Case Studies

• Name: Nyabenda Jacqueline  
• Age:8 years 
• Date of birth:2004
• Origin:  Was born in Uganda 
• Parents:  Both parents are not known yet where they are         
• Siblings:1 brother, 1 sister 
• Other relatives:  Not known 
• History
• After the genocide in 1994, Jacqueline’s parents left Rwanda to Tanzania in the refugee camp. In 1996, the refugees who were in Tanzania were asked to repatriate to their country Rwanda. Jacqueline‘s parents left Tanzania and went to Uganda instead, and were taken to Nakivalley refugee camp from where Jacqueline was born. In 2010 all Rwandese refuges were asked to come back to Rwanda because there is peace and they were no reason for them to live in refugee camps. They were put in Lorries by Ugandans and taken back to Rwanda. But they did not consider children and parents or relatives; some refugees refused and decided to go to other parts of Uganda. Jacqueline with her siblings and her found themselves in a lorry with other people heading to Rwanda.  Jacqueline and her siblings, up to today they don’t know if the parents stayed in Uganda or repatriated to Rwanda. SACCA met her when she was walking on the street with her siblings and told SACCA staff that, they were looking for their parents.  SACCA tried to arrange for the announcement over different radios in collaboration with worked with UNHCR but all was in vain. Jacqueline is now living in SACCA girls’ centre.
• Current status and interest
• Jacqueline lives in SACCA girls centre. She was taken to school in P2.  She likes her sister very much and likes studying. She believes she will one time see her parents. She wishes she would become a nurse after her studies because, she likes people who help others. 

• Name:  Mahoro Kayesu 
• Age:8 years 
• Date of birth:2004
• Origin:  was born in Uganda 
• Parents:  Both parents live in unknown place         
• Siblings:  none 
• Other relatives:   Not known 
• History
• After the genocide in 1994, Jacqueline’s parents left Rwanda to Tanzania in the refugee camp. In 1996, the refugees who were in Tanzania were asked to repatriate to Rwanda.  Her parents left Tanzania to Uganda instead and were taken to Nakivalley refugee camp from where she was born. She was living with her father and mother but in 2010, all Rwandese refugees were asked to repatriate to Rwanda because they couldn’t see any reason they could remain in refugee camp for the whole of their life. Akayesu is remembering his father taking her from home to a very big Lorries. She is still remembering Ugandan police station that was near that refugee camp that would hit people very often. Like other people, Akayesu was forced to jump into the Lorry by Ugandan police in considering her parents and took them to Rwanda.  On Reaching in Rwanda, Akayesu found herself with other people she did not know and was taken by a certain girl who fed her and bought her shoes but later was taken by another person and dropped her near SACCA centre. SACCA arranged for the announcement over different radios in collaboration with UNHCR but the parents are no where to be seen. Akayesu is now living in SACCA girls’ centre.
• Current status and interest
• Akayesu was taken to primary school in P1  and now in S1 . She  believes she will  one time see her parents, She is not sure of what she would plan of herself in the future but, after studies she  wishes she would become a good basketball player. 

A girl aged 16: “I joined SACCA in 2008 from the streets of Kayonza town. I have never gone to school because I have no parents. I am happy with SACCA because it took me back to school and I am now in Senior One.  Education is helping so much since I can read and write and so I now understand my rights as a young girl.  Education also has helped me in developing my musical talents. Once I complete University, I hope to earn money for myself so I can live independently and will help me financially support my relatives. In the future, I want to join SACCA to assist Street children both financially and by advocating for them so that never again are there street children.”

A girl aged 16:  “I joined SACCA in 2015, when I was working as a house girl.  I had dropped school while in Primary 5 because my parents could not provide with me the basic needs.  The authorities nearby took me to SACCA and I went back to school and I am now in Senior Two (I have made progress of three years). Education is important in my life because it has let me know how to communicate with different people and helped me forgive my parents who had neglected me, understand the rights of children especially girls, have hope compared to previous times, has brought discipline to my life, understand problems of street children, associate with fellow children at school, appreciate the good done to me, become more humane and develop the spirit of living independently, rather than dependently.”

A girl aged 14:  “I joined SACCA in 2013 from the streets in Kigali. I had never gone to school because I found myself an orphan and so I remained with my grandmother who could not afford my needs.  I decided to join street life searching for survival and was picked by Catholic nuns for 2 days who took me to SACCA. I am happy with SACCA because I go to school and I am now in Primary 5.  Education is helping me in very many ways. I can now read and write my name and can communicate with other girls in the centre, other children at school, with my matron, with SACCA volunteers and visitors. I now understand children’ rights, love school, love my relatives though they didn’t care for me, understand the meaning of hygiene and sanitation (not eating everything I come across), am becoming more disciplined, understand the problems of other street children. In the future, I want to finish my studies up to the level of university in Medicine, and I now understand the importance of reintegration of children from centres into families/relatives/guardians.”

A girl aged 12: “I joined SACCA in 2013 from the streets in Kigali. I dropped school while in Primary 2 because my mother died and my father was in prison.  I was brought to SACCA by catholic nuns and SACCA took me back to school. I have sat the Primary Living Examination (P6).   Education has made me a bright girl to the extent that I have hope for survival. I was a very difficult girl, but today I am disciplined, I understand the value of being a girl, can understand the problems of other street children, can associate with different people of different cultures, and I feel that I can live independently when I am reintegrated.”

A girl aged 15: “I joined SACCA in 2015 from the streets of Kayonza while in Primary 3. I came to SACCA by myself because I did not have anybody to care for me at home. I am happy with SACCA because it took me back to school to continue my studies. Education has meaning in my life because it helped me improve my English and how to communicate with other people who come to SACCA. I am able to read and write to my friends and I have hope to get a job after my studies. I explore different places through school trips and I am improving my talents in dancing and life skills, like moral values.  I understand the importance of establishing such centres where street children are taken in for medical care.”   

A boy aged 17: “I dropped school while in Primary 3 and I joined street life because my parents died. I was picked from the streets of Kayonza by police men and taken to SACCA.  I thank SACCA because it took me back to school and I am now in Primary 6. Today, education has helped me in reading and writing to my friends, speaking English, and being able to communicate with other people. Through education, I can think much better and because of my newfound discipline, I will never take drugs again. SACCA has given me the scholastic materials needed to progress in my education.  Education has helped me learn to love my relatives because I did not love them. Before coming to SACCA there was no hope in me but now because of the education SACCA has given me, I have hope for my future.”   

A woman aged 20: “I am now in Culinary Art and Stryde training at SACCA. I come from one of the vulnerable families. I dropped out of school because of these difficult circumstances. As a result, I became pregnant and I now have two children. I am thankful to SACCA for recruiting me and I have hope of acquiring knowledge and skills that will enable me to earn money, to help provide for my children. In just a few months, vocational training has made me committed to work hard to fight vulnerability as a young woman. I will advocate for other vulnerable young women.”