Youth at Risk

Children between the age of 14 and 22 who have been orphaned (either as a result of HIV AIDS, malaria, the 1994 genocide or their parents jailed after the war) are a real concern everywhere in Rwanda. ‘Youth at Risk’ are those from this target group that live on the street or under severe poverty in child headed households and with no access to education, basic needs or proper nutrition. They are therefore at risk of engaging in prostitution and crime. RDIS initiated centres where these children can be trained in various trades for very low tuition fees. The types of trade include sewing, shoe making, crafts, carpentry and welding. At these centres, children are also educated in English (that’s where I come in), agriculture, family planning, HIV prevention and Bible studies and they participate in sport and cultural activities such as traditional Rwandan songs and dancing. The centres are managed by the Anglican church, but children from all denominations are taken in.

Depending on the resources available, the programme length at such a centre varies between 1 and 3 years. After graduation, the youth can then be selected to be a teacher for the next year’s group, or join an association to manufacture products for an income. Such jobs are scarce though, so ways to fund equipment for lending to the graduates, enabling self-start-ups, are currently being investigated. There are now 10 projects running with a total of 405 scholars enrolled this year. This initiative has lots more potential but already makes a huge difference in empowering in the order of 400 children a year to earn an income.