In Nyaruguru, Rwanda, 4-year-old Claire gives her adoptive father, Vedaste, a big hug while her adoptive mother, Beata, looks on.

Claire is the child of a single mother who struggled to provide food for her. She was severely malnourished, but not anymore, thanks to Vedaste and Beata’s provision.

Four-year-old Claire is the child of a member of Beata and Vedaste’s church. A single mother, she struggled to provide for Claire. Before they took Claire in, she was starting to exhibit symptoms of malnutrition.

“I know pain. I’ve been through painful situations. I know what it means to be hungry. I know what it means to have a child when you don’t have food or drink to give to them,” says Beata. 

Upon returning to their home after the Rwanda genocide, Vedaste, Beata, and their growing family learned what it means to be hungry. Through agricultural support from World Vision, they turned their struggles into sustainable success, enabling them to not only care for their own nine children, but to adopt Claire into their family as well.

“I feel compelled to help people because God restored my life when I was almost dead. The second chance was given to me to live. I want to use it to help people.”

Photo©2016 World Vision, Eugene Lee