The Nyabisindu Street Kids Rescue Project, run by our partners Comfort Rwanda, was initiated to address the needs of street children who were living in extremely difficult conditions in the Nyabisindu area of Kigali. In line with the Rwandan Government’s master plan for Kigali, many families living in poor and unsafe housing in Nyabisindu have recently been relocated as part of the city’s efforts to modernise and improve living conditions.
To date, fourteen families from the project have already moved to new locations away from Nyabisindu, and their homes have been demolished. For those who owned their homes, compensation has been promised by the authorities, although the exact timeline for this is still unclear. Additionally, seven more families remain at risk of being displaced, as they live in the area designated for redevelopment. This has created significant uncertainty for these families, especially regarding the education of their children, as they fear how far their new locations will be from their current schools.
Some of the families affected include the sponsored family below left, whose home was also destroyed as part of the relocation. It’s heart-breaking to see these families lose everything, especially when they’ve been supported in such challenging circumstances.
Additionally, the project mother, shown above right, a very generous lady who has always welcomed children in need into her home, also lost her house. She used her home to keep children safe and offer them a space to feel at home. She was especially kind, always making sure that children had a safe place to stay. Needless to say, she was deeply saddened by the loss, as her home had been a sanctuary for so many.
In response to this situation, Chantal and the team were providing food assistance to the relocated families on 30th May 2025, to help them through this transition. This is part of Comfort Rwanda’s ongoing support to ensure they have the resources they need during this challenging time.
Additionally, Chantal will be attending the upcoming general assembly meeting, which brings together all relevant organisations and authorities. The purpose of this meeting is to reflect on the impacts of these relocations on supported individuals within the district. At this meeting, Chantal has been assigned to speak to the local leaders about the specific situation of our sponsored families in Nyabisindu and the challenges they are facing due to the relocation.
If you have questions or concerns about the situation at Nyabisindu or are worried about your sponsored child/family, please get in touch with us directly and we will aim to provide you with as much information as we can. Please continue to pray for all affected and for the Comfort Rwanda team that they would be well equipped to respond to this situation.Â