Christine’s Fight For Hope and a New Future
Growing up in a busy Rwandan town, Christine never imagined her life would become a battle for survival. Yet, at just 35, she has weathered storms that would have broken many. Her journey is one of pain, resilience, and—most of all—hope.
The Streets That Stole Her Childhood
Christine’s story didn’t begin with poverty or hunger. She grew up in a home where her needs were met, but as a teenager, the pull of the streets proved irresistible. Peer pressure and the promise of easy money lured her away. Her parents searched for her for days, hearts heavy with worry, but Christine was already lost in a world she didn’t understand.
On the streets, Christine became a caretaker for children left behind by women working in the sex industry. It wasn’t long before she, too, was drawn into that life—a life filled with suffering, betrayal, and heartbreak.
A Mother’s Battle
Christine became a mother four times over, each child fathered by different men who promised her the world and then disappeared, leaving her to pick up the pieces. She remembers going to bed hungry while pregnant, enduring childbirth alone, and facing violence and ridicule from those she trusted most.
“There was a time when I would do anything to feed my children,” Christine recalls. “Even if it meant risking my life.” She sold weed, took dangerous chances, and, in her darkest moment, agreed to sleep with a man she knew was sick—desperate for the money he offered.
Soon after, Christine’s health began to fail. She was diagnosed with gonorrhea and, after much fear and denial, learned she was HIV positive. It took her months to accept her diagnosis, but she found hope in the stories of others who were living with HIV. She began treatment and slowly started to heal.
Finding Refuge at DuHope
Christine’s life began to change when a friend introduced her to DuHope—a place she now calls her sanctuary. At DuHope, Christine learned to make crafts: delicate beadwork, rectangular earrings, and more. She joined a savings group, opened her first bank account, and started to dream of a future beyond the streets.
“DuHope is a blessing,” Christine says, her eyes shining. “Here, I am accepted. I am safe. I am learning, and I am healing.” She wishes she could spend even more time there, surrounded by women who understand her struggles.
Christine sharing during a group counseling session at DuHope.
The Wounds That Remain
But Christine’s scars run deep. Her mother, still angry over Christine’s choices, refuses to see her or her grandchildren. “I have no one to rely on except God,” Christine says. “He is the only one who has helped me in my time of need.” Her father, now gone, was never present; her mother’s rejection cuts deeper than any other wound.
Christine’s greatest prayer is for reconciliation. “Even if it happens on her deathbed, I want my mother to meet her grandchildren. I want to feel like her child again.”
A New Chapter
Christine’s journey is far from over. She still struggles—sometimes returning to the streets when money runs short, still haunted by the pain of the past. But each day at DuHope, she grows stronger. She is learning to trust, to forgive, and to be the mother her children need.
She laughs more now—an infectious, joyful sound that fills the room. She prays more, finding comfort in her faith. And she dreams more, believing that one day, she will leave the streets behind for good.
Christine is not just surviving—she is fighting for a better life. And with your help, she’s living it.
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Christine’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, the importance of community, and the unbreakable spirit of a mother’s love. Thank you for helping make her transformation possible.