Pictured above are five of the most recent graduates from the Gasanze Street Kids Rescue Project. Five young lives which were being spent scavenging through a dump and sleeping on cardboard and under bushes, now boldly starting their own businesses, supporting their families and sure of who they are as loved and important individuals, part of a larger family that cares deeply for them. On the far right of the picture is Jonathon*, shown with his friends and their new bikes, granted by the project to help with their bicycle taxi businesses and with general transport and life. Jonathon wrote a letter to his sponsor to tell them how he was feeling about leaving the project and starting his journey of independence and sustainability.Â
“Before joining the project, my life was extremely hard and hopeless. I survived by picking scraps of food from the streets and from the dump, and there were many nights when I had no place to go except to sleep in the bushes. I often went to bed hungry, not knowing if I would find anything to eat the next day.
At home, life was no better. My mother had no job, no education, and no way of providing for us. As the oldest child, I felt the weight of responsibility, but there was nothing I could do. We lived in constant poverty and fear, with no security and no hope for the future. I used to look at other children going to school and wonder if my life would ever change.
“The day I was welcomed into the Gasanze Street Kids Project was the beginning of a completely new life. For the first time in a long time, I was given good food to eat, clean clothes to wear, health insurance to protect me, and the chance to go back to school. These things, which many children take for granted, became the building blocks of my transformation.
The project not only cared for me but also supported my family. We were given a safe place to live, and my mother was helped to start rice cultivation so that she could provide food for us. This was a huge change for our family. From a home of constant suffering, we became a family that could sit together and share a meal.
“I was also given a new bicycle, which I now use in the bicycle taxi business. This opportunity has given me dignity, independence, and a way to earn money to support both myself and my family. The project did not just rescue me; it gave me the tools and confidence to begin building a brighter future.
One of the most special moments in my journey was celebrating our farewell with the Comfort International group. It was a day filled with joy and thanksgiving. We shared cake together, sang songs to the Lord for all He has done, and looked back on the journey that had brought us to this point. For me, it was not just a celebration but a reminder of how far I have come and of all the people who worked together to give me this opportunity.
“Truly, my life is better than ever before because of the love, support, and teamwork of so many people who cared for me. I am now stronger, happier, and more hopeful than I have ever been. I can see a future that is full of opportunities, where I am able to work, to provide for my family, and to help others who may be going through what I once experienced.”
A message from in-country partners Comfort Rwanda
“At Comfort Rwanda, we are truly delighted and deeply encouraged to see the transformation in Jonathon’s life. His journey has not been an easy one. From a boy who once survived by eating leftovers from the streets and the dump, sleeping in the bushes, and living without hope, he has grown into a young man with dignity, purpose, and determination.
It was especially moving to celebrate Jonathon’s farewell alongside the Comfort International group. We witnessed his joy, his gratitude, and his determination to live differently. Sharing cake, singing together, and giving thanks to God for all He has done reminded us all of the importance of walking alongside these children and helping them to discover a brighter future.
“Today, Jonathon is not only working hard through his bicycle taxi business, but he is also supporting his mother, who is engaged in rice cultivation, and helping to provide for his younger siblings. His independence, responsibility, and resilience are clear signs that he is prepared to face the future with confidence.”
*Name changed to protect identity