Today, Rwanda (with a population of just over 9 million) has a population of orphaned children of over 1 million – the legacy of genocide and AIDS.  The impact of both of these are exacerbated by the fact that Rwanda is a paternal, rural, subsistence culture in which most people are dependent on access to agricultural land for their survival.  In that context husbandless women and fatherless children are often landless and thus significantly disadvantaged.

Steven has launched several initiatives.  The first is the adoption of many orphaned children (19) into his own household. Together with his wife and their 2 biological children and 6 other adults they provide love, shelter, food, medical care, and schooling. With their meager incomes they currently subsist on less than $1 per person per day.

The second initiative is the establishment of a community for orphaned children. Gasogi Village, in the Kabuga region where Steven ministers, consists of 80 young people from the age of about 3 to 24, all of whom look to Steven for their hope and survival. The young people live in small houses, six to 10 in each home, with the oldest caring for the youngest. They subsistence farm, attend school (when it can be afforded), have a winning soccer team, and are taught traditional Rwandan dance by local elders.

The third initiative is New Destiny, a cooperative for widows in the Kabuga region. There is a small farm where the women grow crops and produce honey for market, have a tailoring business, and have a bead-making business. Many women there are not only widowed, but also wounded or HIV positive as a result of rape during the 1994 genocide. They come together to work and provide for themselves, but more importantly to support each other, worship God, and find hope.

We are honoured to know someone like Steven and to call him our friend. It is our hope that together we will impact the lives of many.