There is a great demand, especially among young Rwandans, to learn to speak English. Sadly, in many parts of Africa, the best jobs are with international non-governmental organisations, and a knowledge of English is a great advantage in seeking work.
It is also essential to speak English to continue in school and to go to university. There are virtually no text books published in the local language, Kinyarwanda, so many secondary and college-level course are taught in English.
Aspire is a small Rwandan not-for-profit organisation helping hundreds of women rebuild their lives in the wake of the genocide. Aspire informs and equips women with the knowledge, skills, esteem and friendship to become self-sufficient and empowered. Aspire’s women make crafts, allowing them to educate and feed their children, breaking the cycle of poverty.
By working together, the women of Aspire make their own choices and take control of their future. Aspire's mission is built on the belief that the promotion of human dignity and women’s rights will lead to positive sustainable community development and strong and lasting grassroots reconciliation.
A small group of ambitious and dedicated women at the Learning Centre has formed a bakery business called Wanda Bread With the help of N4A, the women wrote a business plan, elected a management committee and learned how to bake.
The Wanda Bread women produce high quality baked sweet and savoury goods popular with the many ex-patriot Westerners living in Kigali.
In just a few months the women have already made a modest profit, the first strides in the path to financial independence. Alice Gikundiro, President of Wanda Bread told us,
‘I love cooking and being part of Wanda bread has helped me to learn how to bake different cookies and is enabling me to make a living and become an independent and successful woman!’
The ReGeneration Music Centre was founded by two talented volunteers, Amy Stead and David Wald, both trained musicians and teachers. They teach guitar, piano, flute, drumming and singing lessons. The school also has a choir and band, with students of all ages drawing on Rwandese, African and Western music traditions.
They also offer band sessions and music theory, aural awareness and song writing classes to complement the practical training. Only after Amy and David began the music school did the find out it was the first one, ever, in Rwanda.
The programme will enable the students to receive practical tuition and support, whilst building their confidence and self esteem through individual and community development activities.
Network For Africa, working with the respected Rwandan non-governmental organisations, SURF (the genocide survivors’ fund) and IBUKA, has a clinic, maternity ward and community centre serving a population of 17,000 impoverished citizens.
Ntarama is a 45 minute drive south of the capital, Kigali, in a deprived area of rural Rwanda. It is the site of one of the most notorious events during the genocide, when 5,000 people who had taken shelter in a church were murdered. Even before the genocide the area had been deliberately starved of schools and medical facilities.
April 2010 Newsletter 