PROJECT #147
Project #147 | Holistic Empowerment for Rwandan Youth
Our partnership with ZOE Ministry
The 1994 genocide in Rwanda left an estimated 860,000 children orphaned and/or vulnerable. While relief has been poured in to help rebuild the country and the lives of those left in the wake of the tragedy, research has shown that global poverty crises cannot be solved solely by relief efforts. Relief, as a solution to long-term poverty, creates dependency rather than economic independence. Orphaned and/or vulnerable children are often subject to trafficking, prostitution, slavery, disease, and other common abuses.
One Day’s Wages partnered with ZOE Ministry to support children through three Rwanda empowerment groups. This comprehensive, child-led, three-year program empowered vulnerable children to pull themselves out of extreme poverty permanently, with an 85% rate of success. Building on a foundation of indigenous staff, community leaders, and local resources, we supported orphans and vulnerable children to become entrepreneurs who are socially, economically, and spiritually strong, transforming entire communities in the process.
Our collective impact
Children Re-enrolled in School
Kitchen or Vegetable Gardens Created
People Trained on Child Rights
Meet Jeanette
Jeanette’s father passed away in 2016, followed by her mother two years later due to illness. Jeanette became head of household during this very difficult time and was unable to find food for the baby. They sometimes went two days without eating. Two of Jeanette’s younger siblings dropped out of school to beg and work for food, becoming exploited as child laborers, fetching water or working in other heavy lifting jobs. Soon, the family became stigmatized within the community. Then, through the support of ZOE, Jeanette started a business selling vegetables and fruits. Jeanette planted cassava, beans, maize, sweet potatoes, coco yams and sorghum. ZOE supported Jeanette with one hoe and seeds; she also purchased land and manure on her own. Now she can buy and grow food for her siblings, eating at least one nutritious meal daily. Jeanette took a loan from the small business lending group she joined, and bought 2 pigs and 3 hens to produce manure to fertilize her crops. ZOE also provided medical insurance for the family and helped Jeanette’s siblings to re-enroll in school. Thanks to her profits, Jeanette can now support the family!
Thank you for making this possible!
Our movement is grassroots, to us that not only means the work on the ground is led by local leaders with the support of the community, but it also means that we raise the funds for our projects through everyday donors just like you. In addition to all the donors that gave $25, $100, or $250 and the campaigners that ran a race or donated their birthday to raise funds, we also want to thank our generous business, school, and faith sponsors who believed in our work and joined the movement.
If you want to support future projects like this you can make a donation to our jobs and skills fund.
One Day's Wages is a grassroots movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty
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