Social Issue

Although more than 20 years have passed since the Rwandan genocide, the African country still lives under the ravages of the terrible event that in 1994 left almost a million dead.

The eastern Rwandan provinces, the most populous in the nation, are one of the poorest areas in the country and with the largest number of orphans, widows, and families facing the harshest conditions for survival.

Although primary education is free and compulsory in Rwanda, many boys and girls do not attend school. The reasons for this phenomenon are related to the lack of resources of their families, who cannot cover the health and food needs of children, nor pay for school supplies.

Our Response

We have collaborated with the NGO Trust and Care since 2007 to improve the situation in the region through education.

The main objectives of the project are:

• To provide school supplies, such as notebooks and pencils, to 50 elementary school students, and to pay for school fees and study supplies to 700 secondary students.
• To provide a 10-day course for social workers in the region, covering nutrition (the importance of a balanced diet to combat malnutrition and how to use the limited resources available to the maximum effect) and health (prevention of AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, etc).
• To get all these beneficiaries registered with the equivalent of social security (“mutuelle de santé”) with which they can receive any necessary health service for free in any health centre, including vaccinations.
• To provide the children with tutors who will offer constant monitoring as well as acting as mentors and advisers.

Expected Social Impact

This project has offered different opportunities to primary and secondary students through educational resources, social workers, health and social security, and mentoring. An estimated 750 students have been able to benefit from the aid.