L’École Rwanda

WHAT IS L’ÉCOLE RWANDA?

L'Ecole Rwanda envisions building a school of hope in a village where there is none.  In the heart of an area racked by genocide, the people of the village of Gashirabwoba dream that their children will soon learn the true meaning of its name--"to be free from fear."  Our goal of raising $107,000 will transform their dream into a reality through a partner-ship of All Souls' Anglican Church with the Episcopal Church of Rwanda.  It will empower the church there to engage with local government to meet the needs of hundreds of children with no access to education.  As we see our commitment through, we will learn of the people in the "Land of a Thousand Hills" and their efforts to rise from the pain of genocide through reconciliation.

WHERE WILL THIS SCHOOL BE BUILT?

The school will be built in Gashirabwoba, a village whose name means “to be free from fear.” Gashirabwoba  is in an area called Cyangugu in the Western intara (province, analogous to US states). French is the primary language from Rwanda’s history as a Belgian colony. The school will provide education to hundreds of children who currently have no access, as well as lay the groundwork, perhaps, for a church, pastor’s home and other services.

I KNOW I’VE HEARD OF RWANDA, BUT MY GEOGRAPHY IS A BIT FUZZY…

Rwanda is located in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa just south of the equator.  It is bordered by Uganda, Burundi, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Tanzania.  Full of grasslands and rolling hills ideal for agriculture, Rwanda has increasingly been recognized in particular for its fine coffee, currently the primary export.

The country, sadly, is most recently known for the 1994 Rwandan Genocide (more information contained in the Wikipedia link below).  Recently, however, Rwanda has also been increasingly recognized for the journey of reconciliation and healing they have collectively pursued.