Claude is a participant of the street children’s program in Bugarama, Rwanda, which HATW supports. Like many of the children that the program supports, poverty led him into paid work with gangs so that he could afford to eat. Thanks to Father Emanuel, Head teacher at GS St Paul Muko school, street children are being offered 2 meals a day if they attend school, which is bringing many children back into education and away from the dangerous lives they were being forced – through poverty – to lead.
Below is a transcription of Claude speaking about his life, or you can watch the short (2 minute) testimony here (opens in Facebook).
You can learn more about this project and donate to the fund here.
Claude’s story
My name is Ndayishimiye Claude.
I study in Senior 1 here at GS St Paul Muko School. I have a story about my street life.
I started street life when I was 12 years old, after my father died. I thought there was nothing I was going to do [nothing I could do], unless I started street life.
When I reached there, I thought I would get a good life, better than at home. But there is no good life there – it is bad activities that they did. Sometimes I think I am not a good person because of the activities I did when I was there, such as stealing, drinking beer, cigarettes. It is bad behaviour that I did.
Sometimes I think I can’t do it again. That is why I am learning [at school].
After that I met with Father Uwingabire Emmauel. He advised me to come back to school. I got opportunity from him – he gets me uniform, books and now shoes. And if I am learning, I still have another problem – when I am at school I eat, but when I reached home there is no food that I get – sometimes I sleep without eating. It is a big problem that we have.
Please, if you have anything to do [if you can do anything], please do it.
I can’t forget to thank for Father Uwingabire Emmanuel and Hands Around the World who helps with different things such as contribution of food.
Thank you so much. Keep helping us because we need your support.