Build a Library for 800+ Students in rural Rwanda!

Since 2010, Sanejo has collaborated with the Ntenyo community and our international partners to rebuild the Ntenyo Primary School, train teachers, and create an environment that fosters youth empowerment and education. After listening and consulting with the community, Sanejo designed a five-year roadmap to guide our work and allow us to measure our progress and impact in Ntenyo.

In keeping with this vision, the following states our key achievements to date, which exist within the framework of three pillars that guide our engagement:

(1)  Improvement of Education and Infrastructure

• Built eight fully equipped classrooms and successfully relocated over 60 percent of students into new buildings, as well as improved landscape, security and latrines.
• Orchestrated the placement of two Rwandan University interns in Ntenyo to conduct on-site training workshops of 13 teachers per year.
• Since 2011, Sanejo has seen 98% of Ntenyo students advance to secondary education.

(2)  Local Youth Empowerment

• Formed a new association to promote small business management and language development among teenage dropouts with a current membership of 100 youths.
• Inspired 85 Rwandan University students through on-site community service projects.
• Continued work with youth from the Rwandan Diaspora to further development in rural communities.

(3)  International Experience:

• Hosted three groups of international students, young professionals and educators from reputable institutions in Africa, Australia, Europe and the United States. 
• Orchestrated workshops between international visitors and members of the Ntenyo community to discuss topics such as Development and Education. 
• Brought together Ntenyo Primary School teachers with volunteers to converse and improve English language proficiency.

In addition to these accomplishments, Sanejo has also:

• Developed working relationships with Generation Rwanda and students from the Kigali Institute of Education and the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology.
• Invested over $120,000 in the Ntenyo community for initiatives that promote Sanejo’s three pillars.
• Purchased 100% of construction materials from local businesses and created over 100 jobs for local community members for two months annually.
• Achieved our 2012 fundraising target of $30,000 via our partnership with Global Giving’s online community and increased Sanejo’s visibility.

In 2013, Sanejo will continue its efforts toward providing a quality learning environment for students at the Ntenyo Primary School and strengthening the community through youth empowerment and international experience. More specifically, in 2013, Sanejo aims to:

• Complete three new classrooms (two already have foundations).
• Connect ten classrooms to electricity via the national grid.
• Start first phase of installing computer and Internet access.
• Build a teachers’ room to also house a temporary library.
• Increase the amount of Rwandan University interns to four interns, and host a weekly language workshop to school dropouts and community members.
• Enhance Sanejo’s on-site management of teacher training.

On a broader scale, Sanejo’s work complements overarching goals of youth education in Rwanda and is in keeping with the United Nations’ global aim for improved education standards. We are contributing to Rwanda’s Vision 2020 Education goals, which states: “All Rwandans will be able to read and write and have diverse professional and technical skills. Rwanda will be endowed with an education system that is well adapted to the socio-economic problems of the country, and ICT skills will be widespread.” Sanejo is also working in agreement with the United Nationals Millennium Development (MDG) goals, which states: “Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.”