Country Profile: Rwanda

Total Population: 12.4 million
Total Children under the age of 18: 6.4 million

The situation of children in Rwanda

The Challenges:

• Close to 100% of Rwandan children are enrolled in primary school, and 73% of children aged 15 or older are considered literate.
• 38.2% of the population living in poverty, including 16% in extreme poverty
• 38% of children under the age of 5 are stunted, with 49% of them being in the poorest quintile
• Out of every 1,000 births in Rwanda, around 50 of these children do not survive to see their fifth birthday.
• Over half of all girls and six out of ten boys experience some form of violence during childhood. Children are usually abused by people they know – parents, neighbors, teachers.
• Over 18,000 young girls had early pregnancies in 2020, and the number increased every year.

Rwanda WO works on:

• We exist to find a family for every child, we believe that every child deserves a lovely family to equip churches in Rwanda to support adoptive, foster, kinship, and safe families.
• 29,674 friends of families trained to prevent and fight all forms of child's violation
• We are working with a three-leg stool Public, Private, and Church sector to ensure all children will be safely transitioned into families and communities with access to health, education, and jobs.
• Over 300 lay social workers and 1,000 parents benefited from our training programs and were equipped with the knowledge and skills to facilitate the deinstitutionalization process and positive parenting.
• Over 40 churches across the country embraced the paradigm of WWO and started strong OVC (Orphan, Vulnerable, Children) Ministries in their respective churches and made fundamental contributions in preventing and protecting vulnerable children.

We encourage the local church to meet with:

• Basic Needs. Meet the basic needs of vulnerable children and young people in Rwanda (food, shelter, clothing, education, healthcare).
• Safety. Create a safe, nurturing environment with sustainable social welfare to thrive (through schooling, counseling, learning life skills).
• Family. Trace families and Remain, Regain, Reunite with children, and encourage street kids to be active citizens.
• Happiness. See our children grow to be healthy, Knowing God, happy adults who are self-supporting and free from the cycle of poverty.

Other Information about Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and Family Care in Rwanda

Better Care Network Information on Family-Based Care in Rwanda

More information for prayer at Operation World Better Care Network - Family-based care

"Source: UNICEF, Humanium, SOS Children's Villages International".