medication, general poverty, trauma and isolation. Many are running out of time, dying and leaving children orphaned for the second time.

Of all survivors, the neediest are children. Many are orphans who have been left with not adult figure to love or guide them. Children and orphans are often left to fend for themselves. They are forced to quit school, join the workforce, and care for younger brothers and sisters. Often they are caregivers, sometimes to more than ten siblings. Often they are involved in unskilled labour, which is underpaid and has no security or prospect for the future. Young girls in child headed households often drop out of school for domestic work.

260,000 children have been orphaned in Rwanda through HIV/AIDS, many forced to watch their parents die and face the possibility that they are too scared to get tested, do not understand why they are ill, or are unaware that they have been at risk.

Many children have no inheritance from parents, neither money nor land; they have to fend for their own basic needs, including finding shelter for their brothers and sisters.

Call it help. Assistance, caring, even. Then think about the people who receive it unconditionally every day. Because every survivor needs a helping hand now and then. Hope Survivors Foundation has developed a network of dedicated experts in Rwanda who deliver development and aid quickly and efficiently, where and when survivors need it most.

Through three distinct sectors – Education, Health Care, Income Generation Projects –  we give widows, young women and orphans of the genocide options (and a second chance, too) for a better way of life.

Call that Hope.

• Education/vocational Training: providing secondary, tertiary and vocational education for children and orphans of the genocide who are forced to quit schools, join the work force and care for their siblings. Vocational courses enable young survivors to set up small businesses or procure jobs which pay a living wage. A few such projects include: a hair salon, an internet cafe, a goat firm etc.
• Health Care: through psychological support projects, treatment of physical wounds such as machetes and grenages scars, trauma counselling, home based care and provision of antiretroviral medication. People living with HIV/AIDS are vulnerable to opportunistic infections that reduce the immune system, medical assistance will help fight infections and extend the life of a survivor living with HIV/AIDS.
• Income Generation Projects: building the self-confidence, and sense of trust and own ship of widows and orphans, as well as providing vital income so that survivors can begin to meet their own basic needs.

“Whenever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.”     Seneca Roman Philosopher