Association Misericorde

Afrinspire supports Association Misericorde in Kigali, Rwanda, an organisation concerned with the education of 300 children and students in Uganda, Rwanda and Sudan. The scheme was set up in 2003 with help from an American charity for the first two years. While this charity still supports ten orphans, Afrinspire has since assumed responsibility for funding the major part of the programme. 

Misericorde's work was prompted by the genocide in Rwanda and AIDS in Uganda, which have left behind many orphans. Sometimes the children of twelve years are the oldest living family members, and have had to become heads of households. The 300 orphans in the care of the organisation are in 14 different schools in Kigali and other districts. Some orphans live with grandparents or guardians and some in houses together. Misericorde has four social volunteers who visit the children. There are two volunteers in each of two zones. One volunteer follows the progress of the children at school and the other visits their homes and follows their health and social situation. The volunteers know the children, identify their requirements, pay the school fees, keep records about each child and counsel the children through traumatic times. 
 
Primary education in Rwanda has been free of charge for some years. However, because of the low salaries paid to teachers, parents are expected to supplement their resources by paying small fees to the schools. School materials are not provided by the government, and so parents have to provide their children with exercise books, pencils and pens. They must also supply clothing for their children, and while uniforms are obligatory, poverty means many children must attend school without them. Misericorde selects the most vulnerable orphans and seeks to help them as a parent would.

Pastor Bunini writes, 'We are pleased with all you are doing for us. I told you that the problems in Africa are so many we will appreciate whatever you will manage to do”. Most children do not reach secondary school and have large gaps in their educational history due to the huge disruption the country faced. Misericorde is trying to support some children into secondary school.
Association Misericorde was visited by three Afrinspire trustees, in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and from the latter year we began funding the project. Misericorde sends full sets of receipts for all the payments for the orphans. Afrinspire has an invitation for a team to visit Association Misericorde each year.

In 2007, Association Misericorde was selected as one of only three organisations in Kigali to receive a certificate of appreciation and good performance from the Rwandan National Commission for Unity and Reconciliation. The certificate reads, 'The National Commission for Unity and Reconciliation appreciate your contribution in development of the programme of unity and reconciliation. We request you to continue in the same way', signed in Kigali in December 2006 by the President of the Commission. This was in recognition of the work done to support 300 children. Pastor Bunini said, 'The Association has been seen to be different from others in terms of delivery'. He wanted to give the credit to Afrinspire but in fact the credit belongs to the organisation which cares for the children, using what little money they have to support the maximum number of orphans.