Rwanda's economy is projected to grow by 7.2% in 2024, reinforcing its reputation as one of Africa's fastest-growing economies. The country has also achieved impressive rankings in safety, placing it as a role model for other nations.
As Rwanda continues to uphold its identity and seek homegrown solutions for a better future, the well-being of its citizens remains a top priority. The government addresses societal concerns that could impede family development and the nation at large, with the issue of street children being a major focus.
The issue of street children is not unique to Rwanda; globally, there are approximately 150 million street children. Although specific figures for Rwanda are not readily available, as of January 2024, the police reported at least 3,900 young people and children in rehabilitation centers due to illicit drug use and other illegal activities.
Rwanda's commitment to protecting its children is evident through the efforts of institutions like the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) and the National Child Development Agency (NCDA). The Rwanda National Rehabilitation Service (NRS) plays a crucial role in monitoring transit centers to ensure compliance with regulations, with the ultimate goal of reuniting street children with their families or sending them to rehabilitation centers where they can acquire life skills.
The country has established 28 transit centers across the nation, including Kigali Transit Center at Gikondo, which provides temporary accommodation for children rescued from street life. At these centers, children are screened to determine their identity and immediate needs, such as medical treatment, hygiene essentials, clean clothing, and bedding. They are then either reunited with their families or guardians or transferred to a rehabilitation center.
Between 2017 and 2019, the Kigali Transit Center screened and reunified 1,261 children with their families, while 2,564 were transferred to the government-operated Gitagata Rehabilitation Center and 18 other private rehabilitation facilities managed by civil society and faith-based organizations. According to the National Rehabilitation Services (NRS), between July 2017 and December 2019, 5,065 children were either reintegrated back into their families or provided with education and skills at the Gitagata center and 18 private rehabilitation centers.
Additionally, a total of 129 children were rehabilitated from the Gitagata Rehabilitation Center (GRC) and reintegrated into their families during the 2021/2022 period. Between 2022 and 2023, 881 children were rehabilitated from both the GRC and Nyamagabe Rehabilitation Center (NRC), with 882 children undergoing rehabilitation in the 2023/2024 period. Over the past three years, 1,892 children have been rehabilitated, contributing to a total of 12,000 children reintegrated into families since 2016.
Today, hundreds of former street youth have acquired valuable life skills in areas such as tailoring, catering, carpentry, welding, plumbing, masonry, and driving, allowing them to become resourceful, self-sustaining, and law-abiding citizens.
In an interview with IGIHE, Assumpta Ingabire, the Director-General of the NCDA, highlighted that the number of street children fluctuates based on the interventions in place. She emphasized that all children should grow up in safe families where they can enjoy their rights, including education, welfare, health, participation, and protection. Rwanda's vision is clear: 'No children should live on the street.'
Family-related issues such as conflicts, neglect, and lack of parental responsibility are primary factors contributing to children living on the streets. To address these issues, the NCDA, in collaboration with various stakeholders, conducts periodic awareness and mass mobilization on child rights through media, community forums, and specific sessions with parents, particularly at Early Childhood Development (ECD) facilities and with those who have children on the streets.
At the village level, family friends are responsible for identifying children at risk of going to the streets due to child protection inefficacies within their families. They also identify families in conflict and provide support or refer cases where necessary. Ingabire explained that the NCDA provides psychosocial and economic support to some families at risk of separating from their children, empowering them to take care of their children.
The NCDA has also implemented a National Child Protection Case Management Framework that outlines how each child protection case should be addressed. This framework ensures that child protection actors collaborate comprehensively to handle each case until the affected child is rehabilitated and can live a normal life.
Théophile Niyitegeka
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/inside-rwanda-s-efforts-to-rehabilitate-street-children
