Florence is a student at GS St Paul Muko School, Burgarama, Rwanda, which is located on the border of the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). She did well at school, but due to lack of funds was unable to continue her education after passing her exams. Here is her story about stopping education, life on the street, and returning to education thanks to the amazing work of Father Emmanuel, Headteacher at GS St Paul Muko School. Supported by HATW, he has started a project providing 2 meals a day for street children, so the children can remain in education instead of going to work to earn money for food. This has transformed the lives of over 260 street children – Florence is one of these students.
Her story below is an abridged version of her video testimony – the full interview is well worth watching. Watch the full video (4 minutes)
Florence’s story
Hello. My name is … Samuel Florence from Rusizi District Bugarama Sector. I’m studying Senior 4 MCB. It means Mathematics, Chemistry and Biology at Groupe Scolaire Saint Paul Muko, [I am] one of the street children.
I’m here to tell you that [about] my biography. I started the street life after senior three national examination. During that time, my father fled to DRC, after seeing that I have passed .
After finding that I want to attend at university level, I met my father there at DRC to ask him to pay my school fees. He told me that he cannot support my studies because I am a girl. He said no girl deserves to study.
The only chance I had was to be sex worker and get [a] living .
I did this for a year, in the DRC where I was trained by my aunt. I took departure from DRC to Kigali [Rwanda].
…That time I started… hating my whole family. I thought I could get much money and get good life. But that is not true.
In Kigali I lived in the street because I had no money to rent house….a lot of problems…sleeping with man… he goes without giving me anything. I got impregnated and aborted. It was not easy. I decided to come back home to live with my mother, but it was difficult to sit together with my family face to face, because of my harsh words and harsh things told me.
During that time home I heard that, oh, Father Uwingabire Emmanual at Muko, and matron were helping the street children!
That is how… I went back to school, and at that time… I had the happiness in my life. I know about HATW because of the help they give us every time, and I had met Dennis and Mike [HATW Jersey trustees]. They are good people.
So, we ask you to keep on helping us in our life so that we will become very important person in the world. I want to help the every others that are in the street life. My God, bless Dennis, Mike, Father Uwingabire Emanuel and other sponsors that help us. I’m really, I’m sure – I don’t have shame to tell you – that I love you so much. I shall never forget you. Thank you.