For a Child's Sake - Gisimba Orphanage, Kigali, Rwanda
The Gisimba Orphanage, located in the Nyamirambo quarter of Kigali, is led by Damas Mutezintare Gisimba. Damas' father founded the orphanage in 1980 with 18 children living in one house. Damas took over in 1986 after the death of his father. During the genocide, Damas sheltered over 400 children and adults in the small orphanage compound from the predations of the Interahamwe (the Hutu paramilitary squads that carried out much of the genocide). Though the orphanage was repeatedly menaced, Damas and his colleagues held their ground ad did not give in to the genocidaires. He has been honored for his heroism by the Rwandan government and many other organizations.
Gisimba currently houses over 200 children. Many of the younger ones were orphaned by AIDS, and some have been HIV-infected themselves since birth.
The Gisimba Orphanage, located in the Nyamirambo quarter of Kigali, is led by Damas Mutezintare Gisimba. Damas' father founded the orphanage in 1980 with 18 children living in one house. Damas took over in 1986 after the death of his father. During the genocide, Damas sheltered over 400 children and adults in the small orphanage compound from the predations of the Interahamwe (the Hutu paramilitary squads that carried out much of the genocide). Though the orphanage was repeatedly menaced, Damas and his colleagues held their ground ad did not give in to the genocidaires. He has been honored for his heroism by the Rwandan government and many other organizations.
Gisimba currently houses over 200 children. Many of the younger ones were orphaned by AIDS, and some have been HIV-infected themselves since birth.