A big-hearted Dumbarton family brought the community together to help raise vital cash to support vulnerable street children in Rwanda.

Christine Robertson and her relatives have been working with charity Comfort International to support young people who still suffer from the aftermath of the 1994 genocide.

Their kind efforts have seen them travel to the country, where they witnessed the children’s harrowing struggles first-hand.

They were left shocked and saddened after discovering some of them living in swamps as they have nowhere else to go.

Last month, the family raised an incredible £1735 at a fundraising event in a bid to buy mattresses for youngsters who are forced to sleep without.

One of the Gasanze Children in July 2017

Christine explained: “We decided we wanted to boost the profile of what we do and get the community more involved.

“We organised a night to showcase where money goes and show videos of children.

“We managed to get curries donated from local businesses in Helensburgh and had two bands, Ines Fada and Esther Sparks perform.”

The night was held in The Rock Bowling Club in Dumbarton with around 85 people attending.

Fiona with the same child one year on in July 2018

The family have also raised a further £800 through a fundraiser with All Sorts Choir in Dumbarton.

Christine got involved with Comfort International in 2008.

She explained: “An author called Callum Henderson spoke at the Rock Community Church in Dumbarton about his book on the Rwanda Genocide called Beauty from Ashes.

“After reading that book I, along with my brother Billy McClung and his wife Fiona, decided we had to get involved.

“Since then I’ve been out to the country about four times, most recently in July.

“Last year, my brother and his wife visited and learned about a group of children who were living in a landfill site.

“They asked about getting these kids sponsored and rehomed and now all these children, known as the Gasanze Children (named after a suburb in the capital Kigali), have been supported.

“It was a very emotional time. I am glad to say these 67 children have schooling, health insurance, food and a safe place to stay. They do have beds but no mattresses which is why we want to raise money for some.”

Of the 67 children now being sponsored, 23 have been supported by people from the Dumbarton area through the Rock Community Church.

The project has become known as the Gasanze Street Kids Rescue Project and Billy is a trustee.

While visiting Rwanda in July, Christine was left shocked after discovering more children living in swamps.

She said: “They would be there really early in the morning then disappear during the day because the police would come and arrest them.

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“There were around 25 children living in this swamp and I felt optimistic we would be able to help them with housing and schooling and get them medical insurance.”

Two of the children first in 2017 then after a year of sponsorship in 2018

Christine also managed to visit the children already sponsored by the charity, who had been helped last year.

She said: “It was quite exciting and emotional as I met a child I have sponsored and children my son and daughter had sponsored.

“I was able to take over gifts for them and I also gave them personal items like photographs and letters.

“It was amazing because it allowed them to see what their sponsor looked like and allowed them to know that there are people who care about them.

“My brother manages to get out year after year and is on the committee. My husband has been out as well. It’s very much part of the family.”

Billy and Fiona are planning another trip to Rwanda in July 2019.

For more information contact Billy McClung on billypaddler@blueyonder.co.uk or visit the website: http://comfort-rwanda-congo.org.uk/

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