After 40 years of working as a pediatrician, 66-year-old Erika Hronicek retired and decided to take another course in life. She travelled to Rwanda to help vulnerable girls get an education and good health services. She spoke to Donah Mbabazi about her decision to do voluntary work.

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Tell us about yourself

I live in Austria in a little town north of Vienna with my husband with whom we have three children, three granddaughters and a young girl I brought in from Rwanda.

When did you first come to Rwanda?

That was in 2006 when I had come to evaluate a construction project of a health centre in Rurenge near Nyagatare. I had brought them equipment such as water tanks, water purifier, photovoltaic, laboratory and other equipment.

There was also another health centre in Rwempasha where I helped drill a well to provide them with pure water and this was supported by a charity organisation called Red Chairity.

What inspired you to help the girl child in Rwanda?

It started off with a young girl I met at Centre Marembo, her name is Josiane Iradukunda, a seven-year-old who had a heart wrenching story. She was raised by her mother, a drug addict, who later threw her on the streets after burning her brutally, an incident that led to the loss of three limbs.

I found her at Centre Marembo and from then on, I knew I had to do something, so I took her with me to Austria where she had surgery, and now she is healthy and receiving an education and has us as her new family.

How did your connection to Centre Marembo come about?

Five years ago I met Nicolette Nsabimana, the founder and director of Centre Marembo, an organisation that helps sexually abused young girls as I was looking for someone to take in a young woman who had been paralyzed in an accident. Nicolette took her in and she and her little boy have been cared for since, and together, we have sent her back to school.

Are any other children receiving your support?

I cater for over 20 children by paying for them school fees, two of them are now at university and on the way to a Master’s degree. 12 students have now finished their studies and have already started to work.

There are also two former street boys I take care of, my partners and I in Austria make this possible.

How do you manage to cater for all that?

When I go back home, I do a lot of fundraising and gather funds to cater for poor, vulnerable or handicapped children. I also have a sponsor at hand that gives 10 per cent of his income to different projects all over the world, he also helps me out.

Tell us about the laboratory project in detail.

With the help of different sponsors, we have started constructing a laboratory for Centre Marembo. The laboratory will help provide health services that will be easily accessed by these vulnerable girls, and also society at large. I will also bring in all the equipment to be used in the health centre.

How will the health centre help these girls exactly?

The abused children and other vulnerable girls will have quick and easy access to laboratory tests like HIV, Hepatitis and other sexually transmitted diseases. When these diseases are detected early, it’s easier to deal with them. DNA tests will also be facilitated as most girls are impregnated by men who deny responsibility. The girls will also get access to counseling and family planning services.

Any challenges you’ve encountered so far?

The funds are not enough to finish this project and Centre Marembo needs urgent financial help to fulfill this heavy task. I hope the government also helps out because I know that together we can make it.

What are some of your future plans?

I hope to continue helping these vulnerable girls in every way I can, for as long as I can.

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