Around the world, millions of children have lost one or both parents to different illnesses, especially AIDS. Millions more live with sick family members. The profound trauma of losing one or both parents has devastating long-term implications, not only for a child’s well-being and development, but for the stability of some communities.

Visual artist Alain Bertrand Umuhoza discovered this sad reality when he took it upon himself to interact with vulnerable children in his community.

The dejected situation of these children caught his attention while he was pursuing a career as a visual artist in Kigali.

Slowly by slowly, he started approaching them and they started to open up to him, he said. He revealed how unhappy and hopeless their lives were.

"I realised that some of these children don’t attend school because their parents can’t afford it. I was also shocked by their sad stories that it was clear that they also have these mental health issues. Beyond going back to school and getting materials, they also need a family and therapy,’’ he shared.

He said, after interacting with them, he decided to start helping them by using his artistic talent to see these children’s life changing for better.

In 2010, Umuhoza founded an initiative he dubbed ‘Tumukunde initiative’ a local charity that aims to bring hope and light among vulnerable children.

Tumukunde that is loosely translated as love him//her an initiative that is currently supporting children in Kigali district and Muhanga district by paying school fees, giving them hygiene as well as school materials.

The initiative also organises therapy sessions, sexual reproductive health and provide health guidance to those who are living with HIV.

In 2020, following the outbreak of covid-19 the initiative had an idea to introduce a project they titled ‘Nturi wenyine’ translated as you are not alone, that aims at connecting children from one community to another so they can make new friends and not feel lonely.

In partnership with East Group Minerals, the initiative currently has 35 employees that help them through equipping these children. It also donates books to different libraries and schools across the country. The initiative has so far equipped a number of 335 children.

How it started

While he was pursuing university in Uganda, Umuhoza was impressed by how the art scenes and art itself is more creative and artists are deeply attached to it. This encouraged him to join arts.

He returned to Rwanda as a visual artist but watching vulnerable children in his neighborhood, in Muhanga district, made him uncomfortable.

The initiative donates books to vulnerable children. / Courtesy photos.

He started volunteering in an orphanage, which later it closed its doors when they were adopted. He took it up himself to keep an eye on them to make sure they are safe.

During that time, he got a chance to interact with his orphan friends and he realised how difficult their lives without their parents was. He alerted district officials and it didn’t take long before they started supporting vulnerable children in his neighborhood.

Umuhoza started doing artworks which were sold for donation purposes.

The initiative however, has achieved so much so that they have also started supporting vulnerable families, teen mothers and single mothers like Charlotte Mukabayisenge, who says she is grateful for the initiative that changed her life and gave it a bright future.

"Tumukunde’ has been of great support. I used to sell items on the streets which is not permitted by the law, but now I am grateful that they guided me and paid me every necessity and now am doing tailoring and making money out of it. I am also grateful that my two daughters went back to school as they pay their school fees and provide them with school materials,’’ she shared.

Challenges and future plans

According to Umuhoza, financial support has been their greatest challenge so far, even though it didn’t discourage them.

Umuhoza expressed his gratitude to East Group Minerals Company, which he says has been their daily supporter that kept them moving forward.

Among the future plans they have is to organise art sessions every Saturday where children will be offered art therapy as well as other different activities like reading books, sports and so much more.

The initiative also plans to build a children center where all these activities shall take place and also looking forward to implement other projects they have in store.

You can reach Alain Bertrand Umuhoza on 078844275