The World Family CookBook is part of a project developed by The Humphrey Fellowship Program of Boston University to raise funds for children of war in Africa. The goal of the project is to help establish an agricultural center, purchase much needed farm tools, and provide psychological counseling for some of the thousands of children who have been left as the sole caregivers of younger siblings, and as adoptive parents of abandoned infants.

History of War Children in Rwanda

Since the end of World War I, Rwanda has long been the scene of tensions between the native Hutu and Tutsi tribes.

In 1994, fighting once again broke. This conflict erupted into a savage civil war and humanitarian crisis. It is estimated that from a pre-war Rwandan population of around 9 million people, up to 1 million people were killed in this bloodshed and another 7 million people were displaced from their homes, with 3 million fleeing to refugee camps abroad.

Disease and food shortages also took their toll. At the height of the troubles, it was estimated that warfare, starvation and disease killed 3,000 people a day.

In the huge population displacement, children were separated from their families. Others were orphaned through war or disease. Large numbers of children were traumatized by these experiences. Many of them ended up living on the city streets.

After the war, aid organizations estimated that there were 300,000 orphaned children living in child-headed households. Many of these households adopted other orphan kids.

The proceeds from the sale of the cookbook will provide funds to children in these war torn regions so they can receive proper health care and education.