Almost 3,000 children were living on the streets across Rwanda in 2019, due to family poverty, violence in the home or the death of parents. The enduring psychological and social impact of the 1994 genocide contributes to these numbers.
These How We Care resources outline UNM's reintegration process, as they work to strengthen the structures between with children and caregivers, as well as wider society.
Since 2017, UNM has been working to reunify separated families and reintegrate street-connected children into society. They meet children and their families in 9 transit centres across Rwanda (Rubavu, Rwamagana, Nyanza, Gitagata, Marembo, CEPAJ, Gikondo, Enfants de Dieu, CECIDAR), to work through a process of reintegration, which takes three months. UNM then guides a collaborative effort to strengthen the support structures between children, families, and wider society. Children are reintegrated into schools, and particular importance is placed on this area as it is common for families to remove their children from school in order to send them to work. Parents are trained and supported in income-generating activities, and psychological support is given to vulnerable parents, who can also take part in “parent saving groups”.
Through this programme:
- In the year up to September 2020, UNM worked with 1,399 street-connected children and 1,392 children were reintegrated into their families.
- Between 2017 to 2019, 714 children were reintegrated, with all of them attending school; in 2020 during COVID-19, the children who have been reintegrated remain at home and are not attending school.
- UNM has created 30 “saving parents groups”, made up of 465 parents distributed across Rubavu and Kigali districts.
- The UNM reintegration model is now seen as a role model which has led to it being adapted by other rehabilitation centres.
- Through this work many more children remain with their families and parents take more responsibility for their children.
The attached resources are part of the How We Care series, an innovative space for those working with children and families to share practice. By practitioners, for practitioners. You can also download the full package of learning, including resources from 2 other Family members, here.
