Two Boys. One Dream: Safety. Your Giving Tuesday Gift Can Get Them There

As we enter this season of gratitude and generosity, I want to share the stories of two incredible boys who are at the heart of our Giving Tuesday campaign this year--Eric and Jacques. ​

Their courage, their hope, and their determination are deeply humbling… and together, we have a chance to give them something life-changing: safety and stability.

Eric: A 17-Year-Old Brother Carrying the Weight of a Family
Many of you may remember Eric. At just 17, he is caring for his three younger siblings--Liliane (16), Jeremy (12), and Vedaste (8)—after losing their mother earlier this year. Their mother, Clementine, passed away from heart disease and organ failure, leaving the four children orphaned.

Thanks to your generosity during our Give $5, Challenge 5 campaign, Eric is now attending a secondary boarding school where he’s working hard toward his dream of studying construction. While he’s away at school, his sister Liliane is caring for their younger brothers, and your support has also allowed her to continue her education.

In August, during our visit to the Rugarika community, we had the opportunity to meet Eric’s family in person—Eric, his siblings, and their grandparents. We saw firsthand the conditions they are living in: a home that is unsafe, unstable, and far from what any child should have to endure. Despite their circumstances, the children welcomed us with warmth and hope.
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We are currently supporting Eric’s education and providing food for his siblings, but our goal now is to give them something every child deserves: safer, more stable shelter.

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Jacques: A Quiet Strength After Unthinkable Loss
When we visited Rwanda this August, we traveled deep into the rural hills to meet Jacques, a boy whose resilience is nothing short of extraordinary.

Jacques witnessed the unimaginable: his father took his mother’s life and is now serving a life sentence. Although community members stepped in to adopt the children, Jacques was separated from his siblings. Today, he lives in unsafe conditions, many hours away from his school. Each day, he walks nearly two hours each way on steep, hilly terrain just to reach the community center—the one place he feels secure.

His dream is simple but profound:
to attend boarding school and one day return home to live safely with his brother once their family home can be repaired.​

Standing at his doorstep—after climbing down and back up the winding hills he walks every single day—our team knew:
Jacques deserves safety. He deserves stability. And he deserves a chance.

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This Giving Tuesday, We’re Coming Together to Fight for Both Boys and Their Families 

Your gift today is doubled thanks to two generous matches:

• $10,000 from an anonymous donor
• $10,000 from Boeing

We are raising $20,000, which will unlock $20,000 more, bringing $40,000 directly into the community.

Here’s how your Giving Tuesday gift will transform lives:

1. $19,500 — Build a Safe Home for Eric & Jacques
Your support will help construct a GIFTS Rwanda duplex home that both boys can live in while they continue their education. It will give them:

• safety
• stability
• the emotional and physical security every child deserves

And once Eric and Jacques eventually transition to homes of their own, this structure will continue serving future children and mothers in crisis. A home that keeps giving.

2. $3,300 — Food Support & Farming Empowerment
You’ll help provide vital food supplies to families in crisis, including Eric’s and Jacques, and support five families in beginning to cultivate their own land for long-term food security.

You Can Be Part of Their Story
Eric and Jacques have endured hardship far beyond their years… but they have also shown extraordinary strength and hope.
Your generosity today will give them what no child should go without:
a safe place to live, a full stomach, and the chance to focus on their future.

Give now and DOUBLE your impact.
Every gift gets us closer to opening the doors of a safe home for these two boys.

GIVE TODAY FOR 2X THE IMPACT

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Early Givers Wall of Champions
We’re so grateful for the donors who have already stepped forward with early gifts to kickstart this campaign. Their support is bringing us closer to unlocking the full match and ensuring Eric and Jacques get the stability they need.

Current Total Raised: $10,343

Champions So Far:

• Barbara W.
• Stan M.
• Will J.
• Barbie K.
• Brian and Darla B.
• Norman S.
• Jonathan and Joy M.
• Carolyn D.
• Aaron M.
• Matthew B.
• Laura and Ben S.
• Charles and Karon S.
• Karen S.
• Michael P.
• Christina F.
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
• Anonymous
  
  

If you prefer to remain anonymous, we will list you as “Anonymous” with gratitude.

GIVE TODAY FOR 2X THE IMPACT

Thank you for believing in these boys, in our work, and in the future of the Rugarika community. Your generosity truly changes lives.