Twelve years ago, Rwanda embarked on a plan to close all orphanages and reintegrate children into family-based care. Currently, only three of the original 33 orphanages remain, and more than 3,000 children have been reunited with relatives, adopted into new families, or supported to live independently. ALSO READ: Orphanage phase-out: Government to adopt children with acute disabilities William, whose real name has been withheld, is now 29 and works at a financial institution in Kicukiro District. He spent most of his childhood at Home Don Bosco Cyotamakara, an orphanage in Nyanza District. It was not until he began school outside the orphanage that he realized something confusing. He had a mother and siblings living outside. “I used to visit them occasionally,” he said. “But I did not understand why I was still living in the orphanage.” At the age of 10, he was sent to live with his family as part of early reintegration efforts. However, less than two years later, he was returned to the orphanage without a clear explanation. “I tried to ask why I was in an orphanage when my siblings lived with my mother. The answer could be, ‘You are living, you are feeding, you are studying, what else do you want?’” William completed his education with support from the orphanage. He finished secondary school and secured a government scholarship for university studies. By the time the official closure policy was introduced, in 2013, it was easy for him to begin life on his own. He describes his past as full of mysteries, but he appreciates his independence and the choices he now has. “During COVID-19, living alone really triggered a lot of thoughts. I had no close family. But I was fortunate to secure my first job toward the end of the pandemic, and I have been working ever since,” he said. “In the orphanage, decisions are made for you. There is no individual guidance. Outside, you choose what is best for you.” “I have never asked about my past again,” he said. “I once inquired with my mother, whose identity I am still uncertain about, and her response discouraged me. I chose to focus on the future.” ALSO READ: Family law seeks to protect right to property for orphans In 2013, Rwanda introduced the National Strategy for Child Care Reform, which aimed to close all orphanages and ensure that every child grows up in a family setting. Of the 3,323 children then living in institutions, about 70 per cent were found to have at least one surviving parent, or relative, according to the National Child Development Agency (NCDA). Some children had entered orphanages seeking specific services, such as education, while others had disabilities or chronic illnesses and were hoping to receive medical care. In many cases, the children had identifying information that helped the agency trace their origins. There was often no need for extensive DNA testing. Such cases were considered during the reintegration process to ensure the children’s well-being, by empowering families when necessary. The government collaborated with sponsors, many of whom had previously supported children in orphanages, to continue providing assistance even after the children had been reintegrated into family settings. “For those who did not have families, we placed them with guardians or temporary caregivers while we prepared them for independent living or adoption,” said Monique Mukamana, the Child Rights Protection and OVC Programme Manager at NCDA. The reintegration model included various pathways: simple or temporary adoption, full legal adoption, guardianship, and supervised placement for students in boarding schools or universities. Social workers and psychologists were deployed to assess each child’s situation, trace families, and prepare both children and caregivers for reintegration. Among those who stepped in to raise children were families known as Guardian Angels, or Malayika Murinzi, families that willingly take on the responsibility of raising children who could not be reunited with their biological families. The initiative was introduced by First Lady Jeannette Kagame after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, in recognition of families and people who stepped in to care for orphaned children. It later evolved into a formal programme which continues to welcome children from across the country. These include those abandoned by their parents or born to incarcerated mothers, among other vulnerable circumstances. ALSO READ: Forever indebted – people saved at orphanage eulogize Gisimba Maria (not her real name), a resident of Kicukiro District, became a Guardian Angel in 2013. She adopted a seven-month-old baby girl from an orphanage and, despite early challenges, never looked back. “She cried a lot at first. She was scared of any sudden noise. I had to quit my job to care for her full-time,” Maria said. “But she became a blessing in my life.” Though Maria later discovered that the child’s biological mother was alive, making full legal adoption impossible, she continued to raise the girl as her own. “She is now in primary five, and I love her like my own daughter. Some people tell her she does not belong here. I explain to her that she is not a problem. She is my blessing.” Of the original 3,323 children in orphanages, more than 3,000 have been successfully reintegrated. Only about 200 remain in three facilities, in Gicumbi, Nyamagabe, and Gasabo districts, awaiting family placement or independence. No new children have entered orphanages since the policy took effect. Some people have questioned whether the closure of orphanages contributed to the presence of children on the streets. Mukamana firmly denies this link. “More than 90 per cent of street children have families. They are on the streets because of domestic violence, lack of parenting, poverty, or disability stigma,” she said. “It is a societal issue not a result of closing orphanages.” She added that children found on the streets are screened and placed into rehabilitation centers, and if they have no families, they are added to the list for adoption or guardianship. ALSO READ: May 8, 1994: Interahamwe murder orphans at SOS centre in Nyamagabe Impact overwhelmingly positive The long-term impacts of the closure are overwhelmingly positive, Mukamana said. “The first impact is the shift in mindset. Previously, people believed only foreigners could adopt children. Now, Rwandans are taking full responsibility.” Mukamana also highlighted a shift in how extended families share responsibility when a parent dies or denies the responsibilities, where once children might be sent to an orphanage, now relatives step in. Former orphanages have been repurposed into schools, Early Childhood Development centers, and vocational institutions, serving the broader community. Most importantly, children are growing up in real homes. “Reintegrated children are emotionally stronger. They are learning cultural values and life skills in family settings,” she said. “The government could not have achieved this alone,” Mukamana emphasized. “It took community members, guardian angels, and the children themselves choosing to embrace change.”
