Staff Spotlight – Women on the Frontline

Meet Editruda Kifumu, Coordinator- Amani Singida Centre

Ten years ago, Editruda Kifumu began working with street-connected children in Singida. At the time, she believed that if children simply heard about a safe place like Amani, they would immediately want to leave the streets.

On her very first day, she met a seven-year-old boy known as “Mzee.” When she invited him to come to the center, she expected him to be excited. Instead, he refused. He told her he was not ready to be rescued or to return home. To him, the street felt safer.

That moment changed how Editruda understood her work.

She realized that children are not on the streets because they want to be there. Many are pushed there by abuse, neglect, poverty, and broken family situations. For some, the streets feel like the only place where they have control over their lives.

Over the years, Editruda has seen how street-connected children are often labeled as “thieves” or “troublemakers.” These labels lead to them being mistreated and misunderstood. She has also seen the struggles they face every day, including hunger, violence, and substance use as a way to cope with pain.

But she has also seen something powerful: their resilience.

Working alongside the Amani team, Editruda has helped many children leave the streets, begin healing, return to school, and reconnect with their families. One of her proudest moments was seeing the first group of children supported through the Singida Centre begin to rebuild their lives. Today, many of them are back in school and pursuing their dreams.

After ten years of service, Editruda remains deeply committed to this work. She believes that street-connected children are not a problem to be solved, but children who deserve understanding, protection, and the opportunity to thrive.