Visiting the Orphans

This year, my dad and Chantale decided they would offer 200$ to a cause of my choice in Rwanda as my Christmas gift.

Now after being here a while and hearing all the debates about aid vs. private investment, I learned that aid money can have a negative impact on a country’s development if it is not well spent. For instance, many will argue convincingly that aid money has made governments rich at the expense of the local population. They argue that it is now more advantageous for entrepreneurs and educated locals to seek jobs in the government rather than develop private enterprises.

In my own line of work, aid money has artificially kept interest rates at unsustainably low levels for years. As a result, last year, more than half the microfinance institutions in the country went bankrupt, people lost all their savings and most of the population lost confidence in the banking system.

I wanted to make sure that this gift would be well used and that it would help some of the people who need it most. I figured the best way to find out who those people were was to ask some of my co-workers. They suggested I buy food for an orphanage run by the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. This was a great idea because 1- The sisters take care of more than 130 orphans form 0-4 years old and they need to be fed.
2- Kids are the country’s future. They need to be helped and educated while they are young in order to become contributors to society rather than burdens.
3-The Sisters rely on charity donations to feed the children. 4- We would get to play with the children who need a lot of human affection. 5- Anything associated with Mother Teresa (a fellow Canadian), is good.

Last Saturday, Christelle (unofficial office social events coordinator), Media (Remera branch manager and the one with a car), Patrick (the one who first gave me the idea of giving to this orphanage) and I pilled into the car and went to buy 25 Kilos of sugar, 25 kilos of rice, 10 litres of oil, 4 boxes of cookies and 20 litres of fresh milk. We then headed off to the Ste-Famille Church and the orphanage. There, we gave the food to the grateful sisters, but were told we had to come back later in the afternoon because the children were sleeping and it was prayer time.

The wait was well worth it though. We got to visit the kids and play with them and it was one of the most amazing yet heart wrenching experiences of my stay in Rwanda. The kids would cling to you and beg to be picked up in your arms and when you did, they would refuse that you let them go. There were many different rooms where the children stayed according to their age. First, there was the crib room, where all the babies stayed. Each baby had a crib with their name on it. Then there was a mini-cafeteria where 1-2 year olds were having snack. Finally, there was the playground and ball room where 3-4 year olds were playing with basketballs, tennis balls, footballs and other bouncy balls.

I had an awesome time playing with these smiling children who, not that long ago, were abandoned in the streets and left to die. Now (at least for a little while), they are in a loving and caring environment. I know this gift will be used well and will bring joy to many little hearts. Thank you Chantale and Dad.