Rwanda

Kigali

PARTNER

AVSI Foundation

Despite its impressive economic growth, Rwanda remains one of the world’s poorest countries, especially in rural areas. Families and communities still suffer from the consequences of the 1994 genocide that left the country with virtually no infrastructure and with an impoverished, wounded and traumatized population.

This project set up three socio-educational centers as safe places for children and their families. Children at the centers take part in recreational and educational activities as well as in individual and group counselling to assess and improve their psycho-emotional wellbeing. The most vulnerable children attend play therapy sessions led by a psychologist, helping them express their emotions.

Younger children, once left alone all day while their parents worked the fields, are now able to attend day-care in the centers, where they interact with other children in a protected environment and are looked after while they play, draw and learn to count. Mothers, quick to sense the importance of these day-care centers, volunteer their services and have taken over the centers’ management.

The centers provide activities for the entire family, such as positive parenting, nutrition and literacy courses, applying a holistic approach to psycho-social support.