MONIQUE – A FOSTER MOTHER AGAINST ALL ODDS
Monique was born in 1973 and raised in a large, loving, and caring family. She was the seventh child among many siblings and grew up surrounded by affection. In 1995, she got married, and together with her husband, they had one child. Sadly, after just two years of marriage, her husband passed away, leaving her […]
MALAYIKA MURINZI: THE CORNERSTONE OF CHILD CARE REFORM IN RWANDA
In Rwanda, “Malayika Murinzi,” or “Angel Guardians,” are parents who take on the noble responsibility of raising children who cannot be reunified with their biological families. Malayika Murinzi ensures children in need have a safe place to stay, whether through formal or informal, temporary or permanent family care. The history of this vital role is […]
TRAILBLAZERS: HOW RWANDA IS LEADING THE WAY FOR AN ORPHANAGE-FREE AFRICA
After twenty years of collaboration with Hope and Homes for Children, Rwanda is set to become the first nation in Africa to end the institutionalisation of children. From the Kigali Declaration to the creation of community hubs, our Rwanda Country Director, Innocent Habimfura, explains how he and his team are paving the way for an […]
54 ON OUR SIDE
Major step forward as the countries of the Commonwealth commit to eliminating orphanages In June 2022, heads of government and ministers from across the Commonwealth met in the Rwandan capital Kigali for their first summit in 4 years. Hosting this prestigious Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) was a proud moment for Rwanda, one of […]
RWANDA – KENYA LEARNING EXCHANGE
“In this land of a thousand hills, thousands of children were orphaned after the genocide – a shattering experience indeed. Today, the country stands tall, showing remarkable resilience. Thousands of children who lost families and were isolated in orphanages are now back with their families and communities.” Stephen Ucembe, Regional Advocacy Manager In June 2022, […]
COMMONWEALTH COMMITS TO ELIMINATING ORPHANAGES
All 54 Commonwealth nations announce a historic commitment to eliminate orphanages, at the 2022 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali Today the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) has made an historic commitment to the elimination of orphanages, agreed by all 54 Commonwealth nations: The Kigali Declaration. Over the last four years, we’ve been […]
ON THE FRONTLINE: NEWS FROM OUR TEAMS
When the pandemic started, everyone was afraid. One of our colleagues said, “There were families whose cases were about to be closed but due to COVID, have lost their economic status, and now they are kept under Hope and Homes for Children regular support. Adapting to new ways of working whilst maintaining the quality of […]
CHRISTIAN MAGAZINE QUESTIONS CHURCH’S SUPPORT OF ORPHANAGES
Dr Krish Kandiah writes in the latest issue of Premier Christianity magazine to call on Christians to help children around the world find a home life beyond orphanages. Popular Christian author, speaker and broadcaster Dr Krish Kandiah recalls the experience of his own mother, rescued from a remote orphanage in India. Observing how tragedy, discrimination and poverty continue to […]
PROTECTING CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES USING SMS TECHNOLOGY
Our pioneering ‘No Child Left Behind’ project was completed in March 2021. In its spirit, we’re taking the next innovative step to reach children with disabilities. In this blog post, Innocent Habimfura, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, explains how SMS technology has revolutionised finding and supporting children with disabilities. This technology was piloted in both Rwanda […]
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: CLOSING ORPHANAGES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES IN RWANDA
Completed in March 2021, the pioneering ‘No Child Left Behind’ programme set out to pilot the closure of two orphanages for children with disabilities in Rwanda. The success of the project has shown how it is possible for all children to leave institutions for the warmth and security of families, once they have the right support. Here, Innocent […]