After surviving the genocide of 1994, Dr. Jean de Dieu Hakizimana was inspired by visions of new peace and prosperity for his fellow Rwandans. He began to follow his dreams by providing food and education to a small number of children, as well as assisting families in acquiring adequate healthcare. His vision to eliminate suffering in Rwanda came to fruition in December of 2004. In that month, Hakizimana founded the Rwanda Hope Society with the mission of supporting grassroots organizations and community projects through the improvement of education, international sponsorship and the alleviation of poverty.
The Rwanda Hope Society focuses most of its efforts on Rwanda’s community of orphans, widows, impoverished families and those involved with prostitution. By informing the international business community of the needs of its clients, the Rwanda Hope Society raises money to provide education for children in its care and further education about sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV and AIDS. The largest goal of the Society is to establish an all-encompassing educational insititution called “City of Hope,” which will serve all its clients by teaching work skills and providing group and family support for needy Rwandans. Because of its comprehensive nature, the City of Hope is a priority area in UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s Resolution on Promoting Youth Employment.
The Society currently has 780 families, including 340 children, in its care. It provides services such as vocational training, life skills and career guidance to adults in addition to assisting with the educational needs of children.
The Rwanda Hope Society has been under the guidance of many different countries since its small beginnings in the early ‘90s. Although it began as a Rwandan organization in Kigali, it came under Canadian guidance in 1997 – Hakizimana is also a Canadian citizen, granted citizenship after fleeing violence in his home country. The Society was changed to an American organization in August of 2001. In spite of all these changes, the goal and leadership of the Society has not faltered: “I have decided to devote my life to … our goal of restoring hope to the victims of the tragic events that occurred in my country; the children, the needy, the homeless, the orphaned, the so many unfortunate and needy,” says Hakizimana.
The Rwanda Hope Society accepts assistance in the form of child sponsorship - $25 (US) per month – corporate donations; “love gifts” of shoes, school supplies and medicine for children; personal donations and volunteer work. All donations go to the assistance of impoverished families, providing school fees, uniforms, medicine and other projects to help improve the lives of Society clients.
To learn more about or to donate to the Rwanda Hope Society, please visit www.rwandahope.com.
