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Support for a Child-Headed Household
Gitarama, Rwanda│ November 2005
How can Marguerite Mukandayisenga, age 17, find the courage to smile, with her life having been so filled with pain and loss? Over 50 family members, including her father, were killed during the Rwandan genocide of 1994. Marguerite and her mother were the only survivors.
Her mother went on to have two more children, Maniriho (age 9) and Mushimimana (age 7), but no long term relationship developed with the fathers of the two boys.
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Within a couple of years of Mushimimana being born, her mother contracted HIV and became very sick. Marguerite gave up school to take care of her and run the house. The neighbors ostracized and isolated the family when they heard the news. Her mother joined a People Living with HIV/AIDS Association and they gave the family some financial assistance. This support came to an end when her mother died in 2002. Marguerite found herself in the terrifying position of looking after herself and her two brothers with no-one to turn to for help.
Marguerite rocked her legs and cast her eyes low as she described the loneliness she faced in the months following her mother’s death. The neighbors banned their children from visiting the house. People refused to shake her hand and avoided being close to her. The house in the meantime was in a terrible state, with a leaking roof and an insecure entrance. Marguerite’s health started to deteriorate, with frequent bouts of diarrhea and malaria. Farming the small amount of land surrounding the house became a struggle. There was never enough food to eat.
Two years ago, the situation changed. An Emergency Plan project implemented by CARE started what is known in Kinyarwanda as the Nkundabana (I love children) project. The project is specially designed for child-headed households. Groups of child-headed households are asked to nominate a person from the community to be their ‘Nkundabana’ or supporter. Marguerite’s group of houses nominated Pascasie Mukamusoni, who agreed to volunteer. Pascasie considers that her role gives her prestige within the community and she is very proud of all the assistance she provides the children. CARE trained her in ‘helpful active listening’, HIV/AIDS, nutrition and hygiene. She meets the children all together once a week and visits their homes frequently.
On a visit to Marguerite’s house, Pascasie proudly shows the improvements she has been able to make for Marguerite. The project provided new doors, windows and a roof for the house and Pascasie mobilized the local community to help install them. The other children in the child headed households were also mobilized to help.
With Pascasie’s support, Marguerite found the courage to get tested for HIV and the results were positive. Three months ago she started to receive anti-retroviral therapy, as well as treatment for tuberculosis and a prophylaxis for malaria. She is also receiving food on a monthly basis from the World Food Program. The project gave Marguerite a goat and the manure it provides has resulted in a more productive garden. Her brothers are both going to school now and receive school uniforms and school supplies from the project. Marguerite herself finished literacy training, which qualifies her to start a vocational training in tailoring.
Marguerite is friends with the other children in her Child-Headed Household association, and meets with them most days. They have created an income and loan club. Marguerite is very proud that she was able to borrow and repay a loan on a small initiative she had to sell vegetables.
As Marguerite stood up to say goodbye, a child came running into the house and jumped into her arms. The child belongs to her neighbor, Ernestine, who at age 21 has been heading her household for four years since her mother died. As Ernestine appeared through the door, Pascasie opened her arms to welcome her.
Pascasie is like a mother to us, and without her we would be lost” said Ernestine after being greeted by Pascasie and Marguerite. With a house full of people, Marguerite turned to switch the radio on and smiled at her friend.
The Emergency Plan supported 29,682 orphans and vulnerable children in the past year.
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Wed, 30 Apr 2008 12:13:20 -0500
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