Gucutsa Programme

As our children reached adulthood and got ready to leave the nest, we took steps to prepare them for independent living.

The Gucutsa Program was created to help our secondary and vocational school graduates transition to independent life outside the orphanage. Gucutsa is the Kinyarwanda word for “independence.”

Participants received assistance in securing housing, finding jobs or internships, purchasing tools for vocational trades (i.e. carpentry and mechanics), financial guidance, and general mentoring and advice. Upon completion of the program, children are considered independent – living and working in the community on their own or with other young adults from Imbabazi. Our staff monitored these efforts to ensure that the children were staying healthy and safe in the community, while developing important life skills necessary to live on their own.