Rwanda is a stunning landlocked country found in East Africa. Known as the “Land of a Thousand Hills,” Rwanda boasts towering volcanos like Mount Karisimbi, where mountain gorillas live. Learn some interesting facts about Rwanda and the 99,430 Compassion-assisted children who live there.

It’s been 25 years since the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. How does a country move forward from such trauma? Though the cruelty and pain of this tragic event are unimaginable, the Rwanda of today is unrecognizable from the horror of ’94. Read the moving stories of three Compassion alumni choosing radical forgiveness […]

We began our ministry in Rwanda in 1980 with the Child Sponsorship Program. In 2008, we started the Leadership Development Program, and the Child Survival Program followed in 2010.

Discover how Sekata is helping children in Rwanda thrive by bringing nutrition and hope to her community through her digital platform, BALDI.

As birds sing morning songs to begin their days, Eugene Bahire, in charge of Tours and Visits at Compassion’s Rwanda office, starts his day with a morning prayer at 5:30 and prepares himself for work. He leaves home at 6:30 a.m. and takes 45 minutes to reach his office. After morning devotions with all Compassion […]

Clementine lives with her husband and four children in a small house made of mud in Kigali, Rwanda. When she was six months pregnant, she’d spend the day at the health center, volunteering to clean so she could take food home to her family.

20 years ago images of the Rwandan genocide horrified us. Today, there are new images to be seen in Rwanda.

“I know there is a God because in Rwanda I shook hands with the devil.” – Major General Romeo Dallaire, Force Commander, United Nations Mission Assistance in Rwanda. But where evil is strong, hope is stronger. I’m an employee at Compassion. I work as an assistant for our International Program Communications Director. I love […]

We came to Rwanda with nothing and found that our family members in Rwanda had been killed during the genocide. Life was difficult because we were starting a new life in a new country with nothing — and we didn’t have hope for the future.

As the Rwandan genocide unfolded 15 years ago, Dr. Laurent Mbanda followed the fighting lines of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF) to help administer aid to those who needed it most. Mbanda is now Compassion’s Regional Vice President of the African region. 1. Where were you when the genocide started? I was not in […]

The 1994 genocide destroyed Rwanda’s fragile economic base, severely impoverished the population, particularly women and children, and eroded the country’s ability to attract private and external investment. However, Rwanda has made significant progress in stabilizing and rehabilitating its economy since then. Continued growth in this area depends on the maintenance of international aid levels, […]

The following letter was written by Ruzamba Niyomwungeli, a 24-year-old graduate of our Child Sponsorship Program. It was written in Kinya rwanda and translated into English at the Compassion Rwanda country office. “Life has meaning when someone touches it at a tender age. Someone stood out and shaped my life. I believe in a […]

At the time of the Rwandan genocide in 1994, Gary Haugen, a senior trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice, was given an assignment to serve as the Officer in Charge of the U.N.’s genocide investigation in Rwanda.  He had seen a lot of injustice in the past, working to combat human rights abuses around […]

It’s Sunday morning, and in the distance I hear the Rwandan Church, lifting its praises to God. Familiar music and smells and sights fill the air and my heart fills with gratitude. For the first time since my visit here four years ago, I am back in Rwanda. I’m staying at a small hotel […]

[…] of not turning out as we think it will. I’m not a missionary. I’m a social media “maven,” and that’s how I finally got to Africa. To Rwanda, specifically, on a Compassion tour. Since I’ve been back home, I’ve wanted to share my experiences, write profound blog posts, and stir the world to sponsor […]

[…] as 90 percent Christian, Christ-like behavior essentially vanished as children and babies were hacked apart with machetes. What happened to God? Where was He? In pre-colonial times, Rwanda’s three ethnic groups established a system of exchanged labor, which was exploited by the Belgian colonial administration. When Rwanda gained independence in 1962, the colonial legacy […]

Yesterday, we introduced you to Chantal, a 9-year-old girl from Rwanda. Chantal is a beneficiary of our Highly Vulnerable Children (HVC) initiative, and during the Christmas season the vulnerability of these children parallels the extreme vulnerability that our God entered into on Christmas Day. It’s a vulnerability portrayed in homes throughout the world by […]

Norah’s mother, a hairdresser, and her father, a soldier in the Rwandan army, worked hard to provide for their daughter. But when war and genocide tore through Rwanda in 1994, it also ripped a hole straight through Norah’s heart.

[…] for another child to sponsor. But then I saw two things next to her picture on the website: a red heart and a red ribbon. Josiane, from Rwanda, had been waiting for a sponsor for over six months. The red ribbon showed that Josiane lived in an AIDS-affected area. Online, as I added Josiane’s […]

[…] allow you to begin well. Our Child Survival Program and Leadership Development Program* help children living in extreme poverty to begin and finish well. The Beginning – Rwanda Recently, 35 mothers and their babies, and a group of church partners, pastors, representatives from other child development organizations, government officials from throughout East Africa, and ministry staff in […]

[…] of leaders. Check out these incredible stories of talented young entrepreneurs! Faida, Guitar Teacher Compassion alumnus Faida, 28, discovered his musical talent at a Compassion center in Rwanda at only 10 years old. He never missed a lesson. After graduating from university with a degree in civil engineering and purchasing his own guitar, he […]

[…] is something I have heard of. Something I have learned about. But for so many it is a memory, an experience. Some of those people live in Rwanda and have come intimately close to witnessing pure hatred. My lack of knowledge took a back seat in college when I truly began to discover so […]

[…] call told me they were my uncle from my father’s side of the family.” Family Lost Through Genocide Christian is a survivor of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda against the Tutsi. In 2019, Compassion Canada shared his story on their blog to mark the 25th anniversary of the genocide. Back then, Christian shared that […]

[…] void that Africa left. Someone once said, “Once you get the dust of Africa on your feet, it will never leave you.” Every day further away from Rwanda, the more I ache to be there. It’s been six weeks since my return from Africa, yet some moments, I feel as if I just stepped […]

[…] about additional life insurance. But the class talked about the possibility of giving to the church through life insurance. As a sponsor of two girls, Kayirangwa in Rwanda and Litzy in Ecuador, that class made me think: What happens to sponsored children when the sponsor passes? Do they go back on the waiting list? Kayirangwa […]

[…] I wanted to leave school and not come back. Still Embarrassed After All These Years? Flash forward to menopausal me on my first Compassion employee trip to Rwanda. Me and a team of all men. Day two of our trip and I unexpectedly started my period. UGH! As a grown woman, you’d think I […]

[…] and read a comment made by the center director at that time. It said: “Moses stays with his paternal uncle. His mother died. His father went to Rwanda in 1994 and left him at his uncle’s place because he was registered with Compassion and never wanted to miss the opportunity. Follow up should be […]

Methode was 6 years old when he witnessed the 1994 Rwandan genocide, a systematic massacre of more than 1 million people of the Tutsi ethnic group. The killers were the Hutu militia, in a tragedy culminating from longstanding tensions. The genocide started in early April and lasted 100 days. Being of Tutsi ethnicity, Methode’s […]

[…] Instagram posts of 2017! 10. January 23: The Greatest Gift We believe in #miracles. Do you? Two years ago, Geraldine, a mother and health worker in # Rwanda was approached by a man that found a #baby in a bush covered by ants. When Geraldine approached the baby, she got the chills. The baby […]

[…] with a hoe. Thailand Chonnipa, 13, helps her family harvest strawberries in northern Thailand. Guatemala Enoc, 14, checks on the income-generating tomato garden at his Compassion center. Rwanda Ruth, 21, does her daily chore of watering the plants behind her family’s home. Mexico Mayra, 13, uses a recycled container to water the vegetable gardens […]

[…] celebrate with our daughters. God is good. He never abandons us.” Ashley is sponsored by Rylee, who lives in California. 4. Martha, mother of 8-year-old Frank in Rwanda “We have received so many gifts from Frank’s sponsor. Before, my husband and I didn’t know the importance of celebrating our children’s birthdays, and we didn’t […]

[…] was processing, not just another assignment to be finished and submitted. It was a photo of a child, a real child somewhere in the rural area of Rwanda. This was a child needing to be loved, to be cared for, to be touched and blessed. I paused for a moment and prayed for the […]

[…] that may be distressing to some viewers. “I’ll never forget the three-hour interview that I did with Methode Ruzimbana in 2016. Methode is a Compassion alumnus from Rwanda. His story of survival, loss, heartbreak, anger and ultimately, forgiveness, is a testament to the incredible healing power of God’s love.”  Sponsor a child Compassion Alumni […]

[…] and cleaning. This water had to be collected and brought to the house, but at least it was safe for drinking. We then took a trip to Rwanda and watched Fiona collect water that was not safe for drinking, and then ran it through Compassion’s Water of Life filter. The water that came out […]

[…] grow up, I want to be a medical doctor to help children who are sick and wounded. Read Rihanata’s inspirational story on Compassion Australia’s blog. Yvette, 19, Rwanda: “I’m inspired to provide solutions for people with disabilities.” Growing up, I always wanted to become a doctor. My extreme fear of seeing blood or wounds […]

I ask our Compassion Rwanda host, Eugene, as he drops us off at the end of the rock-strewn road, “How long is the walk?” With a sheepish smile, he assures me it’s just a little walk. “Do you mean a little African walk or a little American walk?” He tells me, “African.” Oh, dear. […]

[…] be where I am now. Without Compassion, I wouldn’t be a doctor, not even an epidemiologist,” says Ingrid. “I owe too much to Compassion.” Pharmacist Jeannette in Rwanda Jeannette Nikuze in Rwanda is also a graduate of Compassion’s program. Now she works as a pharmacist, supplying her community with medicines and masks during this […]

[…] were usually somewhat frivolous things; there was nothing I absolutely needed. While I didn’t expect the same would be true for Kayirangwa, the child I sponsor in Rwanda, given her circumstances, I still expected that the birthday money I designated for her would go toward one or two small “just for fun” items. A […]

[…] and an appropriate response given. So far more than 10,000 children have been supported through the HVC initiative in East Africa alone. Chantal, a 9-year-old girl from Rwanda, was one of the first recipients of the HVC program. When she was selected as a beneficiary of the first Compassion cottage in Rwanda in March […]

Sponsored girl Yvette Mukamwiza from Rwanda is making headlines after winning a national innovation competition on Oct. 3, 2019, for designing a digital cane for the blind. Using a sensor, the “Digital Blind Stick” alerts users of obstacles. Along with her teammates Adrien Biziyaremye and Mathias Kanyandwi, Yvette won the top prize at Rwanda’s […]

[…] of the year! These feel-good stories will make you smile, praise God and shout, “Amen!” Jump to: Africa: Burkina Faso | Ethiopia | Ghana | Kenya | Rwanda | Tanzania | Togo | Uganda Asia: Bangladesh | Indonesia | Philippines | Thailand | Sri Lanka  Central America and the Caribbean:  Dominican Republic | El […]

[…] WHY at this point. That response might come in a week or so. But it almost did not matter. The precious girl whom I had hugged in Rwanda last October was dead. Her mother and father had lost her, and she was only 11. After five minutes of conversation, I hung up, and I […]

[…] looked at the gruesome pictures, God did a major work on my heart. My focus suddenly shifted from myself to those living through the nightmare happening in Rwanda. I was at once both distraught about what was happening in Rwanda and heartbroken for my own self-centered worldview. My world – my concerns, my interests, […]

[…] be with you and keep you safe, so don’t be afraid.” —Jeremiah 1:4–8, CEV Prayer: God, we pray for Child Survival Pprogram babies and pregnant mothers in Rwanda and around the world. Please reveal your noble plans for their lives. Let them focus on you alone and discover your love. In the name of […]

[…] families, and communities released from spiritual and physical poverty in His name. God further revealed the reality of this to me when I spent some time in Rwanda last year. During a discussion with some friends I’d made there, I was struck by how much I loved these brothers and sisters, with whom I […]

[…] to know your Word so that we can be light and salt, bringing true integrity to our lives, families, and workplaces. Amen. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pascasie Uwimana works as a Senior Accountant for Compassion Rwanda. Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.   group of smiling women honoring an elderly couple one in spirit banner

[…] peace. However, three countries where we currently work – Mexico, Colombia and Ethiopia – are labeled as having a “low” state of peace. In 1994, the Compassion Rwanda office temporarily closed during the civil war and genocide. It reopened again to initiate relief efforts and help more than 140,000 “unattended for” children across the […]

[…] International’s top Instagram posts of 2016. 10. April 14: Feelin’ Good   This little guy is feelin’ good! He is part of our Child Sponsorship Program in # Rwanda. At this center, nearly 300 children receive help with school fees, health insurance and skills training. He will grow up equipped to take care of himself, […]

[…] history was made. In the span of several days, more than 7,000 kids were sponsored. That number is staggering. Every child waiting for a sponsor in Tanzania, Rwanda, El Salvador and Indonesia were sponsored. What a humbling experience to partner together with these world changers! // m a k e h i s t […]

[…] June 16, I want to celebrate African children and three life-changing things that they’ve taught me. They taught me joy. I first encountered African children in Kigali, Rwanda. There, day in and day out for six weeks, I played with orphans and abandoned children. They were some of the 59 million orphans across Africa.  […]

[…] until the food is ready and we put it in the dish and we put it on the table and then we eat them. – Esperance, 13, Rwanda 3. What is one of your New Year’s resolutions? Creating News Year’s resolutions isn’t necessarily a custom in every country. Why not take the time to […]

[…] morning and march with homemade torches, singing songs about Jesus and his resurrection. They color and paint eggs and read the Bible story of Easter together. In Rwanda, children act out the Easter drama at church with a play about the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection. They also eat […]

[…] globe. Despite unfamiliar languages, we feel oneness of heart. And in that room of American women and foreign voices, my heart is transported to a group of Rwandan women. Red dust covers my sandals. We sit in a circle on the ground of a small school room. Before I barely situate, three toddlers vie […]

[…] only a single story. Nigerian novelist Chimamanda Adichie gave an insightful TED Talk about how a single story can lead to cultural misunderstanding. 4. Take a trip. I’ve visited Rwanda and Kenya and loved them both. One of my life-long goals is to return to Kenya with my husband. I would also love to visit Egypt, […]

[…] like I got the front-row seat of watching her grow,” Bonnie says. They learned that Norah’s father had died in the 1994 genocide across the border in Rwanda. But Norah didn’t share many details about it, and Bonnie didn’t know if or how she should bring it up in letters. So she and Jeff […]

[…] and remind you that you are not alone. What patterns of discipline can you build into your life to get closer to God?  Compassion Trips and Visits Compassion Country Recipes An Amazing Meeting Sponsor a child in Kenya A girl in Kenya sits in a church pew praying. Kenyan girl praying Children in Rwanda smiling

[…] as we remember the birth of Jesus Christ. Enjoy these beautiful photos from our friends celebrating Christmas around the world! Ecuador Indonesia Honduras Ethiopia Ghana India* Philippines Rwanda Colombia *NOTE FROM EDITOR: This content honors Compassion’s historical work in India. While we no longer have an India sponsorship program, we are grateful for the […]

[…] activities — it impacts their educations as well. According to ActionAid, about 50 percent of school-age girls in Kenya do not have access to menstrual products. In Rwanda, many girls miss up to 50 days of school or work every year because of period poverty and stigma. “It’s hard for some girls to buy […]

[…] United Nations and World Bank.  More than 60% of Compassion children — and their entire families — live on $3.20 or less per day. In countries such as Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, more than 90% live on that same amount or less each day.  Hunger related to the virus has already led to the deaths […]

[…] as they are approximately 1,283 kilometers from Liberia, which is about 800 miles away,” said Katy Causey, Compassion Africa Communication Specialist. “Compassion’s East Africa countries – Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya and Ethiopia – are much farther away. For instance, the distance between Liberia, where many Ebola cases have been reported, and Kenya is about 7,434 […]

For six weeks in Kigali, Rwanda, I showered with a bucket. And a small jug of clean water. I joked with friends back home that for six weeks, it looked like I never washed my hair. Trying to juggle the red bucket and the jug meant I never could save enough water to properly […]

[…] supply of food to support their residents.  Children and youth in many areas Compassion serves are among those at greatest risk. Per Compassion estimates, in nations across the world such as Rwanda, Togo and Haiti, an overwhelming majority of beneficiaries registered in recent years — and their entire households — are already living on $3.20 per day or less.  For […]

[…] my daughter giggle when I kiss her, watching a child in the Dominican Republic sing, nay, shout, to the Lord with all her heart, watching boys in Rwanda scream with glee as they play in a river hints to me of just one tiny tip of why Jesus says we ought to be more […]

[…] school when I was in eighth grade, I cannot do a lot for him. But if he asks me a question and I know, I answer.” Libradge, Rwanda Libradge and her mother walked the 3 miles to school earlier this year. Libradge barely slept the night before her first day of school in January. […]

[…] The World Health Organization estimates that there have been over 118,000 positive cases in the African continent since February. Some of our countries, like Burkina Faso and Rwanda, are showing a steady decline in cases. This means some of our National Offices are starting to be able to open up and allow more staff […]

[…] However, we are doing all we can to fight malaria on behalf of our beneficiaries. Recently, we conducted a study of the effectiveness of our Complementary Interventions in Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burkina Faso. We found that in these four countries, 99 percent of Compassion beneficiaries sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets (ITNs). In Uganda, UNICEF reports, 47 […]

[…] the global Church. Sponsors, donors and local church workers form a safety net that stretches across borders to protect the world’s most vulnerable children. Fabiola’s family in Rwanda escaped domestic violence and received trauma counseling and spiritual support through sponsorship and the church. Fabiola’s family is an example of this. Her mother experienced domestic […]

[…] You give us through Compassion to show Your love to children. May our lives be a true reflection of Your love for the poor, in Jesus’ name. Amen. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Richard Muliisa is a Complementary Interventions administrator for our Rwanda office. Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.  fiber mat one in spirit banner

[…] with cheese, beans and/or meat and then grilled or fried. They are relatively easy to make, but will feel like a special international treat! Get the Recipe Rwandan Mandazi Call them African doughnuts or call them mandazi (mon-DAH-zee) — they’re scrumptious! Typically not as sweet as American doughnuts, they are usually unglazed and have […]

[…] and for girls, and for the youngest child to the teenager or young adult in the final years of sponsorship. When writing to our 17-year-old Kazihizina in Rwanda, I chose a pale blue-green template featuring flowers and a dragonfly. I planned to share some information about a recent home-school project about raising Monarch caterpillars and […]

Do dreams come true? Yes. Not by wishing on a star. But through the actions of committed Christians who are willing to live out their faith in practical ways.

[…] and Oswald. They dragged Oswald outside and threatened to kill him unless he’d help them. They had to flee the country for their lives. Making home in Rwanda, they formed a band, The Sowers Group, and made a living as traveling musicians. Later moving to Uganda and then Tanzania, the group found international acclaim, […]

[…] let me explain how this crisis is affecting our programs. Our child development centers operate in five countries near the areas affected by the drought: Kenya Ethiopia Rwanda Tanzania Uganda We do not work in Somalia, the hardest-hit country. But where we do work, our local church partners are seeing higher food prices due […]

[…] case, children seem to be the most negatively affected by these trends. TOMORROW: The State of the Children The famous and multi-talented Phoebe Rogers lives in Kigali, Rwanda. She is the regional trainer for Africa, wrote these Togo posts, took the photos and has the longest title know to humankind. It’s something like: Africa […]

[…] we serve. Youths in the program receive opportunities such as tutoring, discipleship, vocational training and education. They explore and cultivate their natural skills and passions. Fils in Rwanda lost his parents at a young age. In his teen years, the stress of needing to care for both his siblings and his aging grandparents started […]

[…] make your paths straight. (NASB) Acknowledging the Lord with all of his heart is exactly what Wess Stafford did as he faced things like a genocide in Rwanda and a murderer in Ecuador. These moments, and many others, are woven into the fabric of our ministry history and will continue to guide us into […]

Compassion President Santiago “Jimmy” Mellado shares how Jesus’ teachings on being a good neighbor can transform how we all serve as Christ followers.

[…] some of the things that continually reaffirm the rightness of Compassion in my life, and as a real ministry in this world. Letters. From Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Kenya, I get letters from my girls, thanking me for gifts or just for loving them, telling me what they’re learning and that they and […]

[…] this could be the best Christmas ever for children around the world. Reason 1: A child might get his first present ever. Bonheur is a 5-year-old from Rwanda who received his very first Christmas present last year! A local church opened a child development center in his community in October, and in December, Bonheur […]

As a proud sponsor of Josiane from Rwanda and Emmanuel from Uganda, I’m comforted knowing they are in loving and capable hands. The well-being of Josiane, Emmanuel and your sponsored child is front and center in the minds of the local church staff and our country staff. The man leading these staff members in […]

[…] us find out what pleases you most in our daily activities, and give us the strength to do it. Amen! ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Esperance Kandera works as a Senior Sponsor and Donor Services Associate for Compassion Rwanda. Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.   group of children waving Philippians chapter 2 verse 2 banner

[…] branch of the central railway line from Dar es Salaam. Its geographic location makes it an important transit point for business, people and travellers from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the outlying towns of Bukoba, Musoma and Shinyanga. Mwanza City is characterised by gently undulating granites and granodiorite physiography with isolated hill masses and […]

[…] rich dark skin was perfect. Her smile made me forget all my worries. If I concentrate hard enough, I still hear her infectious laugh invade my senses. Rwandan baby girl enrolled in our Child Survival Program This little Rwandan child, only 3 years old, changed me profoundly. Her name was Arianne. There is one […]

[…] limbs, but she chooses to live without limits. “My motto is that disability is not inability. With God, all things are possible,” shared Grace. In the rural Rwandan community where she was born, there were some who saw Grace’s disability as a curse. Family members even pressured her parents to kill her. “When I […]

Janvier is a tall, dark and handsome 15-year-old who dreams of becoming an international football player. He lives in Rwanda, a small but densely-populated country in central Africa. “I did not know I was sick. Mum used to give me drugs and tell me to take them in order to be healed of my […]

[…] and equal status for the different people in the community.” — Pastor Deeporwa | Baan Mae Sa Rit Church | Northern Region, Thailand These young women in Rwanda now have dignity and safety when using the new toilets built at their church. 3. Disaster Relief “Our greatest joy has been receiving support in the […]

[…] gateway to the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, where visitors marvel at the great wildebeest migration. The presence of the United Nations’ International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, East African Community Headquarters, East and Southern African Management Institute, East, Central and Southern African Health Secretariat, African Court of Appeal, International Postal Union, and the […]

[…] blog in May 2018 after appearing on the Compassion UK Blog. Girl in pink dress A teenage girl in a pink dress Girls at school Two girls in school Girl in blue A teenage girl holds a medical kit Girls at a bathroom facility Girls in Rwanda gather around a sink to wash their hands

[…] which have high child mortality rates. As I look into the 2006 international statistics on infant mortality, the countries I would hope to see us in are Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Togo* and Tanzania. However, it is very important for us to have reports on infant mortality in all the countries where we work. This […]

[…] Becky, Betty and Happy have got rhythm and we can’t help but smile! Such a cute video from @jordanfoxworthy that shows her heart for kids in # Rwanda. Seeing Instagram filled with your photos and videos of young lives being transformed pushes us forward every day! #Compassion100Kfollowers #feelingthelove #valentinesday #happydance A post shared by […]

[…] lately I’ve been thinking about what my life would be like if I were born into poverty in a developing country. What if I was from rural Rwanda? Or a slum in the Philippines? Or a poor community in Nicaragua? I’d more than likely be totally crippled by now. At 30 years old. This […]

[…] desperate history. Many other countries sing the song of their homeland in the painstaking melody of a minor key. Think of places where Compassion works – places like Rwanda and Colombia. The people of those nations recount stories with tears and heartache. Many resort to a cycle of violence that binds their communities like a […]

[…] The variations of the curriculum range widely from country to country. Some use the standards as they are and some have made major changes. For example, in Rwanda, due to the past internal conflicts, there is an emphasis on teaching forgiveness. “As long as there is balance within the curriculum, the countries have freedom […]

[…] harvest at home,” Phamela says, “but now I’m eating chicken too, and I like that.” Give a Chicken startup to a family! › A Christmas Cow In Rwanda, a cow is a sign of wealth. It is a source of money, food and, for many, respect. And for 50 families in rural Rwandan villages, […]

[…] to share from a trusted source what children really want to hear from their sponsors. Our trusted source? The joyful students enrolled in our Child Sponsorship Program in Rwanda. When asked, “What do you like to hear from your sponsor?” the children were filled with glee as they shared about the letters they receive. Cyprien […]

[…] and brave as they interact with those things when you aren’t around. 2. Tell them who they are. Jean and his father sitting outside their home in Rwanda talking. I am a big believer that one of the primary jobs of parenting is to tell our kids who they are. This doesn’t mean what […]

[…] unified evaluation criteria so that every child receives the same opportunities. In some instances, age can prevent a child from completing a goal. For example, a young Rwandan woman, age 21, decides she would like to learn how to be a seamstress. The center she attends has a vocational course that teaches this skill, but […]

[…] is waiting for a kidney transplant Jacob and Asish in East India, as they are suffering from malaria Miguel in Nicaragua, who has rheumatic fever Mukankusi in Rwanda, living with diabetes If you leave your prayers as comments to this post, our country staff will be much encouraged. We’ll make sure they’re aware of […]

[…] ashes. —Isaiah 61:3, NIV Prayer: God, our prayer today is that we give You opportunities to surprise and amaze us. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Pauline Munganyinka works as a Sponsor and Donor Services Associate for Compassion Rwanda. Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.    woman and child walking away Philippians chapter 2 verse 2 banner

[…] family in Texas and a family in the Philippines. Almost a year later, Amy felt a tug on her heart to sponsor a little girl named Alice in Rwanda. Another year passed and the Cozad’s sponsored little Andrew in Tanzania. John, Amy and their three daughters (Claire, Taylor and Eadie) were sponsoring three children when […]

[…] to break free from poverty and become change-makers who help those in their communities do the same. Justine, a former Compassion program participant, now teaches children throughout Rwanda.  Photo by: Emily Turner The Impact of Our Program by the Numbers We know that an issue as big as poverty can seem impossible to fix. […]

[…] of a young boy. — 2 Kings 5:13–14, NIV Prayer: Lord, give us humble hearts to listen to your voice through any channel, according to your will. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Samuel Rugambage is the Country Director of Compassion Rwanda. Read all the One in Spirit devotionals.    two young boys One in Spirit devotional banner

[…] changed the course of Mutabazi’s life and that of his three elder siblings. In a deep, somber tone, Mutabazi narrated his early experiences as an orphan in Rwanda. “We moved from home to home. We first landed in an orphanage and then went in different directions. Since I was the youngest, I ended up […]

[…] a red and blue dress. She is sitting at a table inside her home with her foster sister. They are praying before they eat. Blessing food in Rwanda. Boy wearing a bright green dress with a black stripe across the front. He is sitting in a church pew and is holding a Bible. Reading […]