According to preliminary findings of the recently conducted “National survey on the situation of children living in orphanages ‘institutions’ in Rwanda”, there are 3,153 children currently living in 33 children institutions.
This was revealed at the restitution meeting with institution managers organized by the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and National Children’s Commission (NCC) in collaboration with Hope and Homes for Children (HHC-Rwanda).
Hope and Homes for children is an international NGO working closely with MIGEPROF and National Commission for children in moving children living in institution to families under a programme called de-institutionalisation (DI).
Hope and Homes for children Rwanda, assessed by this using a professional team of psychologists and social workers who do initial child and family assessment, family tracing, family and child preparation, child placement and post placement support.
Based on their investigations and assessment, the professional team takes a professional placement decision in the interest of the child. For example, although in some situations where a child is known to be having parents, it does not mean that the child is automatically reunited with them; there are unique cases where a child should not be placed under a parent’s family.
There was a case of Boaz (not real names) who refused to reunite with the father, “ I cannot stay with my father because he killed my brother… when I grow up in future I want to become a killer…”, he commented.
On further inquiry, he revealed that his father killed his brother and his ambition was to revenge by killing his father. Such cases determine a placement decision to an alternative family and not necessarily his father’s family.
The ceremonies for moving children out of the institution to families are normally characterized by both excitement and sorrow.
Whereas some children are excited about their parents coming to receive them from the institution, the remaining children are filled with sadness and consider themselves as unlucky and hated ones.
This was witnessed clearly at one of the move ceremonies held recently at Mpore Pefa, where 4children were being received by their parents and care givers.
The Country director of HHC, Madam Claudine Nyinawagaga, who presided over the ceremony, had to counsel the remaining children and assure them that they will be joining their families soon.
She further pointed out “helping a child is helping the whole of next generation and children need family life to fulfill their potential. HHC-Rwanda is committed to the rights of children to grow up in families and all people should follow the example given by these families who take care of children”.
The ceremony was attended by Kigarama Sector representative who pledged support to HHC-Rwanda in preventing new entries into the institution and by monitoring the movement of children into families living in Kigarama Sector where the institution is located.
According to Epaphrodite Nsabimana the Head of Programme management at Hope and Homes for Children Rwanda, 46 % of the children moved out of Mpore Pefa come from Kicukiro District where the institution is located.
This shows how the Institution has a pooling effect on the families in the neighborhood where it is located.
Innocent Habimfura, the Head of Programme management – Community and alternative services at HHC, noted that children whose traces have not been established yet will placed into alternative family care which includes foster care and local adoption. “We will make sure that every child from Mpore Pefa finds a loving family, no child will be left behind” he commented.
