“And he took them in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.” Mark 10:16 (NIV)

When children who have suffered a burn injury are discharged from Kibogora Hospital, they have recovered; however, they are still navigating difficult physical, psychological and emotional issues related to their burn injuries. As they return home, they are often the only burn survivor in their village or school. This makes it important for them to have the opportunity to meet other children who have a similar journey.

On Saturday, March 8, 2025, Kibogora Hospital hosted a Burn Survivor Event for children ages 2 to 13. This was the first known burn survivor event in Rwanda. The goal was to acknowledge burn survivors’ unique challenges and provide the children and their parents with physical and spiritual care, fun, and celebration. We also hoped to provide a space where they could build relationships and share experiences with each other, realizing they are not alone in what they are going through.

Forty-nine children attended the event. It felt like witnessing a miracle to see some of them, who had suffered so much in the hospital, come back happy and healthy. Hospital chaplains, Pastor Enock and Nasson, led the group in worship and shared a short devotion, and a lunch was served. Pastor Enock and a University of Colorado (UC) Health Services nurse offered a support-group discussion for burn survivors. Physical evaluations were completed by a doctor from Kibogora Hospital and another from UC Health. Twenty-four children had consultations; two were scheduled for surgery related to their previous burn injury, and two were scheduled for an outpatient injection to reduce related scarring. The other activities were part of the fun – face painting, bracelet making, coloring and soccer.

My husband, Emmanuel, and I led the planning and coordination of this event with assistance from Kibogora Hospital and Guest House staff. Volunteers from UC Health initiated the idea, and their expertise in caring for burn patients and survivors helped make it a success.

One child’s mother shared, “It was nice for the kids to have fun. These children can be seen as having a disability, and they face stigma in society, so it means so much that they would be called back and shown that they are valued.”

Her comments were an affirmation of our hope in planning this event. We wanted the children to leave knowing they were loved by their community and by Jesus. We pray this can become an annual hospital event through continued partnership with UC Health and Free Methodist World Missions.