Since the introduction of Early Childhood Development Centres (ECDs) in Rwanda, most of them focused on children born from conventional family set ups and with specific age limits.

However, that is not the case for one ECD centre located in Karongi district which caters for street children and teenage girls including teen mothers.

Normally, ECDs for children between 18 and 70 months, but the Global Health to Heal (GHH), an organisation managing Children Development Infrastructures in Bwishyura sector has gone an extra mile.

The ECD is a home to 11 toddlers in pre-school, 33 street children, 14 TVET students (including teen mothers) and 75 in Itetero clubs and are all catered for according to their needs.

Children are served delicious and nutrious food to fight against malnutrition and stunting in Karongi District. Courtesy

The New Times had an interview with some of the former street children getting general life skills from the ECD.

The youngster, names withheld, had dropped out of school and lived a street life, but came come back to learn basic skills and hopes to eventually go back to school.

"Before coming here, I lived in destitution. I would sleep on an empty stomach and faced stigma from society. But here, I get food, I learn and play,” recounted 15-year old former street kid.

Asked what pushed him to the streets, he said: "My parents had disagreements and later divorced, so I also went to live a street life, but now I have another family that adopted me and I finally hope to lead a meaningful life in the future.”

Children play at one ECD centre located in Karongi district which caters for street children and teenage girls including teen mothers.Photo by Celine Cyuzuzo.

Another former street child, an 18-year old who was born out of incest, also recounts how he joined the street, and the impact of being catered in ECDs.

"I was literally a thug; I would rob and used to smoke…but when this ECD took us in, things dramatically changed for me for the better,” he said, adding that both his parents have disowned him and no family member wants to associate themselves with him because of the way he was conceived.

Clemence Dusingize, Behaviour Change Communication Specialist at RBC, speaks to the media on the role of ECDs in Rwanda. / Photo by Celine Cyuzuzo

"I have left the street life for good. I am now a committed student, with dreams of playing a role in local government administration, like being a district mayor,” he said.

For teen mothers having babies catered for in ECDs and themselves taking TVET classes, the centre has been impactful and has set them up for opportunities they had long given up on.

"I gave birth at age 17, and dropped out in primary six. I later got the help from this ECD which has not only taken care of my child, but also given me employment where I make some money,” she said.

My baby is safe here and very well fed, added the teen mother. "I don’t have a husband to help me raise my child but the ECD has become her father since the age of 5 months.”

According to Anne Marie Nyirasafari, the Deputy Executive Director of Global Health to Heal (GHH), the non-profit organisation managing the ECD, it is a big achievement for these children to have a second chance at life despite their dark past.

"Having made them (former street children) attend class every day from Monday to Sunday is an achievement for us. From time to time, they become more committed. Initially absenteeism was high. But it is still a journey, and we have a lot to do going forward,” she expressed.

ECDs are pathways to healthy lives for children, as emphasized by Clemence Dusingize, an officer in charge of community mobilization at Rwanda Biomedical Centre.

She stressed her institution’s view that when a child is provided with these services at their earliest stage of life, they grow healthier and wiser.

"Having children in the same place for us is a great goal because it eases provision of services. We also use the opportunity to engage parents on how best to feed their children so that they lead healthier lives.

The national malnutrition and stunting target is to reach 19 percent by 2024.

The whole Bwishyura sector has 104 children in 4 different ECDs, according to officials.