Rwanda

Rwanda is now largely at peace and its economy is stable and growing. But life for many Rwandans remains a struggle. Six out of every ten people live in poverty, on less than US$1 a day. Four out of ten children are stunted due to malnutrition and one out of every ten children dies before their fifth birthday. Life expectancy is just 46 years.

  • We're protecting 36,000 children from abuse and exploitation through community-based child protection networks
  • We're improving access to good quality healthcare for 700,000 people
  • We're aiming to reach 100,000 children through our health and protection programmes in 2009

Save the Children in Rwanda

We started work in Rwanda in 1994. We helped trace parents or relatives of children who had become separated from their families and successfully reunited 40,000 children with family members. Since then, working together with local government and community-based organisations, we’ve helped thousands of former child soldiers return to their villages and provided them with education and training so that they can earn a living.

We're helping communities protect their children

Many children lack the protection afforded by living with their families, and they’re at greater risk of abuse, violence and exploitation.

We’ve developed child protection networks in the areas where we work. They’re comprised of adults and children who have been trained in children’s rights and know how to take action against those who mistreat children.Last year, we reached 35,000 parents and community members through our child protection activities, while in the Gicumbi district, we’re helping to provide practical and psychosocial support to 3,429 children who run their households in the absence of parents or older siblings.

We’re protecting refugee children

Rwanda is home to 50,000 refugees who have fled fighting in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Refugee children are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, and are often recruited as soldiers, servants or ‘wives’ by armed groups still active near the border.

Last year, we helped 12,000 children in three refugee camps (Gihembe, Nyabiheke and Kiziba) with child protection activities. We’ve supported the setting up of children’s corners so that they can have a safe place to play. We’ve also trained children and young people in children’s rights, child protection, and life skills.

We’re providing healthcare for vulnerable children

Under the government’s community health insurance scheme (Mutuelles), every adult and child has to pay the equivalent of £1.50 for a health card to cover the cost of basic health services. But people also have to pay 10% of any treatment costs.

Although it’s compulsory by law to belong to the scheme, many people just can’t afford it. So children don’t get treatment for malaria and diarrhoea, the biggest killers, which can easily be prevented. And women continue to give birth without skilled birth attendants, resulting in a very high rate of deaths among mothers and newborn babies.

Working with the Ministry of Health, we’re providing basic, affordable healthcare for 123,024 children under five and 160,770 women in Burera and Gicumbi districts.

We’re also providing training and resources to support the district health teams to provide healthcare and treatment for more children.

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