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Janine's Journey
After a recent visit to Rwanda by the Hope Education team we were made aware of a girl named Janine who had been left with brain and memory injuries from the genocide. Janine has not spoken for the last 12 years nor does she recall anything of her horrific experiences during the genocide. Last month, an opportunity arose for a meeting to occur between the Hope Education team and Janine. The team, equipped with art materials and hearts to make a difference, were in awe of what happened next. In an amazing moment, Janine began to draw images and then, for the first time in 12 years, began to speak, recalling her traumatising experiences during the genocide. For Janine, remembering the horrors of 100 days began a journey towards healing in this young woman’s heart. With new hope Janine can now sleep without the torment of her past. Janine is just one person who has been helped by the Hope Education team. Hundreds of primary and secondary school teachers have also benefited from the ‘up skilling’ provided by Hope Education volunteers. Hope Rwanda believes education provides a nation with the foundation for economic growth and self-reliance. Hope Rwanda continues to partner with the Rwandan education system to provide ongoing teacher training and help improve education systems. It is for young girls like Janine and the many Rwandan teachers we train that Hope Rwanda continues to invest into this nation. It is our responsibility as a global community to help this nation tackle head-on the challenges that come with poverty, war and genocide. By supporting Hope Rwanda and joining our Hope Partners’ monthly giving program you can help make a difference. Janine would not have been given the opportunity to speak her first words in 12 years had it not been for the generous support and commitment of people just like you. While the world has turned its back on many, Hope Rwanda exists to demonstrate to people like Janine that their lives are not forgotten and that there is hope. Together we can make a profound difference. With hope and love,
Your gifts – and your prayers – are helping restore a hope and a future for others just like Janine. |
Hope Education Puts Poverty on Detention
The link between education and poverty is clear, and providing opportunities for education is one of the most effective weapons against poverty. Hope Rwanda is committed to the Rwandan government’s vision for basic education & poverty reduction. Within this context, the aim of Hope Education is to combat illiteracy and to resource the development of the Rwandan education system.
Every day we see our children off to school, believing this investment will bring them a more opportunities and a brighter future. We would not accept anything less for our children. We should not accept anything less for the children of Rwanda. CHRIS ZAAROUR |
Education is critical to breaking the cycle of poverty. It is key to enabling the poor to take control of their lives and for creating skills and opportunities for employment and social development. Education raises productivity, innovation and output, and is a major contributor to economic growth and poverty reduction. Yet many Rwandan children have never set foot into a classroom and a large number of these will leave school before they have the chance to learn how to read or write. Today, more than 400,000 Rwandan children are out of school. Many of these children live in poverty and their future appears hopeless.
In 2007, Michelle Shaw and Cheryl Blackwell have again led teams of school teachers to Rwanda to invest into the development of 30 Rwandan Nursery School Teachers and 60 Primary School Teachers from 30 districts in Rwanda. Hope Education trained Rwandan teachers in a wide variety of teaching strategies as well as upskilling to train other teachers. With the Rwandan government recognizing the impact of the Hope Education team, there is further opportunity to continue our efforts in this area and to train a further 3000 teachers in 2008.|
Dear Hope Rwanda, I am very proud of this moment to tell you news after English training I did at Butare. Since I arrived in my class I practiced all methods I received from you like: games, songs & drawings… I am using all the games you taught us and they are usefull in my lessons. My pupils are fond of English language and ,myself, I am learning this wonderful language. I don’t find the manner in which I can congratulate you for that training. I can’t forget you, only God bless your works on this earth, many times. I shall inform you about the results of the training we did at Butare. - Rwandan School Teacher |