Testimonials

My life was difficult because I lost my mother in the 1994 genocide when I was only 3 years old. At that time my family was so poor, they were unable to feed us and to pay for our education. I had five brothers and our father decided to remarry another woman in order to help him to raise us. Living with my stepmother brought me a lot of challenges. When I was 7 years old my father did not allow me go to school to start primary school. Two years later. I decided to go to the street to beg the passengers of buses where I started to take drugs such us weed, petroleum, strong beer, cigarettes etc. On the streets, I was sleeping in the cold, under the bridges, eating leftovers from dustbins. I was misbehaved since I was not educated. I used to rob people, steal women’s bags and pickpocket men’s wallets.
At the end, with the help of Les Enfants de Dieu, I was saved! The Manager of the Centre at that time found me on street and invited me to come and start a better life. When I arrived at EDD I got access to education, food, shelter, health care etc. It was hard to believe it at the beginning because my life had completely changed. I finished primary school and graduated at the end of 2008, and I was reintegrated back into my family at the beginning of 2009 but the centre kept paying for my studies. I continued my secondary school then in 2011 after passing O level National Exam, I succeeded with the good score and got oriented by Ministry of Education in Teachers Training College (TTC). There, I studied harder and harder in order to succeed as usual. In 2014, I got a degree that allowed me to be a qualified Teacher of Primary School. Now I am Teacher in MUGANZA Primary school also in Kigali where I am teaching English and SET in Primary 4, 5, 6. I am thankful Les Enfants de Dieu , the staff and board members for changing my life. May God bless EDD and protect them forever!

My life on the streets began when I was 8 years old. My mother fell into a coma and I had no where to go. I had lost my father and twin brother in the 1994 genocide and my mother’s family was unable to take care of me. I was left alone and the only people who took me in were the boys living on the streets of Kigali.
Life on the streets was hard. I was constantly looking for food to eat, places to sleep, and was always worried about what tomorrow would hold. Some days, in order to eat, I had to steal food or even eat from people’s leftover trash. Often times, I was picked up by the police and thrown into jail where diseases and other illnesses were common. I saw society as a group of people that disregard and forget about children without homes - children like me. We were viewed as outcasts and treated badly. The loneliness I felt during those days turned me into an angry boy with no hope for the future. I found myself asking, “Why me? what did I do to deserve this life?” I would see children with their families and feel the anger begin to rise in my chest as they passed me by - skipping, smiling, and holding hands. I tried to numb the pain by smoking weed and released my anger by fighting other street kids. After almost 4 years of struggling to survive, I came to Les Enfants de Dieu in hope of a new life.
Life at EDD was more than I could ever imagine. Here, I found a home. I had food to eat, a clean bed, clean clothes, and even learned to speak English. I received a formal education and met other boys who shared my experience. I went from being a quiet and lonely boy to an energetic, happy young man who was able to discover his talents and skills. I became a leader and found myself guiding other boys and helping the staff at the Center. After almost 5 years at EDD, I was able to reintegrate back into society and began to take care of my mother. Since I left the Center, I have gained a strong sense of self esteem that allowed me to pursue my true passion; a career in radio and film. I have had the honor of sharing my story in front of audiences in Uganda, Tanzania, the UK and the United States. Today, I am truly grateful to EDD and to the people who believed in me during my greatest time of need. It is my hope tha EDD will continue to be a source of hope for so many boys living in the same fear and sadness I too once experienced.