Athanasia Nyirabagesera's legacy of raising orphans will always remain in memories of hundreds of children who would have lost their lives soon after birth.

Nyirabagesera, now 80, lived her life raising babies abandoned at birth. Today, she is considered as a mother of those orphans. She has supported more than 5,000 of such orphans who were brought to Saint Noel Orphanage in Rugerero Sector, Rubavu District.

How it started

Nyirabagesera started caring for orphans when the legendary Fr Aloys Bigirumwami, the former Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Nyundo, opened an orphanage at the parish.

The priest decided to open Saint Noel Orphanage when he heard allegations of a baby buried alive with its dead mother because there was no one to take care of the newborn, according to Nyirabagesera.

Nyirabagesera says Fr Bigirumwami asked her to help raise a few children who were brought in.

"We started with few children who were brought by neighbours and other people from across the country; we took care of them and saved their lives,” she says.

Nyirabagesera says the orphanage they started in the 1950s, has since been a transit home for thousands of children.

Years later, Nyirabagesera was sent to France with Felicite Niyitegeka to study how to support vulnerable people, especially children.

"We were taught how to give voluntary care for children, trained to believe in the virtue of service to the community above self, we were taught that only God will reward good Samaritans,” she says

"On our return, I resumed care for the children, I really fell into the task with my heart and soul. My prime responsibility was to ensure that every kid was healthy and had basic necessities,” Nyirabagesera says.

"I felt like a mother to every kid and they also called me their mother.”

But the number of orphans increased during and after the Genocide when more children were abandoned, while others were picked after their parents or guardians had been killed.

"Every day, we received babies who lost their parents in the killings. Some were brought with injuries on their bodies and we were supposed to give them special care. There were times I drove to various areas that were flashpoints of killings to rescue kids who survived,” she adds.

During those hard times she worked with philanthropists and priests from Nyundo Diocese to ensure the wellbeing of the babies.

"Previously, we could take care of the children and hand them to their parents or familes after three years, but during the Genocide most of them were orphans while we could not identify the relatives of those we got from the dead,” she says

"I managed to get more supporters and worked with locals to take care of all of them. Sometimes those who worked for Saint Noel Orphanage were not paid. I always emphasised to them that only God could give a fulfilling payment for service done,” says the elderly woman.

Nyibagesera, who was a teacher until in 2000s, says most of the children would choose to stay in the orphanage and lend support when they reached adulterhood.

Saint Noel Orphanage provided the children with basic education with support from French wellwishers known as Les enfants avant tous (literally translated as ‘Children before all’), government, Catholic Church and others.

She is very thankful that even when the government decided to phase out orphanages, she has never failed to provide for needy children.

"We have managed to educate all the children who lived in this orphanage and most of them are university graduates today, while others have completed secondary education. I am very happy to see that most of the children I raised are now parents themselves,” she says.

Recognised for generosity

Last month, the government, through Unity Club, handed a modern house to Athanasia Nyirabagesera in recognition of her ‘big heart’ in helping the nation raise abandoned kids during tough times.

"I am grateful for the house, I will never be homeless, I thank the government for the support,” she said.

During the handover ceremony, the Minister for Gender and Family Promotion, Oda Gasinzigwa, who was the chief guest at the function, hailed the Nyirabagesera for the role she played to support vulnerable children.

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Children speak out

Some of the now-adults raised by Nyirabagesera until in 2013 during the phase out of orphanages described her as a good and kind mother who dedicated her life to raise children she never delivered.

"I arrived here when I was seven and was raised by this mother (Nyirabagesera) and learned a lot from her. She treated us equally and she was so humble, she did her best to feed us, clothed us and gave us everything we needed,” said Sylivie Mujawimana, 27, who is currently a student at Rwanda Tourism University College.

Jeanne Mukandayisaba, 28, said: "I was brought to Saint Noel Orphanage in 1994 after my parents were slaughtered in the Genocide. I have never lacked anything from her. She taught us unity and oneness despite the fact that we were from different backgrounds. I am committed to be helpful and to support any needy people, especially vulnerable children.”

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