Where It
All Began
Steven Turikunkiko was orphaned at the age of five. As a young man, he found himself living in the aftermath of Rwanda's 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, surrounded by children who had lost their families. Moved by their suffering and guided by a deep belief that people are better off together than alone, Steven gathered 80 of these children and made a commitment: he would see them thrive.
With his leadership and care, they formed child-headed households and survived. They eventually registered as the Togetherness Youth Cooperative in 2012. Steven also reached out to women who had been widowed, helping to stabilize and encourage a community of strength around them. They became the Ebenezer Cooperative.
In 2025, the organization received official recognition as a Rwandan nonprofit: the Community of Togetherness. From a patch of dirt to a landscape of hope.
