For Humanium’s 7th anniversary and the Universal Children’s Day, Arndt Soret, Humanium’s vice president and co-founder, will travel throughout Rwanda from 20 to 30 November, in the region of Byumba, in order to raise awareness on children’s fundamental rights. This campaign will be made through a hike from village to village in the heart of a country known for its many hills, earning it the moniker of “Land of a Thousand Hills”.

Context

Rwanda has had a troubled history, especially with the 1994 genocide that continues to have repercussions on the economical, social, and political situation of the country.

As a consequence, a significant number of Rwandan children, most of whom live in precarious conditions, have very little access to education and health care. They are also often victims of sexual abuse.

Although the issue of children’s rights is now one of the government’s priorities, Rwandan youth do not have full access to their rights and are often victims of discrimination

Project’s location

The region of Byumba is situated in the North of the country at the Ugandan border and is mostly made up of hills and farmlands, where children are especially affected by malnutrition and a lack of education. They are usually seen by their families only as a way to earn money. Indeed, parents generally know that if their child does not survive, another one will replace it. Therefore, in this disadvantaged area, it is as important to protect these children as to raise adults’ awareness on the importance of children’s fundamental rights.

The project

The children’s rights walk project in the region of Byumba is aiming to draw adults’ attention to the fact that children have rights, especially that these adults must ensure the protection of these rights. The protection of vulnerable children through adult awareness is therefore the heart of this project.

The right to life, protection, nutrition, and health are at the centre of our priorities, especially because of the high number of people infected by HIV (210,000 in 2014). Moreover, it is also important to remind the population that rape and sexual violence, often occurring within families, are children’s rights violations that physically and mentally injure children for the rest of their lives and prevent them from fully enjoying their childhood and building up a fearless future.

Within Rwandan communities, mayors, village chiefs, and teachers are influential people and key leaders. Therefore, these figures are the main ones that are targeted by our campaign. Furthermore, parents’ and children’s awareness must also be raised and therefore they will also be at the centre of the awareness campaign. Indeed, it is important to show to the population that they have the competencies and skills to build a better future for their children on their own.

From 20 to 30 November 2015, Arndt Soret, Humanium’s vice president and co-founder, will walk …km through Byumba’s hills in order to raise the awareness of 200 and 300 adults of different communities.

Raising awareness of the village chiefs, teachers, and parents will mainly happen through the organisation of 7 5-hour-long working groups, with the help of our partner AVSI.

In order to get the closest possible to the community spirit, to the Rwandan culture, and to the humans of Rwanda, Arndt will live under the exact same conditions as the villagers and sleep in their homes.

The aim of this project is to raise the awareness of these adults, especially village chiefs and teachers, in order to allow them to independently ensure the protection and respect of children’s rights in their villages in the future.

Through this awareness campaign Humanium aims to ensure better living conditions to the most vulnerable children in the region of Byumba, especially by listening, assisting, and providing protection.

Why do we need you?

Humanium’s projects operate on a human level and are designed to get to the root causes of the problem. Also, Humanium is constantly focused on sustainability and autonomy in order to guarantee true transformation.

By supporting our project in Rwanda, you contribute to the improvement of innumerable children’s lives and provide to the most impoverished communities a means to empower themselves.

This 20th of November is a symbolic day because it not only marks the 7^th Anniversary of Humanium but it is also the Universal Children’s Day!

With your support, this day will now also celebrate the successful end of a hike, a hike of love for the most vulnerable children whose lives might now take a new turn!

Support the Children’s Rights Hike by offering travelling kilometres via the donation platform:

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