Mfutumukiza Clement is a 9-year-old boy whom our Country Director Justin Ngoga first met in March 2026. At the time, Clement was sleeping on the floor in front of a local pharmacy. According to the pharmacy staff, he had been spending his nights there for several months. When Justin first approached Clement, he was very reserved and unwilling to share information about his family or where he lived. Over the following months, We intentionally built trust and a relationship with Clement by regularly buying him snacks and checking on his wellbeing.
On Thursday, May 7th, We found Clement soaked from the rain, wet and shivering from the cold. Deeply concerned for his safety and wellbeing, We asked if he would allow us to visit his home. We promised him that we would help provide shoes, clothing, and support for him to return to school. Thankfully, Clement agreed and led us to his home. There, we met his mother, Mariam, a 36-year-old woman. Mariam explained that she previously worked as a house helper and became pregnant at a young age. She is the mother of six children from four different fathers. Her oldest daughter, who is 16 years old, already has a one-year-old child of her own too.
The entire family currently lives together with Mariam’s current husband, who works as a security guard. Mariam and her husband have been living together for the past five years. At present, Mariam is unemployed and is also pregnant with her seventh child.The family is living in extremely vulnerable conditions, struggling with poverty, overcrowding, and limited resources. Clement’s situation reflects the difficult realities many children face when basic needs such as shelter, food, protection, education, and parental support are not adequately met.
Despite these hardships, Clement showed courage and trust by eventually allowing us into his life and home situation. His story highlights the urgent need for intervention, family support, child educational assistance, and long-term community-based care to help prevent children from ending up on the streets.
The proposed six-month food support is intended to help stabilize the household and create basic food security within the family. This support is expected to reduce the pressure that contributes to Clement spending time on the streets and encourage him to remain safely at home while longer-term interventions are explored.
You can sponsor Clement on a monthly basis to ensure he is able to attend school, receive advocacy and support, and has access to all our support and youth programs. Sponsor here.
Clement’s case is a reminder that behind every child surviving on the streets is a deeper family struggle that requires compassion, patience, and holistic intervention.
