Covid-19 affects CM/feed babies & homeless teens

Centre Marembo made changes on its strategies and activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are prioritising mainly on food distribution, hygiene and nursing practices. These are extremely important to us as the lack of proper nutritious food and hygiene can weaken the immune system, leaving babies, girls and teens vulnerable to any types of diseases. As for the young mothers, we made sure they’ve already been taught in nursing their babies and other motherhood practices.

Until now activities in the Socio-Economic & Development and Healthcare programs (in which created the Imirasire Youth Clinic & Laboratory, aka IYCL, for providing health services to street children and surrounding community in Kigali) are temporarily suspended due to limited number of beneficiaries and clinic staff, and financial issues.

Both the shelter and the Vocational Training program, which are important in the rehabilitation and reintegration progress, skill-training, and education, are limited in the number of beneficiaries who are:

• tested negative for COVID-19;
• have no one to seek help from (either from a relative or a friend of the family);
• and are most vulnerable to the exposure of GBV, STDs, abuse, and any other acts of violence or dangers that can be encountered in the streets.

Some beneficiaries cannot attend to the Vocational Training as they are mothers who need to take care of their young children or babies back home.

At the shelter, where the rehabilitation and reintegration process takes place, we continue activities that stimulate both the mind and body (such as sports or reading) to not only boost physical strength of the children but also their mental strength as well.