Rwanda
Supporting a new church partner in Rwanda
Helping ADEPR Ruvune Compassion Center in Rwanda deliver vital care to children
Crisis Response
The Need
As the Rwandan government shut down the country to help curb the spread of COVID-19, caregivers lost their livelihoods and any hope of purchasing food and other household necessities. The restrictions and shortages have also caused the prices of goods and services to inflate drastically, leaving vulnerable families unable to access enough food—resulting in nutritional deficiencies, stunting and disease.
Just before the COVID-19 crisis began, our frontline church partner in Ruvune, Rwanda, had eagerly signed a new partnership agreement with Compassion Rwanda. The pastor and church members were grateful for more resources so they could keep serving impoverished families in their community. Parents and their little ones hoped they would be registered in Compassion’s holistic child development program to give them relief from the damaging daily effects of poverty and guide them toward a life freed from poverty in Jesus’ name.
Then, the pandemic struck. All new beneficiary registrations were halted, leaving families deeply disappointed and anxious, and churches underfunded and unable to provide the support to families. Our faithful church partner in Rwanda awaited much-needed funding so they could continue serving the most vulnerable children among them. Every day, they see the boys and girls who live at risk of malnourishment and disease, lacking access to quality education and health care. Hope for a better future just seems too far out of reach for many children and parents who only know the struggle to survive. To help alleviate some of the devastating consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that this church have the necessary resources to focus on disaster response interventions, like food, child protection, water and sanitation, hygiene supplies and medical care.
Our Response
The ADEPR Ruvune church identified 100 children who needed immediate assistance to be able to endure the pandemic at home. This emergency intervention helped to fill the gaping hole left by COVID-19 by ensuring these 100 boys and girls—and an estimated 300 family members—know they are not forgotten by God or His church.
Compassion Rwanda was committed to supporting our church partner so they could continue ministering to 100 children for the past 12 months and fulfill the commitment they made to the families and communities. Children enjoyed at least two meals per day, received hygiene kits to help combat virus spread and access to medical care when needed. Parents were trained on hygiene and sanitation, as well as child protection. Church and Compassion staff received a reliable salary so they could devote themselves to serving these little ones, while also providing for their own families at home.
Activities
Food security activities: Church partners supplied nutritious groceries to families, including staples such as maize flour and beans—enough for at least two meals per day. They also gave families seeds and other farming supplies so they could cultivate their own food.
Health care: Caregivers were trained in hygiene and sanitation practices. They also received hygiene supplies, including toothpaste, towels, shampoo, soap and more.
Cognitive activities: Centre staff consulted local leaders and other stakeholders about risk factors to child protection in their community. They taught parents about children’s rights and how to protect their children. Parents also learned to engage their children at home while they were off school due to COVID-19.
Socio-emotional activities: Our frontline church partner prepared to offered centre-based and home-based programming to connect with the children while following COID-19 precautions.
Your Gift Provides...
Your gift equipped Compassion centre staff to care for 100 children by providing:
• Monthly grocery baskets for 100 families for 9 months
• Hygiene kits (toothpaste, towels, shampoo, soap, sanitizer, etc.)
• COVID-19 prevention supplies, education and care
• Child protection education for caregivers
• Medical checkups and follow-up care as needed
• Staff salaries for two child development workers and a part-time teacher
• Chairs, Internet access, computer equipment and office supplies for the centre
ReportA message from a pastor
Receive our salutations in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am Rev. Pastor Joseph and serve the Lord Jesus at Pentecostal Church of Rwanda, Ruvune Parish that is in Ruvune Sector, Gicumbi District, Northern Province of Rwanda in East Africa. We really thank you for your loving heart that accepts to support children and builds their bright future.
By now, the Child Development Centre has started, and we are supporting 100 beneficiaries from families who live in absolute poverty. Your support is bringing improvement to their living conditions and we witness happiness and joy on their faces. Beneficiaries have received school uniforms, shoes and scholastic materials. They are all attending classes with required kits from your support and donation. In addition, we have purchased office equipment for the centre, such as computers, printers, chairs, desks and other related materials.
Moreover, your support has enabled the Church of Ruvune to purchase files where all the beneficiary’s information is kept in order to access it easily. Their parents are now in small groups where they started running income generating activities. Caregivers in their groups conduct an activity of saving money and provide small loans that help them to address their household’s basic needs. Furthermore, we have two centre staff, the Centre Director and Accountant. They get their monthly salary which contributes to their wellbeing.
We want to let you know that your support is bringing positive changes in our area and contributing to transformation in lives of hopeless people. They now have hope for a bright future. We really pray for you so that Almighty God keeps you in His Holy Hands and grants you total protection of you and yours. Keep us in prayer so that these beneficiaries supported by Compassion, their families and the entire community join hands to achieve desired outcomes.
Yours faithfully,
Rev. Joseph
ReportThank you for your generosity
Families in Ruvune, Rwanda, were feeling the strain to provide for their children before the pandemic hit. Restrictions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 caused food scarcity and high inflation, leaving families living in poverty even more vulnerable. While the church partner in Ruvune had just come on board, funding and finding sponsors for the children enrolled in the Compassion centre had to be halted. That’s when you stepped up with your generous gift!
When the funds arrived, Compassion Rwanda met with church leaders and partnership facilitators to plan how to implement initiatives for the children and their caregivers. They prioritized hiring staff; covering administrative costs; and supporting child development in their community through food security, water, sanitation, hygiene and health care. The church in Ruvune identified 100 children who needed immediate assistance to be able to endure the pandemic at home.
Thanks to you, over nine months, 100 boys and girls and about 300 family members received at least two meals per day, hygiene supplies such as masks to combat the virus and medical care when they needed it during the pandemic. Parents were trained in hygiene and sanitation practices, children’s rights and how to protect their children. What’s more, the centre in Ruvune hired two child development workers and a part-time teacher to meet the children’s needs. Our church partner was also able to cover the cost of school fees and school supplies and materials so children could continue their education at home during the pandemic and not fall behind. Your investment in setting up this new Compassion centre with office supplies, chairs, computer equipment, Internet access and staff salaries will make a difference in this community for years to come.
Thank you for stepping in to help vulnerable families in Rwanda facing crisis due to the pandemic. This emergency intervention helped fill the gaping hole left by COVID-19 and showed the children and their families that they were not forgotten by God or His church!