Vidivi Karangwa Immaculee is the new Country Director of Hope and Homes for Children Rwanda, overseeing our vital work with separated children and families there. Now a few months into her role, we caught up with Vidivi for a chat and to find out where her passion for her job comes from.
What did you do before you worked with us?
Before I began working with Hope and Homes for Children in 2004, I had the privilege of working in diverse roles that shaped my commitment to mental health and social justice.
I served as a Field Psychologist with Médecins Sans Frontières, where I supervised trauma counsellors and facilitated therapeutic support for survivors of sexual violence. My role also involved training mental health professionals and managing resources to enhance psychosocial support in conflict-affected areas.
I’ve also worked as an Assistant Psychosocial Researcher, contributing to research on the long-term psychological impacts of conflict and community-based recovery efforts.
In addition to my formal roles, I engaged in consultancy work, developing training materials, and leading capacity-building initiatives for organisations supporting street-connected children, survivors of genocide, and families in conflict.
What made you want to work at Hope and Homes for Children?
I first encountered Hope and Homes for Children Rwanda during a consultancy project. I came to know the organisation’s incredible work with vulnerable children – including those in child-headed households, families with frail grandmothers raising grandchildren, and HIV-affected households. I was particularly drawn to working with children in the post-genocide context, as I saw the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
Initially, my plan was to work with Hope and Homes for Children for just two years, but the profound, life-changing impact of the organisation’s work kept me here.
I previously believed that orphanages were the best care option for vulnerable children, and had even volunteered at one near my home. But I soon discovered the harmful impact of institutional care, particularly the false narratives created around children to exploit them.
This realisation sparked my advocacy for children’s rights, particularly those confined in institutions. One striking example was when we uncovered that 70% of the children in the orphanage I volunteered at were not orphans, but relatives of the institution manager from the same village, misleading the community into believing they were helping orphans of genocide survivors.
This experience cemented my dedication to supporting Hope and Homes for Children’s mission, and advocating for real, family-based care for all children. The transformative work we do, improving the lives of children, families and entire communities, captured my heart and passion.
What are the main challenges you face in your role?
One of the main challenges is ensuring that child care reform, particularly the closure of all institutions, remains a government priority in Rwanda. This includes advocating for its inclusion in district performance contracts and ensuring it is properly budgeted, even as local authorities face increasing pressures such as the growing number of street-connected children and teenage mothers.
The frequent turnover of government officials also presents a challenge, as it requires us to continuously re-engage and build understanding with newly appointed leaders.
Another significant challenge is the limited effectiveness of local fundraising. Despite efforts to mobilise domestic resources, generating sustainable funding at the national level remains difficult, which can limit our ability to scale up and sustain impact without relying heavily on external support.
What are your proudest moments working at Hope and Homes for Children?
One of my proudest moments was contributing to the closure of the pilot institution in Rwanda. This effort marked the beginning of a national transformation, turning the vision of placing children in loving family environments into a reality, ultimately becoming part of government policy and strategy. It laid the groundwork for the broader shift toward family-based care in Rwanda.
What are your favourite things about your job?
What I love most is the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the transformation that occurs when children are placed in loving family environments, where they can thrive and grow. Knowing that our work has a long-lasting impact on not just the children, but entire communities, is truly fulfilling.
I also deeply admire the courage of Hope and Homes for Children in tackling one of the most challenging and often criticised areas of child protection. Our work, particularly in advocating for the closure of institutions and the transition to family-based care, is met with resistance at many levels due to entrenched interests that don’t always prioritise the best interests of children. Yet we continue to stand firm, driven by a deep commitment to the rights and welfare of children, and that courage is something I truly value.
What would you like to achieve in your role?
As Country Director, my vision is to see Rwanda free of all institutions, including those for children with disabilities, within a reasonable timeframe. I want to ensure that every child grows up in a safe, loving family environment. A key part of this is addressing the growing numbers of street-connected children and teenage mothers, by integrating them into holistic, family-based support systems.
Hope and Homes for Children is already a recognised leader in child care reform and disability inclusion. My goal is to build on this position by strengthening high-quality programme implementation and deepening government and community ownership of the reform process.
It’s also critical to ensure that the illegal creation or reopening of child institutions is recognised as a serious violation of children’s rights, tantamount to child trafficking, and that it is met with strong legal consequences.
My additional priorities include:
- Ensuring care reform is embedded within national systems and sustainably funded.
- Scaling up inclusive, community-based care models through policy influence and evidence sharing.
- Leading a capable, values-driven team committed to child safeguarding and impact.
- Using data and learning to guide strategy and amplify the voices of children with lived experience of institutional care.
- Supporting the national replication of HHC’s proven model, while promoting long-term sustainability and system change.
What’s one thing you’d like people to know about our work?
Our work is not just about changing the lives of the children we serve, it’s about creating ripple effects that positively impact their families, communities, local authorities, and society at large. By promoting family-based care and driving the closure of harmful institutions, we are building stronger, more inclusive communities that nurture and protect vulnerable children.
This transformation is achieved in a cost-effective manner, demonstrating that lasting change can be accomplished responsibly. Ultimately, our mission goes beyond individual cases; it is about catalysing long-term, systemic reforms in child protection, ensuring that generations of children and families benefit from sustainable, impactful care systems.
How do our supporters make a difference to what you do?
Our supporters are vital to the success and reach of our work. Their commitment helps us protect vulnerable children in Rwanda, strengthen families, and create lasting, systemic change.
A special mention goes to The Seneca Trust, whose generous support enabled us to fully implement our Active Family Support (AFS) model for children with disabilities. With their funding, we were able to transition children and adults from institutional care into families, providing the tailored, ongoing support necessary to ensure inclusion, dignity, and protection for each individual. Their partnership has been pivotal in demonstrating that family care is not only possible but transformational for everyone, regardless of their abilities.
I’d also like to thank Clifford Chance for their continued support in empowering teenage mothers. Their contributions have played a crucial role in giving hope for the future by helping teenage mothers and their children reintegrate and reconnect with their families, and build a better future for themselves and their children.
What do you like to do outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending quality time with my family and friends, engaging in sports and fitness activities, going for nature walks, prayer, reading, and listening to podcasts, especially on leadership, mental health, social justice, child development, and personal growth. I also take part in different social activities within my community. Of course, with a demanding work schedule, it’s not always easy to make time for all these hobbies consistently! But I try to keep them in my routine as much as possible to stay balanced and refreshed.
Who are your role models?
One of my greatest role models is Oprah Winfrey; her journey from adversity to global influence is a powerful reminder of the strength of the human spirit. I admire her deep commitment to education, empowerment, and giving a voice to the unheard, especially children and women. I’m also inspired by the families and caregivers who welcome vulnerable children into their homes, and by young people who have experienced institutional care and now advocate for others. These everyday heroes and global changemakers remind me that true leadership is rooted in compassion, resilience, and the courage to act.
What are your hopes for the future?
As Rwanda Country Director, my hope for the future is to see every child in Rwanda grow up in the love and security of a family, not in an institution. I envision a future where child protection systems are strong, inclusive, and sustainable, and where communities are empowered to care for their most vulnerable.
Most of all, I hope to witness a generation of children who are not only protected, but truly thriving, free to reach their full potential.
