Tuesday, February 23, 2021
We are glad to share this special update from TEACH Rwanda, a U.S.-based non profit that is transforming early childhood teacher education in Rwanda, a small country near the Equator in Africa. They prepare Rwandan teachers to offer young children engaging, meaningful learning experiences.

Our church became involved with TEACH Rwanda last year, sponsoring both the tuition and transportation for a student at the Bright School. Jan Brown, the director, visited our Mission Committee in December, 2018 to share about this program.

TEACH Rwanda: Progress in spite of a pandemic

COVID-19 disrupted Rwanda’s usual school schedule from March through November. So instead, at Bright School:

  • Teachers called every family every week. We learned many Fund a Future families had no food, so…

  • We started Emergency Food Distributions to about 70 families each month, and then…

  • Began a Mobile Library with story times and Family Activity Guides so all children could continue to learn through play and projects at home (see photo below), plus we…

  • Coached teachers’ skills weekly in computer use, English, best practices, and learning plan development.

Thanks to your support and that of many other generous people in the Lehigh Valley, we were able to continue during COVID times to pay all of our staff and rent, and provide food to families who were in need.

This year we also built two new, required classrooms and set up an Outdoor Learning Area (see below), thanks to grants. We provided a workshop for teachers in four schools on trauma-responsive teaching strategies, in preparation for school to reopen.

Just this week, school has resumed across Rwanda. We are looking forward to working with new partner schools and many more teachers who are eager to learn best practices. Our Fund a Future children continue to thrive!

Please keep us in your prayers as we expand our reach in professional development to even more schools, teachers, children, and families in Rwanda.

Jan Brown and Bill Whipple
TEACH Rwanda

“The reason I love TEACH Rwanda is because you have a mercy heart
to help those who are not able to have something.
And because you like children.” – Visha
 
“I love TEACH Rwanda because you teach us in good ways
and you are the best leaders.
You give us all of our rights. Thank you for all of this.” – Pretta
Fabrice, a long-time Fund a Future student now showing leadership skills in P4, is fascinated by our keyboard, made possible by a donation from a music teacher who graduated from Moravian College.

That’s Jan, relying on her rusty music skills.
Teachers read stories with props, in nearby neighborhoods, with our Mobile Library while schools were closed.

Children’s literacy development and friendships were sustained for months!
Our teachers use trauma-sensitive themes and strategies to ease the transition from home back to school. Construction with blocks, recycled cardboard, and found materials is especially engaging.

Chance, one of 70 Fund a Future children, was the lead architect for this project.
Children are thrilled to be back in a safe, loving, learning environment.
For more information: teachrwanda.org

Follow them on Facebook: @teachrwanda