Esther Brianne Gateka, best known as DJ Brianne, was at some point in her life a street child, a thing that made her want to change the living conditions of kids who leave their homes to beg on the streets, by helping them acquire an education, among other things. “During my childhood, I lived with my stepmother but because of the bad conditions I experienced, I grew up on the street. Eventually, my mother took me back and enrolled me in school and I finished my studies. I searched for a job so that I could go back and help the kids I grew up with. Unfortunately, I didn’t find them where we used to live and I was so sad,” says Gateka. However, she didn’t give up. Instead, she thought of ways to help young children like herself who may have run away from home because of harsh conditions and ended up on the streets. Kayonza kids with DJ Brianne. In 2020 Gateka started her work under the name ‘Brianne Foundation’ but says the name will soon change to ‘Organization La Perle’ which means ‘The Pearl Organization’. “When I started, it was just me and so I named the initiative after myself, but now we have other members and we want to change it so that it really fits well, with a better meaning of what we aim at doing,” she says. So far, 60 children are under the foundation, 30 of them were taken from the streets back to be raised in families and are studying in different schools, and Gateka covers their school fees and scholastic needs, while looking to get assistance for the other 30, some of whom still roam the streets. Gateka says their biggest challenge is not being registered (which makes getting donor assistance hard), fake promises from people who pledge to support the kids and never do so, yet they have already enrolled them in school and failure to meet their needs can lead to them dropping out and heading back to the streets. Regarding the registration of the organisation, Gateka says, “It is so hard to operate since we can’t get donations with no legit documents. However, we have submitted the papers at the sector and district levels. We have not yet gone to RGB and we do really need some assistance in that to get the registration process done.” Children of the foundation enjoy the recreation space on Easter. As of now, if anyone is willing to support the initiative, Gateka is willing to connect them to the kids directly. She has held several events with the kids, including ‘Christmas Sharing’ and Easter with the children, always reminding them that ‘they are loved despite the life they lived or are still living’. All these events happen during holidays, prior to sending them back to school, as she wishes them good luck in their studies. On Easter, 35 children from the foundation and others who are struggling in their families got together for lunch. Prior to the lunch, all the children were given access to Monaco Kids Recreation Space to play games, this being a first for them. “Prior to sharing meals with them, they first access some recreational space and have fun. Thereafter, we pray and share lunch. I always do this as I want to show them parental love, since they need it like any other child,” she says. A meal shared on Easter. Photos/Courtesy Gateka says she never stops worrying about these kids. Some of them have families and others live with her since she has not yet found people to adopt them. 25 kids study in Kigali while the others study in Kayonza with the help of sponsors, adding that they are likely to get more sponsorship when the foundation is officially registered as this hinders donations. Esperance Mukeshimana, a mother of three, two girls and a boy who are all under the foundation, says that they are so thankful to Gateka who always shows love to their children regardless of their past and background. “I don’t know what to say, but Gateka has been a blessing to us and our kids as well. She not only supports the kids but also us. She changed our lives. We simply ask for heavenly blessings to always be on her,” Mukeshimana says. “We are so thankful to those who support us to sustain these kids’ lives. To everyone who feels like doing something for them, the doors are open. If we can get some assistance in getting the foundation registered, we would appreciate it.” You can reach the organisation on 0789 177 121 or on Instagram @DJBrianneFoundation
