Following the genocide, thousands of children were left without parents or sent to different orphanages from their siblings. Some went to live with relatives and foster families but this has resulted in many finding themselves orphaned again by their guardians dying from Aids, while others have been rejected.

Some went to live with relatives and foster families but this has resulted in many finding themselves orphaned again by their guardians dying from Aids, while others have been rejected.

As a result of these problems many children have chosen to form families of their own with the eldest taking responsibility for their siblings. There are now more than 10,000 child heads of households across the country. An organisation called Uyisenga N Manzi was set up in 2002 to provide care and support for them, funded Survivors Fund (SURF).

Actress and SURF Patron Felicity Finch visited one of Uyisenga’s projects in a small village in Kijoukiro on a hillside overlooking the capital, Kigali, where new houses are being built for families. Ancilla Mukarubuga, their advocacy officer, accompanied her.

This broadcast was originally aired on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour on 07 April 2004. Further information on the broadcast is available on BBC Online.