1.1 Rationale of the Organization

The tragic past that our country went through left various vulnerable groups, including 1994 genocide survivors, who are still suffering from wounds and scars. These groups include orphan children, children heading households, widows, street girls and boys, and prostitutes, among others.

Touched by the fate of the aforementioned groups, Mr. IYAMUREMYE Athanase started with gospel preaching to prostitutes in Gasabo District, Kigali City, inviting them to pray and turn away from this harmful lifestyle. He encouraged them to opt for a new way of living by starting income-generating activities as an alternative means of earning money. Many of them began to change their behavior. A large number of prostitutes, tired of their harsh circumstances, sought better solutions to their problems. However, the place was not sufficient to accommodate the large numbers. Seeing the positive changes in these women, other vulnerable groups became interested and joined the preaching services, adding to the numbers. They were estimated at twelve thousand, many of them being children.

1.2 Current Situation and Key Concerns

Gospel Preaching for Prostitutes

Through the Word of God, we work to dissuade prostitutes from their business by highlighting the fear of sin and the curse from God. Those who agree to change their behavior are also sensitized on the negative effects of prostitution, especially HIV/AIDS, and encouraged to voluntarily test to know their HIV/AIDS status. Preaching services take place under the sun and rain. The construction of a church is part of our plan, but we lack the necessary funds.

Protection and Promotion of Children’s Rights

Orphans adopted by poor households, child-headed households, and children out of school benefit from our interventions. We provide assistance in terms of advocacy to various government institutions and social affairs departments at decentralized levels through humanitarian actions undertaken by our members. Additionally, we provide legal aid to fight injustices committed against orphans and other children deprived of their rights, including succession rights. The above-mentioned children are in vulnerable situations because they have been deprived of their inheritance rights. We found it better to help them secure access to their property rather than continuing to provide for them indefinitely.

Socioeconomic Assistance

Our assistance includes organizing beneficiaries into cooperatives to promote a spirit of mutual support among them. The purpose of this approach is to eventually mobilize support for their productive activities and empower them since some of our beneficiaries have reached the age of maturity (21 years old) and are allowed to participate in income-generating activities.

Education

Our program is intended for children who have abandoned school to engage in acts of prostitution and delinquency, as well as other children from vulnerable groups such as orphans. Our assistance includes providing school materials and fees and conducting school visits to follow up on their education.

Health

Among our beneficiaries, some have been infected with HIV/AIDS and need assistance in terms of counseling and food supplements. The organization is committed to sensitizing and mobilizing them into cooperatives so that they can become productive and improve their living conditions.

Unity and Reconciliation

Following the tragic past that our country experienced, our organization found it crucial to include unity and reconciliation activities in our work. These activities include regrouping beneficiaries from different ethnic origins into cooperatives to enable interaction and the implementation of income-generating activities, reducing division and hatred. We also create team games to enable children to develop a spirit of brotherhood and drama groups to convey messages of peace and reconciliation.

1.5 Specific Objectives

• Preach the gospel.
• Promote women and children.
• Fight against juvenile delinquency and prostitution.
• Promote spiritual formation, unity, reconciliation, and community development in the country.
• Protect and care for helpless children.
• Promote education, health, culture, and sports.
• Promote dialogue and the culture of peace.
• Fight against any kind of violence against humanity.
• Sensitize the community on HIV/AIDS and assist persons infected or affected.