At the Embrace Centre, in the city of Bujumbura in Burundi, street children and children with disabilities find a safe place during the day. The shelter pays school fees for 25 children and provides medical care, a daily meal, tutoring, sports, games and recreation. The centre is affiliated to the local church Christian Life Ministries. Driven by God's love and with personal attention to each child, the team guides them towards independence. Herewith the story of Kenny Niyomwungere (12 years old). His surname means 'The Lord is my Shepherd'.
Broken bones
It was always my dearest wish to go to school normally, like all other children. I asked my father if this was possible, but he told me it was not possible because of my brittle bone disease. The risk of me breaking something is very high if I would be taught in a small classroom with a hundred children.
So far, I have broken a bone more than 30 times and undergone several operations. My father is a tailor. With that, he does not earn enough to pay for medical expenses besides food and school supplies for my two sisters and little brother.
Together with other children
My father carried me everywhere when I had broken my upper leg, looking for someone to pay for the operation.Then a doctor referred us to Marieke. She helped us and that's how I joined the Embrace project. I was very happy because I could now learn with a teacher who came to the Embrace house especially for me. I soon got high marks. Also, at Embrace I got nutritious meals every day and heard stories from the Bible. Besides, it was fun to hang out with the other children at Embrace and I enjoyed the different activities we did at Embrace. Especially in the summer holidays, although sometimes it was also difficult when I couldn't join everything because of my illness, like the other children. Especially when they went swimming, because that's something I love!
To a real school
It remained my dream to be able to actually go to school and be taught in class with other children. When Marieke told me that I could go to a Christian English-speaking school from September 2021, I had to cry with joy! At this school, there are small classes. They have made the school grounds and classes wheelchair-friendly especially for me. I have already learned to speak and understand English much better and I think geography is one of the best subjects. Later I would like to become a doctor, to help other sick children, or an inventor! Now that I can go to this school, I definitely think I can become one!
