Esther's Aid for Needy and Abandoned Children is a faith-based grass-roots organization that began in New York in 1999, to help the children in need and the homeless in our local and international communities. During a site visit to Rwanda in 2000, the founder, Clare Effiong was stunned by the devastation and incredible suffering endured by small children on the street, and dumpsters struggling for survival. The children were without parents, shelter, with little clothing, poorly nourished, and in ill health. This was a direct result of the 1994 genocide, which made them orphans and plunged them into untold hardship, neglect, abandonment, hunger and abuse. This burden led Clare to extend the organizations efforts from New York to Rwanda; in the hopes of alleviating some of the travesties she witnessed and to eventually protect the children from health hazards such as HIV/AIDS, drug addiction, malnutrition, sexual exploitation, cheap child labor and prostitution. Esther's Aid started operation in Rwanda and set its objectives to help the children become productive adults through basic education and skills development training program. Esther's Aid work and workers are supported by the gifts and sacrifices of compassionate people, the entire New York office is run by volunteers no salary.

Since 2000, Esther’s Aid has:

• Reached out to over 3,000 orphans and needy street children/youth/widows.
• Rehabilitated and reintegrated hundreds of children, and opened a free primary school.
• Established skill training for youth in auto-mechanics, catering, welding, sewing.
• Established a Bakery facility, and skills empowerment centers.

Helped feed hundreds of HIV/AIDS victims assisted by UN World Food Program We pay particular attention to the advancement of equal rights for girls education for self-sustenance. The construction of Esther's Aid permanent multipurpose facility (the village of peace) is in progress.