School Update July 29, 2024

Graduation!!!

Well, we were sure surprized to get some new photos from the school of the graduation that happened in early July.  These were students we met in November, so it was just so emotional to see them now graduating.  They were so happy to dress up in the graduation gowns and in some traditional dress for the ceremony.

It is really something to see what your support does to change the world of some very deserving children and their community.  We have some of the photos in our photo gallery on our “What We Do” page.  You need to check them out and see the pure joy and confidence you have given these children.  Their parents are proud of them, and their hope has been raised for their children and that things will be different for them and their futures.

We got word that over 200 people from the community came to celebrate.  The parents, local leaders and other guests were amazed to experience a real graduation because this kind of ceremony is only possible for rich schools. Together we are making an impact.

All 24 students were welcomed in the partner school for September in G1!  So exciting!

The school building project is moving along, and we await some decisions from government and local leaders for moving forward on the brick and mortar stage of this project. We will keep you posted as things progress.

Thank you for your most valued support.  Change is being made thanks to you.

Update December 2023

Well, this update comes shortly after Mick and Lee were able to personally finance a trip to Rwanda to visit the students, staff and school location this past November 2023. 

There are so many memorable moments from the trip but none top the privilege we had to meet the teachers, students and staff of the Komeza Life school.  The joy, happiness and pure excitement felt in the school was so evident we couldn’t stop smiling. We had the opportunity to meet students, their parents and we even visited a few homes to get a real sense of where the children are coming from and the huge opportunity it is for them to be able to attend school.

The teachers were so involved in the process of learning and took great pride in their rooms and tools they did have to work with the children.  We were able to bring a small number of items to help enhance the learning environment for all the students. The staff were equally enthusiastic to what is happening in the school and Grace the director was a standout. The team seemed to really pull together to make sure they were using every resource they had to make the experience for these early learners the best it can be.

So much has happened with the school from last year to this, it was encouraging to see the partnership they have developed with another school to have the students seamlessly transition into the grade one from Komeza Life. The cooperation was easy to see between the two schools. Future plans are in the works for the building of the physical school and are on hold until we receive rezoning and permits for the brick and mortar.  These are nearer now than ever before.  We will keep you posted on that.

At present, the land that has been purchased is being used for growing much needed food to fed the children at the school. While we were there, there was a bean crop growing and looking healthy to be added to the nutritious meal plans they have for the students. The cook and helper have planned nutritious and varied menu to enhance the impact the school has on its learners.

For now, we can assure our supporters that their backing of the project is going right to where it should be and the people who need it the most are benefiting from it. Thank you to all of you for your continued support in helping these most vulnerable children get perhaps the only education anyone in their family will receive. You are not only changing the lives of the children, but that of the teachers, staff and the community they live in.

Update June 2023.

We got the good news that the kindergarten program was able to start!  Although, not as we had imagined, in a new school building and starting months ago, we are thankful the team in Rwanda was able to secure a building to start the program for the children of Gitagata village.  The children were extremely excited to start, some  playing with educational tools for the first time ever. On opening day they all enjoyed a balanced  meal with some of them using forks and eating spaghetti for the first time in their lives. Oh the stories they would have told that night at home.

We are grateful for the tenacity of the team there in pursuing this compassion project and ultimately getting the program up and running by the end of May.  The community, children and families are going to benefit in multiple ways by Komeza Life being there to help facilitate education for these valuable children.

We will keep you posted as things progress and news comes to us from Rwanda.

Update Jan 2023 

Over the past several months we have been in continuous contact with the directors of the Komeza Life ECE Center.  They had hoped to have begun Phase 1 of the building project in Gitagata Village in the Bugesera District by September 2022. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.  The land they purchased is zoned for agriculture (which is a good portion of all the land in the district) and had to go through the rezoning process. This use to be easy, but the Rwandan government has a new land protection initiative that takes time and requires  different levels of government to weigh in.  Good news is that the local leaders are excited and totally supporting this initiative for the people of the community.

Gitagata is one of the poorest villages in Burgesera. Despite delays they have faced they have been successful in moving the ECE program and all the staff from Kigali to Nyamata which is closer to Gitagata. The commitment of the staff to this program and seeing vulnerable children thrive is nothing short of inspiring.

Through community engagement the teachers are working with local leaders to identify children that would be the most vulnerable and benefit the most from the program. So far, staff have visited 115 families and teachers are taking this opportunity to build relationships with the families and children in that area.

The staff continue to build community understanding and build a strong relationship with partner agencies.  They are looking towards the exciting future of Komeza Life ECE program.

We can’t wait for the day to hear when its “full steam ahead “on the physical building of this much needed addition to the community in Gitagata.

You, our supporters are making a real impact here at home and in Rwanda. Lives are being changed because of your generosity and partnership. You are making a difference. Thank you.

We look forward to sharing more details as they happen.