Age: 12
Esperanse Uwamahoro is a 12-year-old girl who was born with mental and physical challenges due to issues at birth. Despite issues with her back, stunted overall growth, breathing issues and seizures, she has such a happy spirit. Her mother, Francine, has 6 other children, Esperanse being the fourth and when she was born, her family, as well as the community, blamed Francine and wanted Esperanse out of the house, with her father refusing to acknowledge Esperanse as his child. However, since working with LWA in the last 3 months, they have not only changed the family’s mindsets, with Esperanse’s father claiming her as his own, but also impacted the way the community sees her and the family, now accepting them and no longer discriminating against them due to her disabilities. While still struggling to find a place of their own to live, Francine only says “Praise God” for the help LWA has done in changing mindsets as well as the physical improvements Esperanse has made, now able to walk, carry light things and she can feed herself.