A former teenage drug addict from Rubavu district, Western province, Eric Bayavuge has transformed his life to become one of the famous local dancers and a role model to street children. 

At the age of five, Bayavuge had started to abuse drugs, sleeping on streets of Rubavu town, after his parents and two aunts died in one week. They were reportedly “bewitched.”

In 2005, he was arrested with other street children and taken to Rubavu transit center, but later, transferred to Vision organization after the former was closed.

At the age of ten, then, in 2010, Bayavuge was introduced to modern dance as he proceeded with rehabilitation process to quit drugs.

In the following two years, he was a dancer, able to organize music performances and to attend music competitions. He thereafter became trainer of street children.

 “I was good to be hired in two years. My trainer gave me a chance to mobilize other street children to be trained and help them to quit drugs,” he said.

Currently, Bayavuge has 23 street children whom he trains to be dancers and helps them to know dangers of drugs.

“They respect me so much; they know I was a street child like them, and an orphan. But I have tried to work hard, be responsible for my life and future. I compete in various modern dance competitions and earn a living,” Bayavuge said.  

According to Bayavuge, street children face difficulties in providing themselves with good sources of food, clean drinking water, health care services, toilets and bath facilities, and adequate shelter. 

This miserable life, forces them to develop their 'own ways' to overcome such difficulties including using drugs to forget, remain strong amidst challenges, according to Bayavuge.

“Quitting drugs is a process. I was able to leave them and work towards having a safe and healthy life. This is my prayer for every street child in the country,” Bayavuge added.

According to Bayavuge, he won various prizes including the 2020 Modern dancers competition that were held in Kigali in November.  

 “Now I can earn about Rwf30,000 in one music show and pay for food, rent and buy other essential commodities. Stop stealing from people in markets and work for the future,” he added.

Bayavuge is one of 200,000 teenagers who were sensitized during the campaigns dubbed “mountain movers” to prevent youth from using drugs and HIV prevention in Rubavu district. The campaigns conducted by Vision organization started in 2019 and are still underway.

Vision organization is a nonprofit organization that targets wellbeing of street children and HIV prevention from the youth.

“We are proud that some children are able to quit drugs and become trainers to others. Those who left drugs, they help in behavior change campaigns, we think in the future, street children can be transformed into responsible people and return to their families,” Moise Ndakengerwa, Project Manager said.

“We train them to be poets, dancers, footballers and other sports talents. Most importantly behavior change skills, to quit drugs, prevent themselves from taking drugs and being ambassadors of change,” he added.