Meet Patrick Munyarugamba

A member of the Abanyamurava community, sponsored by University Carillon through ZOE Ministry

17-year old Patrick lives with his two brothers (15 and 10) and his grandmother. He became head of his family in 2003 at the age of 10. He dropped out of school because he had to work (or beg) for food for himself and his brothers. His grandmother came to live with them, but she is not strong, so the children actually have to care for her, too.

The boys faced lack of food, clothing and access to medical care. They suffered from malnutrition and diseases caused by poor hygiene (skin diseases, worms, diarrhea, malaria). In February of  2010, Patrick joined the group of orphaned vulnerable children (OVC) with the Giving Hope program of Zoe Ministry that we sponsor. He started to work together with his co-group members and has now been trained in food security and nutrition, and in design and implementation of income-generating activities. To help him in this process, he received bean and other vegetable seeds, a hoe and a goat (for manure). He used the small grant given to him by Zoe to create a business of breeding and trading rabbits. He gave a piece of his land to the group for growing ground-nuts.

Patrick has two dreams: (1) to have enough food (2 meals per day) and daily sweet porridge for his brothers and grandmother; and (2) to make enough money to pay for his brothers’ school materials/fees, ensure medical treatment and keep his house repaired.