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This week, as we share G.S. Kagugu’s story, we’ll also be sharing information about Groupe Scolaire Gisozi I
G.S. Gisozi I, a K-12 school in the busy wood market district of Kigali, needs only $305/month more (or 6 donors at $55/month) to be fully funded through our School Development Program.
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[two_third_last]Whether you’re in Vancouver or Kigali, Toronto or Gisenyi, kids are our future. When principals put in late nights at school events, when teachers skip dinner to mark a student’s test, and when parents wake up early to take their kids to choir practice, they do it because they care about the children. All of this hard work nurtures their growth and empowers them to succeed in every way. But when these stakeholders aren’t putting the child at the centre of the story and are looking out for their own best interests instead of the child’s, it can cause disastrous suffering. A dysfunctional school has negative effects on a child not just in the present, but many years into the future as well.
And that’s what Wellspring saw when we arrived at G.S. Kagugu.
Before Wellspring’s training, classrooms were a place of fear and loathing. The students hated learning because one wrong answer or misplaced word could lead to a beating that would result in nasty bruises. Their lessons were boring and some days they didn’t receive any teaching at all. Instead of learning good values, the students followed the poor example of their teachers and school leaders and began to skip school and adopt bad attitudes. Parents saw these negative effects and many of them chose to pull their kids out of school. They felt their kids could at least work to earn money to support the family instead of spending their days trapped in the classroom. But this meant that many kids were losing out on the chance to have an education and break the cycle of poverty being thrust upon them. Not having an education severely limits future opportunities.
But when Wellspring began to work with the leaders, teachers, and parents at G.S. Kagugu, remarkable transformation took place, and it all came back to benefit the kids. By teaching leaders how to build a healthy working environment, students are now being taught by teachers who are happy and love their work. By training teachers in the proper methods to teach a quality education, students are actively engaging with their learning and are grasping concepts with a deeper clarity. By helping the school to embrace positive behavioural management instead of physical punishment, kids are not fearful in their classrooms and are willing to engage in their learning instead of being afraid they might speak the wrong answer. And by working with parents to sensitize them to their role in the school community, children are being supported at home and encouraged about the importance of continuing their education.
This training has been hard work, but the fruit has been sweet.
The exam results at G.S. Kagugu have improved a staggering amount and many primary students are now receiving scholarships to schools of excellence. Relationships are now founded on trust and respect, and students feel able to approach their teachers for help about everything from a science question to needing advice about trouble at home. Engaged parents are telling their neighbours about the changes at the school and encouraging them to re-enroll their kids. These outreach efforts have led to many of the dropouts returning to school. Kids who wouldn’t have finished their education are now back in the classroom and excited to learn. This fills our hearts with uncontrollable joy.
G.S. Kagugu is a living testimony to the importance of holistic school transformation. When all stakeholders work together and rally around the children, a vibrant community that empowers the leaders of tomorrow emerges. We are so privileged to have played a role in G.S. Kagugu’s story, but this school is only a chapter in the wider story of Rwanda. We want to see this transformation spread beyond this school compound to impact neighbouring schools, like G.S. Gisozi I. We dream of a Rwanda where the ripples spread until every school has undergone the same transformation as G.S. Kagugu. We want to invite you to come along on this journey with us. Schools like G.S. Gisozi are almost fully funded and a monthly gift from you can help us impact even more students.
I want to help transform Gisozi
That’s it for our blog series about holistic school transformation. Thanks for reading along, and remember to keep checking back for more impact stories from real people who are being empowered by our training. If you ever want to dive deeper into our programs or learn more about what Wellspring does, we’d love to chat with you!
Wellspring is a Christian organization working to empower the next generation of Rwandans through quality education. We believe we are uniquely placed to be a catalyst for transforming education for hundreds of thousands of African children and fostering vibrant communities that address poverty in all its forms. Why do we do this? Because we believe that every individual, no matter their circumstances, should be shown the same dignity and worth that Jesus showed us.[/two_third_last]