Increased Care and Support to Orphans and Vulnerable Children in the Great Lakes Region of East Africa

is a cooperative agreement being implemented by AVSI in the countries of Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya with funding from USAID through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and from AVSI.

Success Stories

Every Hope Deserves a Chance -- Providence's Story

Little Providence Iradukunda is a tiny eight year old girl born in the District of KAMONYI, MUSAMBIRA sector, Rwanda. Sadly, Providence’s life is marked by developmental handicaps resulting from the close relationship of her biological parents. Providence’s mother was young herself, only 15 years when she became pregnant, and in a compromised family situation as a result. When the baby was born, the father recognized her as his daughter and even gave her the name of Providence. Yet as her handicaps became more evident, Providence’s father turned his back and distanced himself from the child.

In time, Providence’s mother received and accepted a marriage proposal from another man, and so she moved with her baby to her new home. The family soon grew to include another daughter and a son. Providence’s problems were becoming increasingly serious. Foreseeing the potential problem of integrating Providence into the new family, the child’s extended family decided to intervene by bringing the child back into the home of the maternal grandmother.

Providence had significant psychomotor problems that kept her from standing on her own until four years of age. She remained seated all the time and was often left alone while others tended the fields and were busy with chores. When the rain would begin to fall, Providence could not move by herself to enter the house and so the child remained under the rain until help arrived.

Although scarcity of food was a general condition of the entire family, it was more serious for Providence who needed greater attention because of her other health problems. Providence’s health deteriorated day by day.

When Providence was identified for sponsorship by AVSI social workers, her mother proposed that AVSI should instead sponsor the younger daughter who was healthy, explaining that ‘Providence was a useless burden; she was considered dead in the eyes of her family’. The mother insisted to the point of declaring that if AVSI would not take the sister instead of Providence, she would refuse any help from AVSI at all. However, after much counselling and discussion, Providence was finally given a chance to enrol for sponsorship.

AVSI continued the dialogue with the family and the parents in particular to help them understand that in spite of Providence’s handicaps, she has the same rights as any other child. Over time, the parents have come to accept their responsibility and their child’s rights.

Providence’s malnutrition was severe and the doctor recommended immediate intervention, which was done. After two years, Providence could stand with difficulty and was ready to begin physical therapy. With the continued support of AVSI sponsorship and the involvement of AVSI Welfare officers, Providence was enrolled in a boarding school for children with special needs called, “Handicapped Restored in its Rights.” In this school, Providence receives just what the doctor ordered, including physical therapy and the special care of one attendant who gives her a generous dose of love and affection.

Today, Providence is able to walk, eat independently and smile, which is something that her family had never seen before. Her resilience gives all of us hope that one day this little girl will be able to enjoy life to the full.

Lessons Learned

In Rwanda, in contrast to the other countries, AVSI’s OVC program is managed directly by AVSI staff to a large degree in response to the lack of local organizations to partner with. This distinction in operational methods has meant that AVSI staff have taken on the role of identifying the most vulnerable children in each community. House to house visits allowed AVSI to meet Providence and to draw her out of the shadows.

This story also highlights the important educative work with parents. While an extreme and difficult case, the reaction of Providence’s parents and family to the special needs of their child can be understood given the context of scarcity in which they live. AVSI is always looking for ways to involve the parents in the care for their children which is facilitated by the sponsorship program, so that rather than taking the place of the parents’ responsibility, the assistance can bolster their responsibility and commitment to caring for their children.