The school at Rugerero was targeted for assistance in 2004, due to its severe state of disrepair, extreme isolation, lack of teaching resources and overcrowding. The ratio of pupils to teachers is close to one hundred to one. So children in junior classes attend school in either a morning or afternoon shift. Many families are unable to provide their children with basic learning materials, and these are not provided by the school. ABANA is working to ensure that children have the materials they need. With the assistance of Rev. David Cohen of CNEC Partners International, and under the supervision of local Rwandan Dominican priest, Fr. Sixbert Hategikimana op., eight new classrooms were completed in 2005, using locally produced materials and local tradesmen.

 

 

This photo shows the state of the classrooms before demolition: mud floors and walls, and logs for seats.

And After:

Stage 1
The first stage of building works at Rugerero Primary School was completed in 2005. Dilapidated buildings were demolished and replaced with eight new classrooms complete with desks and seats instead of logs on the muddy ground. The children now have classrooms that are clean and dry! However, there is still no electricity and very few books.

 

 

In October 2007 Christine Murorwunkwere travelled once again to Rwanda to help establish Stage 2 of the building project at Rugerero School, with the assistance of volunteer Australian logistician, Troy Aitken. Working with local Rwanda NGO, ADENYA, Troy ensured that funds were spent appropriately and that the project was completed smoothly. Up to 90 local tradesmen and labourers were employed during construction, and unpaid community service work by local villagers also helped with the levelling of the playground area. Unlike Stage 1 of the project, which took a year to complete, Stage 2 was completed in less than 4 months.

 

 

Stage 2

 

Rugerero Primary School building project Stage 2 was finally completed in February 2008. This second group of 8 classrooms was completed and furnished with desks for students and teachers. The total number of new classrooms at Rugerero is now 16, all made from baked bricks, cement floors, corrugated iron roofs with clear panels to let sunlight in and timber shutters on window openings without glass. The school still does not have electricity, but plans are now being make to capture rainwater from roofs to provide drinking water for the school.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three thousand local villagers attended the official opening of the Stage 2 of building works at Rugerero Primary School in June 2008, despite the pouring rain and muddy conditions. Some boys and dads performed a spectacular Rwandan traditional dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year 6 teachers at Rugerero Primary School with their Director, Callixte Sikubwabo in January 2008. As part of the overall plan to improve educational outcomes of children in the local villages, learning materials including pens, exercise books and slates have been provided to hundreds of children at Rugerero & Rusuzumiro primary schools.