Nkurunziza and Keza are two siblings born in 2005 and 2007 respectively. They were born to the same mother but to different unknown fathers. Their mother had a mental disability and died in 2017. 

Due to their mother’s mental illness, they were both brought to the “Cite de la Misercorde de Rusayo” an orphanage located in Rusizi District soon after birth. yika Murinzi: A key pillar to ensuring that all children grow up safe and protected in families. 

As government intensified efforts towards deinstitutionalization through the Tubarerere Mu Muryango Programme, Child Protection and Well Fare Officers traced and found the children’s relatives but all refused to receive them into their families. 

In 2017, following the deterioration of living conditions in “Cité de la Misércorde de Rusayo”, all children living in were transferred to SOS children’s Villages in Nyamagabe. Nkurunziza remembers well their feelings when they were moved. 

“At Cité de la Misércorde de Rusayo, we were very miserable. Taking us in another institution was like reviving our wounds.” he said. 

In such circumstances, Nkurunziza and Keza have never enjoyed their fundamental right to grow up in a supportive family environment until 2019 when Kankindi, a Malayika Murinzi (foster parent) fostered them after almost two years of preparation for a smooth placement. 

Kankindi is a lawyer by professional and a mother of one child. Fostering a child from an institution was her long term pledge. 

“When I was pursuing my university studies, I used to visit institutions and I witnessed how miserable children living there were. So I decided to foster at least one once able to do so” She said. 

According to Nkurunziza, the family has provided them with various opportunities including having a particular mother who cares for their physical and emotional life on a daily basis. Both Nkurunziza and Keza are attending Primary School, Level 5. 

Kankindi is only one, in a line of many Rwandan Malayika Mulinzi who received unrelated children in their own home to give them care and support due to various reasons that prevented them from being raised by their biological or extend families. 

“Malayika Murinzi”, which means “Guardian angels”, is a network of men and women across the country, who have shown remarkable compassion and selflessness, in accepting to take care of vulnerable children. 

This network was initiated in 2007 by Imbuto Foundation to create a protective environment for children without appropriate care, by promoting adoption and foster care. 

In 2014, Imbuto Foundation handed over the Malayika Mulinzi Programme to the National Commission for Children, a then newly established institution that was mandated to implement the Strategy for National Child Care Reform through the Tubarerere Mu Muryango Programme (TMM). At that time, they were 4000 Malayika Murinzi recognized by Imbuto Foundation. 

Note: The names of Keza, Nkurunziza and Kankindi have been changed while details were omitted to protect their identities