Projects

CHABHA supports three associations of children and a vocational training program in Rwanda and one association of children in Burundi. The associations have several activities in common, activities that combine into the “CHABHA model”. The common features are:

• Young adults leaders from the community
• Weekly gatherings for singing, dancing, games, and lessons on important matters like HIV prevention
• Home visits to ascertain family needs, to give advice, and to show concern and care
• Life Skills Workshops to build community, to teach about growth and development, to discuss HIV prevention, to have fun
• Health cards purchased (Rwandan projects only)
• School costs
• Emergencies







Each project has unique features:

AGAPE is in the Kicukiro section of Kigali, Rwanda. 8 percent of the 300 children are HIV +. This project is faith-based, and the children hear Bible stories and sing songs at their gatherings.

A group of boys began a rabbit farming enterprise in 2008. They give baby rabbits to other children in AGAPE, and they sell some. They have raised money for shoes, school, and their families.

AGAPE has playground equipment at their gathering place, thanks to a fund raising drive at Northfield-Mt. Hermon in 2007.

AJESOV, Association of Volunteer Youth Helping Orphans Affected, includes very poor children. Of the 263 children, 8.8 percent are HIV+.

The children live with remaining relatives, in child-headed households, or with friends of their parents. A micro-finance program with the heads of families has had a constant return rate of over 90 percent. Each family has received a goat, and most have had several kids that the families sell. In 2009 new leaders were elected, and all are busy helping as much as possible.

Begun in 2000 AMAHORO Association is the oldest children’s association in Rwanda. It is also the longest in partnership with CHABHA -- since 2003. In addition to CHABHA, the Global Fund for Children has granted support to AMAHORO for school costs, home visits, and leadership training. The new leadership group has several former beneficiaries.

The AMAHORO offices are in the house, IWACU (Our Place), shared with the CHABHA-Rwanda staff. There are spaces for meetings and school work. A Resource Room has many children’s books in English (Rwandan schools now use English.), crayons, and paper; there is wool for knitting. An electric sewing machine is used for making goods to sell. Children can wash themselves at IWACU.

In 2008-2009 many families were dispersed from their homes in Kucyiro, a section of Kigali, out into the hills and mountains. While some have been found, even in 2009 the leaders are seeking former members. The leaders found many children with family members in a village high in the mountains above Kigali, Bumbogo. The model of providing holistic support to children by young adults was applied to this village, and the AMAHORO group there is thriving.

Mubafashee (Help Them) is the name of the small association in Bujumbura, Burundi. 63 very poor children from outlying areas of the city gather weekly and receive school support from CHABHA. A Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation grant will provide the association with funds to fully implement the CHABHA model. It will also include funds for much needed food and medical care, as most of the children are malnourished.

The fifth project is Project Independence, the vocational training program. Begun in 2006, local business leaders agree to take on interns for periods of training. The interns come from the associations (above) and learn trades. CHABHA is constantly modifying the program and encouraging new enterprises.