When all Hope was lost, World Vision Shone a Light in Nicole’s Darkest Hour

On a calm Monday morning, we set out for an interview with Nicole, eager to hear her story. A last-minute change of plans led us to a different house, as she asked us to meet her there instead of her own home. When we arrived, her sleek and shiny black RAV4 was parked outside the gate. Nicole greeted us warmly, her excitement clear, and introduced the woman hosting her, a professional writer helping her assemble a book about her journey with World Vision. It was a striking coincidence; we had come to hear Nicole’s story with World Vision, and here she was, sharing it through her book.

When Nicole opened the gate to welcome us, her warm smile belied the depths of sorrow and resilience that had shaped her life. Today, she is a thriving businesswoman, the proud mother of an adorable little girl, and an inspiration to many. But her story begins in unimaginable darkness! A child orphaned by the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, left to care for her five younger siblings in a crumbling house shared with animals.

“We had nothing but each other,” Nicole recalls. “I became a parent at 13 years old, with no guidance, no resources, and no idea how to survive.” Among her siblings was a premature baby weighing just over a kilogram. Nicole would scour the neighborhood for odd jobs-washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning homes-anything to provide a meal for her family. Nights were harrowing; the rain flooded their home, forcing her to place the children on a rickety table to avoid the rising water.

But when hope seemed out of reach, a chance encounter with World Vision changed everything. Nicole first learned about World Vision through a local leader who visited her home. Their first gift was life-changing; a goat. “That goat brought us so much joy,” she said. “It was the first time we owned anything, and it gave us hope.” Although the goat was later sold to support her family, it symbolized the beginning of a brighter chapter.

World Vision’s support quickly grew. Nicole and her siblings were invited to participate in programs for orphans, where they received food, education, and emotional support. “When I walked into the World Vision office carrying my malnourished sibling on my back, I felt seen for the first time,” she shares. “I realised we were not alone in our struggle.”

World Vision arranged for Nicole to attend a vocational school, where she learned vehicle repair. Despite the challenges of balancing school and caregiving, World Vision stood by her, providing stipends for transport to school. “They didn’t just give up on me,” Nicole says. 

When Nicole’s malnourished sibling’s health became critical, World Vision partnered with an organisation to provide lifesaving care for him. This intervention freed Nicole to focus on her studies. Soon after, World Vision sponsors funded the construction of a new home for her family, a gesture that left her in tears.

 “When I was preparing for my wedding, I wanted World Vision listed on my wedding invitation as my parent because they were the only family I had known. I was very serious about this decision. That is how much World Vision means to me. It took a lot of effort for people to talk me out of this decision I had made,” Nicole says, her voice filled with emotion.

A Legacy of Transformation

Today, Nicole’s life is unrecognisable from her early struggles. She owns an agricultural business, drives her car, has a house of her own, and has built a stable life for her two-year-old daughter Ineza. Her siblings are thriving too—some are university graduates, while others have pursued skilled trades.

“I used to wash dishes to survive,” Nicole reflects. “Now, I am financially comfortable and even able to help others. My life has been completely transformed because of World Vision and its sponsors.”

Nicole is also writing a book to share her story and inspire others. She dreams of empowering more vulnerable children, just as she was empowered.

“Extend Your Compassion”

As she looks back on her journey, Nicole offers a heartfelt plea: “There are many children still suffering like I once did. I encourage World Vision and other organisations/institutions to continue extending its compassion because it changes lives—just like it changed mine.”