AOCM consisted of young people who lost their parents in the genocide, and came together to help each other create a better life. Although most people in AOCM lived in extreme poverty, they helped each other with food, clothing, having roofs over their heads, and access to healthcare and education. Most important of all: they gave each other friendship and love.

Over 6,000 orphaned children and young people had the chance of a better life through AOCM. Young people who might otherwise have ended up living on the street with drugs, violence, crime, and being exploited. AOCM spoke on the orphans’ behalf in Rwanda, constantly reminding the government and organisations that the orphans existed and needed support. AOCM was honoured by the World’s CHildren’s Prize in 2006.

Learn more about AOCM in the Globe Magazine from 2006:

Text: Andreas Lönn, Photos: Mark Vuori

The facts and figures on this page were accurate at the time of writing, in 2006