St. Therese of the Little Flower Orphanage History
Sr. Pudentiana Kirungo Mushumbusi, STH and four missionary nuns from her order were sent to Burundi, Africa to establish a small convent. While serving as missionaries, the Burundi genocide occurred leaving thousands of children orphaned, starved, homeless and emotionally scarred. The Sisters, with barely enough to survive on and living in a small dwelling, chose to take in forty-nine children. It quickly became apparent that they needed to establish an orphanage.
St. Therese of the Little Flower Orphanage (STLFO) was established in 1996. The children received food, clothing, housing, healthcare, education and spiritual formation. The Sisters created a loving family environment that allowed the children to adopt a spirit of forgiveness for the pain caused by genocide. The Sisters believe in empowerment through education and have remained committed to each child until completion of their education and attainment of the ability to live independently.
Since 2006, the Orphanage Sponsorship Program has been serving 55 children from early childhood through young adult. Majority of the children have completed their high school, vocational training or college education, and are living independently.