Samuel’s Story: Building Hope Brick by Brick

My name is Samuel. I am 17 years old. I come from a family of six children, and I am the fifth-born. I was born into deep poverty. Life became even more unbearable when my father was imprisoned; I was only four years old. From that moment on, everything changed. My mother was left alone to raise us, without any stable source of income—not even a small plot of land to grow food for us. She had to go out every day to do random, low-paying labor jobs, all while carrying my younger sibling on her back.

I started primary school in that same life of hardship. By the time I reached the fourth grade, our situation had worsened so much that even getting basic school supplies was a struggle. Food became rare. My mother would work all day and earn just $2, barely enough to feed all of us for the day.

When I got to fifth grade, I made a decision: I began working to support myself. I took small, labor-intensive jobs like carrying bricks for construction. I was paid only 300 francs per trip, but I used that little money to buy one notebook and two pens—the only materials I could afford for my schooling. In the second term of that year, my mother fell ill. I lost hope and almost dropped out of school completely. But my older siblings saw what was happening and did their best to come together and support me so I could keep studying.

In sixth grade, things got worse. I struggled academically because I often missed classes—not by choice, but because I couldn’t afford school fees and was sent home. I spent those days finding small jobs to earn money, fetching water for people, grazing their animals, and still carrying bricks when possible. Despite everything, I kept pushing forward. I sat for the national primary exam, and I passed. But there was no money to take me to secondary school. I had no option but to go to the city and work as a houseboy, even though I was only 14 years old.

I didn’t stay long, because local authorities intervened and asked that I return home and resume school. So I went back home, back to that same cycle of struggle and uncertainty. But I didn’t give up. I kept fighting. I made it to Senior 3. I passed again and was given a school placement, but once more, we had no means to pay for it. That’s when I started preparing myself mentally to go into the 12-Year Basic Education program.

The staff from Arise Rwanda called my mother. After hearing our story, they decided to help me, to sponsor my education. Now, for the first time in my life, I have stability. I eat three meals a day. I sleep on a mattress. I no longer go to bed wondering what tomorrow will bring. I am finally able to just be a student.

Thank you to all the leaders of Arise Rwanda, the sponsors, and the people who saw my worth and chose to help me.
You have been more than helpers – you have become our parents, in every sense of the word.
May God bless you abundantly.