In Kanzenze, like in many other third world villages, kids do not have access to parks where they can experience childhood. Most of the families share a survival mindset which views play and recreation as a luxury. For the majority of our community long walks fetching water or fire wood are more familiar realities than a swing set or a slide.
A couple of months ago we decided to change that by inviting kids from the Kanzenze area to our playground on Saturday mornings located at our ATN-Rwanda property in Bugesera. The first Saturday morning was a beautiful and inspirational experience full of laughter and joy. We saw children participating in childhood regardless of their background.
Now every Saturday morning we host a kids club. We have begun to know the families of the children who participate. It has added to our influence in the neighborhood and functions as a touch point into the families and realities in our community. It has also become a great time to share the word of God with these kids. Our prayer is to keep creating more and more opportunities where people can experience and taste the Kingdom of God here today as it is heaven.
