Child Rights and Protection (Icyizere Cy’ejo Project)

AcrossAid Rwanda believes every child to be entitled with the rights to being raised within the family to fully enjoy parental guidance and affection. This gives them the opportunity to enjoy life in its fullness whether for now or in the future. Despite this, some children are experiencing exploitation and violence within their families and as a consequence, they are unable to cope with all life demands such as schooling, proper feeding and nutrition as well as family care and support. As a result, many drop out of schools at an early age which affects their future life. AcrossAid, through its Child Right and Protection Programs works to increase school enrollment for the most vulnerable children under critical circumstances while preventing all forms of violence, abuse and exploitation perpetrated against children within families. To achieve this, we have adopted an on-ground child to family visit with a result-based approach where forsaken children have been identified in their street sites.

AcrossAid conducts baseline surveys prior to any interventions to effectively identify the most vulnerable children in need and for better understanding of root factors and pushing reasons for children to drop out of schools and quit their families. The survey conducted in January, 2019 revealed that 54.39% (n=31) out of the total number of children surveyed (57) have been pushed to drop out of school and live in the streets due to constant conflicts within their families where both parents husband and wife live in a misunderstanding and confrontation situation almost every day whereby 26.31 (n=15) have come to the street due to extreme poverty in their families

The AcrossAid Interventions, through ICYIZERE CY’EJO Project have been to provide those children with psychosocial counseling and family reintegration support to ensure all children targeted are fully protected against all forms of abuse and neglect. The project aims at bringing families together with their children through mediation and reunification approach and parents have committed to assume their responsibilities regardless of their poverty or other family issues. They have been convinced that children should never be victims of their conflicts since they affect their future development.

Out of 86 street children under the Project Support, 28 children have been already brought back to school with educational materials and school fees while being reintegrated into their respective families. The project is increasingly advocating for the 35 newly recruited street children to ensure no one is left behind.

Success Story from Diane

When Diane reached Primary 5, her parents (her Mom and Dad) were unceasingly in conflicts which made them separate. She stayed at home with only her mother and poverty within their family struck them. Her mother decided to become a street vendor moving from place to place selling fruits and vegetables. As she was getting very little income to support the family, her daughter Diane became traumatized and decided to drop out and left her family to settle in the street.

“Sometimes I was used to begging around the street. Sometimes, I was collecting rubbish materials and selling them at Kiruhura Market to earn a living (Gusyaga as she called it)” She said.

“Since I met ACROSSAID, they reconciled my father and mother; they took me back home and reintegrated me back to school. Last year, I succeeded in the National Examination for Primary Level, and was admitted at BUTAMWA Secondary School, Senior 1. They are providing me with school fees and school materials and l now witness my life improving better and better”. “Thanks to ACROSSAID, I am no longer a street girl but rather I envision becoming a medical doctor” She Continues.