While still in early childhood age, some of us always expected every thing from parents ranging from food, shelter to all other necessities and essentials. In fact even now, an average number of children are lucky to have parents and guardians to look up to in case of any needs. Meanwhile, there are some other kids out there that have no one to help them and are working too hard to get at least a cloth to put on Christmas to look as smart as other kids. At 11 years, Habineza Claude has resorted to fishing as the way to help him at least save 3000 for a pair of trousers and a shirt. “Before my father passed away, Christmas was the most significant day in our home,” he says. “Dad would buy each kid a pair of clothes and shoes that we would put on while going to church,” continues Claude. Though a bit hard to get money to afford anything, Claude has to keep up to his deceased father’s tradition. A resident at Mbabara, an island in Lake Kivu Habineza wakes up as early as 5:00 because that’s when fish is available. He always gets a catch between 3 to 4 fish. A tilapia in Kibuye goes for two hundred francs or three hundred when it’s a big one. Through this process he has been able to earn two thousand six hundred and he has hope against hopes to earn the remaining four hundred francs in just a few days. Meanwhile Mutegwamaso Angelique is yet another child who can’t rest until she gets a Christmas dress. “I carry luggage for refugees to Nyakiziba camp,” Angelique says. Regardless of the long distance from Kibuye town to Nkambi, Mutegwamaso carries heavy luggage. These are some times house properties like sauce pans, Jericans and suitcases or food at times. Instead of missing a church service because she lacks what to put on, she would rather carry heavy loads. “I don’t mind about the sunshine, after all am now used to it,” she says. She is a 12 year old girl. Even children with parents go through some hardships to get the best for Christmas. “Whenever Christmas is approaching, my mum gives me a job of which she pays me so that I can buy myself shoes and a dress for Christmas,” says 9 year old Umutoni Regina. “I clean up her room and mine, as well as the compound after which I earn a pay of 5000,”she continues. “Its healthy for kids to work hard from the time they are young, this will make them know the value of work even when they are older,” says Antoinette Mukamusoni a parent. Ends
