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VSO/Tim Maynard

Rwanda

VSO has worked in Rwanda since 1998, building healthy communities and strengthening inclusive education systems. We're currently active right across the country, in all 30 districts.

  • We're reaching 4 million children through our inclusive education work.
  • In 2018-19, we empowered 2,150 young people to access the sexual and reproductive health information they're entitled to.
  • Our Building Learning Foundations programme is supporting 2,600 primary schools to improve their pupils' basic education.

Healthy communities

In Nyagatare District, we're supporting young people aged 10-25 to take control of their sexual and reproductive lives. Our work focuses on Deaf young people, as well as teenage parents and those with drug or alcohol issues. Through a peer-to-peer approach, including National Volunteers with disabilities, we're engaging healthcare providers and decision makers, ensuring that sexual and reproductive health services become more accessible to all young people.

Over the past year we've empowered 2,150 young people to access the care they're entitled to.

Inclusive education

Through the far-reaching Building Learning Foundations programme, we're training and mentoring teachers and school leaders to improve learner-centred basic education, ensuring that all young children can leave primary school with a functional level of literacy and numeracy. We're focusing on the children who are most often left behind - including those with disabilities or learning difficulties, or who live in the most remote and hard-to-reach areas of Rwanda.

As part of a consortium led by the Education Development Trust, we will reach 4 million children, by engaging with all 2,600 government-funded primary schools in the country.

Building Learning Foundations

Building on our work on the Building Learning Foundations programme, Twigire Mumikino Rwanda (TMR), or ‘Let’s Learn Through Play’ promotes play-based learning as  the foundation of early childhood education for three to six year-olds in Rwanda. By working with schools, parents, communities and decision makers, the project seeks to ensure the value of play as an educational tool. Play is at the heart of how children understand the world, build relationships and learn valuable life skills.

Twigire Mumikino Rwanda is a four-year project funded by the Lego Foundation running from 2021 to 2025. During this time we will reach 250,000 children by engaging with teachers, school leaders and parents.

Let’s Learn Through Play (Twigire Mumikino Rwanda) >

 

Our partners

Valued funding partners include UNICEF, FCDO and USAID. We have strong relationships with ministries including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Local Government.

Other valued implementing partners and allies include the National Union of Disability Organisations in Rwanda (NUDOR), teacher training colleges and cooperative associations.

Our volunteering for development approach brings together the best international expertise with the contributions of committed and dedicated Rwandans to build capacity, boost collaboration, increase participation and extend the reach of services to the poorest and most marginalised.

Working with VSO from the very start of our organisation has been crucial. Our partnership is the foundation of all the good models that we are practicing today.

Louis Ngabonziza, Director, Nyabihu Deaf School

Contact us

We work with a number of partners including UNICEF, Education Development Trust (EDT), the British Council, and the Rwanda Education Board.

If you are interested in supporting our work, or if you have another query, get in touch:

Contact: Franklin Murangira, VSO Rwanda Chief of Party.
Address: VSO Rwanda, P.O. box 4599, KG 625 Street, House N 12, Kimihurura Sector, Imihigo Village, Gasabo District, Kigali
Telephone: +250 788 383326
Skype: mfranklin2

Volunteering in Rwanda

We're working on a range of programmes throughout the country and require volunteers with a range of skills. 

Education professionals are especially in demand. We are working as part of a consortium led by the Education Development Trust, we are working to improve basic education in all 2,600 schools across the country. Ultimately improving learning for four million children.