Niyikiza Frank

Frank, born in 2009 in Musanze District, grew up in a family weighed down by hardship. His mother, Megitirida Marie Reine, lives with leg paralysis and cannot work, whilehis father, Niyikiza Jean Paul, struggles to support the family through backbreaking bicycle transport. From the age of seven, Frank carried responsibilities far beyond his years, going door to door in search of small jobs just to buy school materials and continue learning like other children. Poverty and worry for his family shadowed his childhood, making education a constant struggle. Each rejection and limitation deepened his sadness and frustration, threatening to dim his dreams. Everything changed when Art for Change Rwanda became his support and safe haven, providing school materials, care, and encouragement.Through painting and drawing, Frank found a way to express his emotions, heal from pain, and rediscover joy. Today, he studies confidently in Senior Four, growing academically and emotionally, while nurturing a dream to advocate for neglected and voiceless children—just as he once was. Frank’s journey is a testament that with support, love, and opportunity, hope can triumph over hardship.