The Children
Children of Amani
Orphans:
Countless thousands of children lost their parents in the genocide or in the years following due to disease and poverty. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimates that there are now nearly 1.26 million orphans in Rwanda, a country with a total population of 9 million. Of these orphans, 400,000 children are the heads of their households.
Street children:
Thousands of children—many of whom had been exploited for their labor or their property and denied the right to education in their home villages—have migrated to streets of the capital to fend for themselves. On the city streets these children face a near constant risk of harassment by law enforcement officials, including arbitrary arrest. Municipal authorities round up children by force in an effort to "clean the streets," despite promises to help protect these vulnerable children. Girls living on the streets are frequently raped, sometimes even by law enforcement officials, yet few of those responsible have been prosecuted, according to a Human Rights Watch report from 2003.
Even if these youth have a place to sleep at night, they spend their days working in the marketplace or begging in public spaces. They are not in school and do not participate in any extra-curricular activities. Those who do not have families or guardians are forced to both work and live in the streets.
Returned Refugees:
During and after the genocide of 1994, hundreds of thousands of Rwandans fled to nearby countries such as the Congo and Tanzania. Now, these families are being repatriated, and very often they return to Rwanda with their children who have spent most of their lives in another country.
Many financial and emotional challenges accompany this move, particularly in light of the fact that this population of returned refugees is composed mainly of subsistence farmers. During this time of transition, it is important that the children become involved in activities and programs that will reintegrate them into Rwandan society and provide them with opportunities for the future.
Youth Leaders
Amani Africa also engages young Africans who demonstrate an ambition to work towards sustainable peace by promoting reconciliation and respect for human rights. Amani responds to the initiative of young leaders and provides advice on issues ranging from organization to message development, recognizing that by supporting these youth, we are helping cultivate peace-seeking leaders of the future.