Patience Uwitonze
Kigali

Children in orphanages as a result of Genocide and Aids need counselling, love and care in order to cope with life without their parents.Given the fact that orphaned children suffer emotionally just like adults, counselling is needed because it can help fight fear, grief, poor performance, nightmares and headaches brought about by over-thinking and trauma. The fifteen year-old Liza Uwizeye, an orphan from Nyamagabe orphanage, says that she holds many questions in her heart like, 'who will take care of me?' and 'why me?'

"At times I sit and ask God why my parents died and why it's me suffering," says Uwizeye.

Uwizeye says that this brings anger and bitterness in her heart.

However, if counselling is given to Uwizeye, it may give her the opportunity to voice out her inner feelings and fears.

Specioza Uwamuremye, a widow and counsellor at the orphanage, says the counselling she offers the orphans makes them smile again, improves their school performance and thereafter, they show tremendous change towards life without their beloved parents.

It's very vital for children orphaned by the double tragedy of Aids and Genocide to receive counselling in their lives.

The seventeen year-old Graca Mukankundire, from Kyanyonga orphanage, says that counselling has helped her so much that she does not get trauma attacks any more. "It's two years now since I experienced trauma attacks," Mukankundire says.

Mukankundire adds that Joanna Nkusi, her teacher at the orphanage, has played a big part in her life.

"Nkusi spares enough time for me every evening for thirty minutes and counsels me. I forgave all the people who I think killed my parents, I now live a life free from anger and hatred," says Mukankundire.

She further says that before counselling, it used to be a different case for her: "I used to hate even the innocent children who were of Hutu origin, I felt like killing them because Hutus killed my parents and relatives, but now I love them and live in harmony with everyone."

Mukankundire testifies that counselling is good, and implores counsellors to attend to her friends at the orphanage who still face trauma attacks.

"I am now resistant to trauma because of the regular counselling I got from Nkusi," she says.

Joanna Nkusi, a teacher and counsellor at the Kyanyonga orphanage, says she has counselled and advised over 60 orphans and to her she has registered peace and harmony among the orphans.

"I have helped many children overcome trauma and this has created harmony in the society we live in. Hatred no longer prevails," she says.

Nkusi says many children suffer from trauma. Some of them are taken to hospitals like Muhima Dispensary and Sante National de trauma in Ndera for treatment and counselling till they are well.

Jack Kalayenga says that the Kimisagara orphanage provides counselling to the young orphans through the use of pictures.

"We use pictures and drawing especially for the young ones, many children often draw their parents pictures, pangas, coffins, dogs and its through these drawings that we counsel them, when we ask them why they draw such pictures they say that its because they hear their friends talk about how their parents died. So when they are not counselled they face trauma especially when idle," says Kalayenga.

Children who are traumatised need more love and care to be shown since they have no parents.

Kalayenga adds that since the orphans have no parents they still need parental love. The staff at the Kimisagara orphanage plays a big role in providing care and showing a great passion to the orphans.

"Sometimes, we get a problem of finding quality and passionate staff to take care of the orphans. Some people are very rude and others just pretend to show love yet in actual sense they are very hostile," says Kalayenga.

Cruelty is one of the factors that lead to trauma because most of the children recall how rude the Interahamwe killers were and this brings about psychological torture.

The Kimisagara orphanage is trying to get people who have a great passion of taking care of orphans. They think the Catholic convents and churches can be a good source of good, caring Christians, says Kalayenga.

He adds that the orphans who are infected with HIV are counselled and treated with extra care and are provided with ARVS. The identities of children who are receiving treatment for HIV are kept secret.

The seventeen year-old Constantine Mugiraneza is one of the children who are HIV positive and an orphan as well. He testifies how the ARVS and counselling have helped him overcome sorrow and pain.

"I no longer have fear of saying that I am HIV positive. I have no parents and brothers, they all died during the Genocide, but counselling from different missionaries has given me hope to know that my future is great and life still goes on," says Mugiraneza.

Mugiraneza attributes his strength to Jack Kalayenga who helped him with counselling and care ever since he was young.

"Though my parents died, Kalayenga is also my father. He has done everything my father would do. I no longer regret the death of my parents. Not only me, but also my other friends around are happy with the love and advice Kalayenga provides," he says.

Mugiraneza says that almost every evening and night they hold prayers and counselling and this has given most of the children hope to carry on with life.

"Some of the children are psychologically tortured and suffer from trauma because they do not get counselling, love and care, but thank God I no longer face trauma attacks any more," says Mugiraneza.

Orphans can cope better with life if counselling is provided to them and they need a holistic approach to be reached with counselling, care, love and support.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200705220445.html