Pathway to success: scholarships to needy students

During the period from Jan 1 to May 31, 2024, we were able to continue sponsoring our 25 existing scholarships and provide three additional scholarships to children from impoverished families in the Musha community. These students had participated in our Saturday tutoring program, where teachers conduct review sessions for ninth graders to prepare for national exams. In Rwanda, passing the national exam is a critical milestone in the educational journey since it determines the school you go to for grades 10 to 12. If students score high enough, they are allowed to enroll in boarding schools, which provide better learning conditions and more opportunities for tertiary education and employment.

The scholarship package includes year-long tutoring, full tuition, transportation to and from school, school supplies, and spending money. Below are the short bios of our new scholarship students:

1. A 19-year-old girl from Musha, where she lives with her single mother and three younger siblings. Her mother struggles to make ends meet by working as a casual laborer in the local fields, earning barely enough to provide for basic needs. Despite these challenges, the girl has shown remarkable dedication to her studies, attending the Saturday tutoring program regularly and consistently performing well. Without a scholarship, her family would not be able to afford the costs associated with her continuing education. This support is crucial for her, as it will allow her to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse and helping her family and community.

2. A 18-year-old boy living with his grandparents in a small, rundown house in Musha. His parents passed away when he was young, leaving his elderly grandparents to care for him. They survive on a meager pension and small-scale farming, often struggling to provide food and other necessities. Jean is a bright and determined student who has excelled in the Saturday tutoring sessions. He is passionate about science and dreams of becoming an engineer. A scholarship will not only cover his educational expenses but also provide the stability he needs to focus on his studies and achieve his goals.

3. A 19-year girl is the eldest of five children in her family. Her father is unemployed due to illness, and her mother works as a cleaner in the nearby town, earning a minimal wage that is insufficient to support the family. Aline has faced numerous hardships but remains committed to her education, seeing it as the only path to a better future for herself and her siblings. She was an active participant in the Saturday tutoring program and has shown great promise, particularly in mathematics. Receiving a scholarship enabled her to continue her education, with the hope of one day becoming a teacher and lifting her family out of poverty.