R is for...
Rwanda
Compassion began its ministry in Rwanda in 1980, when the Child Sponsorship Program was started. In 2008, the Leadership Development Program began, followed by the Child Survival Program in 2010. Compassion Rwanda was forced to close temporarily during the 1994 war and genocide, but was re-opened in September 1994. Currently, more than 69,600 children participate in more than 270 child development centers.
Children meet at the child development center for 8 hours each Saturday, and they are fed when they attend. They are given porridge in the morning before starting the first lesson and then receive a full meal for lunch, which typically consists of rice, posho (a common East African dish made with cornmeal) or Irish potatoes with beans and green vegetables.
In addition to the normal certified and contextualized Compassion curriculum, children are also introduced to topics of the Rwandan national values, such as self-identity, loving the nation, unity and reconciliatio,n and striving toward self-reliance. Each child development center sets aside time twice a month for sports and cultural/traditional dances.
Adolescents also participate in discussions about human development relevant to the teenage years, such as body changes, hygiene and emotional changes. They are also involved in Bible study, discipleship, and income-generating activities like crocheting, tailoring and basket weaving.
Parents meet for weekly prayer meetings and monthly community service activities, such as house renovations, center clean-up days, and working at the vegetable gardens at the child development centers.
I absolutely love this song and video by Grant Norsworthy (Compassion artist)
To learn more about Compassion's work in Rwanda and see children waiting to be sponsored, go HERE
all information for this post was taken from Compassion's website
