More about EDD

     While I was only at EDD for one week, I learned a lot.  I was fascinated with how the school is run.  Yes it is a charity licensed by the government of Rwanda, but its daily governance was to me amazing.   The boys themselves elect "ministers"--a prime minister, a health minister, an education minister, a finance minister, and more.  Each of them is subject to impeachment by the boys if they are not satisfied with how they are conducting themselves, and I understand impeachment is not a rare event.
    The ministers are truly responsible for the governance of the school.  For example, Charles, who is the executive director of the place, told me that he could not spend ANY money without the finance minister's signing his approval!
    I learned from several sources that a few years ago, there were a couple of American volunteers who very nearly started a coup d'etat!  They felt the boys were not being treated fairly by the staff and set the boys against the staff.  For awhile, things were very tense indeed, but then the Americans went home and things settled back down.  You know what troublemakers Americans can be.
     The other fascinating thing was that EDD is NOT an orphanage and its governmental approval depends on its on-going efforts to REINTEGRATE families.  So, in addition to the educational, residential, healthcare, nutritional, social, and moral responsibilities all addressed there, EDD must also work with the families of these children and develop a realistic reintegration plan.  Sometimes the locating of family members alone is a major undertaking.  Sometimes the kids are without a parent, and EDD then must try to locate grandparents, uncles, aunts, former neighbors, friends, ANYONE who might be able to provide the child with some support.  EDD provides counselling to the new home provider as well as financial assistance for school fees and other costs.
     This man, who I am proud to say

Shareef and an un-named American

has named himself my brother [ uh, Paul, meet our new brother] is in charge of the reintegration follow-through at EDD.  He is constantly on the road , looking for appropriate placements, providing counselling, and transporting people.  I simply cannot imagine how Shareef can get this all done.  I should think he would need an army of helpers, keeping in mind that there are about 160 kids at EDD, and he not only needs to address their reintegration needs but also follow-up on those who have left.  Of course he does share his mission with all 16 other staff members.
 ,
     I found myself very moved by the plight of one of the boys who had recently turned 18 and who
HAD to be reintegrated since EDD is not permitted to keep children beyond their 18th birthday.  He is terrified that his stepfather will resume the regular beatings he inflicted earlier.