Today was a mixture of inspiration and emotion. We started the day by visiting Faith Victory Association (FVA) – a non-profit organization started by my dear friend, Dr. Immacullee. FVA is an orphanage, the organization that is helping with counselling for the 15-week social therapy classes that I mentioned in an earlier blog, helps small rural communities set up farming co-ops because families are so poor they often eat once (maybe twice) a day, they’re building a new orphanage, and they provide counselling, support and other services for gender-based domestic violence cases. To me, Immacullee is the Mother Teresa of Rwanda. When I was here in December we spent a half day at FVA with many of the women and children that FVA supports and it was great to see familiar faces and to hear that they are stronger now than ever before. Or, as one of the leaders in their community said, “a year ago we were sorting our issues. This year, we are able to breathe again and move on with our lives.”
While we were there, Catherine and I interviewed a 16 year old boy who is HIV+. His parents were both infected and died when he was a small child so he lived with his grandmother until she also passed away. When he started working with FVA he was very thin, sick, and completely orphaned. Now, he looks so healthy and loves going to school. Despite his illness and knowing that his odds of dying are higher than most 16 year olds, his vision for his future keeps him going. He’d like to attend University in Europe and wants to be a doctor. The only thing he struggles with now is security and ensuring he has enough money (through donor support) to continue his studies without disruption. FVA is sponsored by Dr. Immaculee’s private clinic and donors from around the world.
In the afternoon we visited another orphanage. This one is not run by FVA but Immacullee visits as a physician and has treated many of the children there. For me, the orphanages are the best and worst places in the world. The kids are so much fun and love visitors – they’re not unlike kids anywhere else or from any other socio-economic background. They love to colour, play football, sing, dance, they like music videos, and they love affection – something they don’t get enough of. Immediately after we arrived, Lillian, a 3-yr old who is orphaned because her parents died of HIV (she was at the orphanage with her 3 siblings, none of whom are infected) latched on to me and wouldn’t let me put her down. She doesn’t speak much but she loves to cuddle and rest her head on your shoulder.
This orphanage is the worst I have seen (through my limited experience), but from what I hear it’s in desperate need of good management and a lot of TLC. We toured the rooms, where we found mouse feces on the top bunks – I don’t believe any children are using those beds, where there were often 3 kids sharing one twin bed, where medical supplies are low for ailments most of the children have, and where food supplies are so low they can’t afford milk for the newborns and every day the kids eat beans and cassava for all three meals.
Recently they had 3 small children at Immacullee’s clinic for dehydration and malnutrition and 2 babies were delivered by the police – a boy who is 2 weeks old and a girl that is 1.5 months, named Vivian. Vivian, a gorgeous little girl was brought to the orphanage after police found her abandoned in a bush. As I held her and made gurgling baby sounds she smiled and giggled at the attention. It was so hard not to run away with little Vivian...if I legally could...I would have.
It’s heartbreaking to go into these places and I have such a hard time knowing that some of these children will die because of illness and/or malnutrition, and that most will not get an education. It’s a rough start to life, but as Immacullee told me, “that’s life and you have to do what you can.” I get so emotional at the orphanages but thankfully the kids don’t know why I cry and are often told it’s because I love them and am so happy to see them. That is true.
When we left I felt emotionally drained and took the time in the car to think about how I am going to help. Project Bella will pay for the education of as many kids as possible, but I’m sure there is more I can do…
Since today was my last day in Kigali, I needed to stop at the market to get gifts. I hadn’t been to the open air market before so it was an interesting power shopping experience. The market is open 24hrs but by the time we arrived it was getting dark so it was difficult to see the merchandise in the crammed stalls of beaded necklaces, baskets, shoes, clothes, wood carvings, linens, and just about anything else you can think of. Our friend Alan came with us to help negotiate prices so we wouldn’t get the “mizunga” price and wouldn’t be taken advantage of. Thanks Alan! :)
Before catching my flight to Nairobi – the first leg of my 26 hour journey home, we went to Bourbon Coffee for dinner and to spend time with Immacullee and Sandrali. It’s so nice to have two people that take care of us, provide us with a car and driver, take us to new restaurants, and give us with as many Rwandan experiences as possible. They genuinely care about us and have become dear friends, and family.
