Build a reading corner for girls in rural Rwanda

Challenge

Many schools in rural areas in Rwanda do not have libraries or any other opportunities for students to enjoy reading or discussion outside of formal classes. This makes it impossible for girls to have any type of exposure to different perspectives, to engage their imagination and thinking skills in conversation with others, and to dream about how to achieve their goals. We created Her Voice Matters to be address this gap in order to realize equal rights for all girls across the country.

Solution

Generation Rise works with under-resourced schools in rural areas, providing them with reading corners. In additional to that, we also select girls from underserved communities and unprivileged families and equip them with literature and leadership skills. Through our reading corners, girls read together and discuss how they relate to the lessons they learn from books. We use a novel approach to help these girls learn to be creative and ambitious, as well as to develop critical thinking.

Long-Term Impact

With this campaign, we will set up our second reading corner, at a school in Kicukiro District. This will serve more than 2,000 students at the school, with a direct benefit to the 100 girls we will enroll in the Her Voice Matters program. The girls will use this reading corner on regular for literature circles in monthly leadership workshops. Our reading corners were designed, pro bono, by MASS Design, an award-winning American firm that uses architecture to promote justice and dignity.

Resources

• https:/​/​www.generationrise.org/​
• Generation Rise's website