October 2025 Rwanda Action Newsletter

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I’m delighted to share the latest news from Rwanda Action and the exciting developments in inclusive education and training to create opportunities for work and independence for young people living with disability. Our work continues to grow in reach and impact, thanks to your commitment and support.

Minister of Gender and Family Promotion Visits the Alivera Project

We were honoured to be requested to host a visit by the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, Madam Uwimana Consolee, accompanied by the Executive Secretary of the Western Province, Madam Uwambajemariya Florence, and the Mayor of Nyamasheke District, Mr. Mupenzi Narcisse, along with their teams, the Chief of Police, Head of Army, and community stakeholders.

The Minister is pictured (in the black trimmed dress) between the Mayor and Vice Mayor of Nyamasheke. On the left, one of our carers, Jovith, is translating the speeches for the children using sign language.

The Minister was keen to hear about Rwanda Action’s work from Felix, our Disability and Inclusion Manager. She was warmly welcomed by the children’s dancing before Felix explained the evolution of our inclusive education programme and how it dovetails with our teacher training programme, which has proved the value of Teaching at the Right Level. Parents were keen to share their children’s stories and how transformational access to education has been.

The visitors saw how the two classes in the Alivera Centre prepare children for joining the local primary school — Alphonsine’s class of learners with intellectual disabilities and Berthilde’s class of deaf children. They also visited the workshops in the Alivera Village where young people with disability are given the chance to learn a trade, gain work experience and support in finding work.

The Minister expressed deep appreciation for the work Rwanda Action is doing to improve health, promote inclusive education, and prepare young people with disabilities for independent living through vocational training. She commended our strong partnership with the district, which ensures sustainability and community ownership.

Highlights that particularly impressed her included:

• Deaf children dancing joyfully despite being unable to hear the drumbeats
• Parents receiving training alongside their children with disabilities
• The successful transition of TAC graduates to TAV and their subsequent employment opportunities
• The inspiring leadership of Godberita, a blind trainer in knitting, and Fidele, a wheelchair user teaching shoemaking.

A time for celebration!

Inclusive Education: New SILUs Open Their Doors

We are excited to report that three new classrooms, built to serve as Semi Inclusive Learning Units (SILUs), are now completed, furnished, and equipped with essential teaching materials. Each SILU has a dedicated teacher appointed by the government, and Rwanda Action is funding an assistant for each class during this first year.

We were excited to be joined by Loveaid Foundation from South Korea, for the opening of the SILU at St Catherine’s Primary School, which they generously funded. It was a joyful celebration of an important step forward in inclusive education.

Most importantly, we have now recruited children living with intellectual disabilities who were previously unable to access education. They began school in September and are being taught the government’s newly adapted curriculum. This is a milestone moment for these children and their families, as they join their peers and are welcomed into the wider school community.

Looking ahead, we hope to identify three more schools that can benefit from similar support, working towards our vision of creating additional Schools of Excellence in Special Needs and Inclusive Education (SESNIEs) across the region. This provision also reduces the need for residential places for children at The Alivera Centre, allowing them to stay in their families and attend their local school.

Special Needs Education Coordinators (SNECOs): Building Local Capacity

In August, 33 Special Needs Education Coordinators (SNECOs) — one from each sector in Rusizi and Nyamasheke — attended a residential training course at The Alivera Centre (TAC). They are now back in their communities supporting fellow teachers and parents in developing inclusive practices, ensuring that knowledge spreads throughout schools.

Teacher Training: Scaling Good Practice

The network of 33 Lead Teachers has been strengthened by further residential training at the Rusizi Centre for Inclusion (RCI), they are now delivering weekly training to colleagues in state primary schools across their sectors.

We are also preparing to welcome a delegation from the Rwanda Education Board (REB) on 21^st October. They will see firsthand the results of The Learning Initiative, which has shown that Teaching at the Right Level leads to improved student performance and a marked reduction in school dropouts. This evidence-based approach has the potential to shape national education policy.

Munezero House: A New Chapter

After serving as our much-loved headquarters since 2012, we made the decision to sell Munezero House and bring the whole team together at the Rusizi Centre for Inclusion (RCI), a short distance away. Staff have created a collaborative workspace which enables easy communication, idea-sharing, and support of one another. It has also reduced overheads, freeing up resources to deliver a very full action plan. RCI is in a beautiful, peaceful location beside Lake Kivu, which will undoubtedly further strengthen the team who manage the Rwandan side of the charity.

The end of an era; saying goodbye to Munezero House to invest in the collective strength of our team in Rwanda.

Ride for Unity

In August, we were thrilled to host our partners Ride for Unity, who completed an extraordinary cycle ride in Rwanda, promoting unity in all aspects of life. A Rwanda Action team of Board and Executive members from the UK joined our staff in Rwanda to celebrate and share team-building activities and workshops on leadership, communication, and turning dreams into reality. It was a powerful exchange of knowledge and ideas!

Improving our understanding of disability through sharing stories.

You can see highlights of this inspiring visit on our Instagram account and website, where we’ve posted short videos of some of the activities. We’re excited to keep developing this partnership as we move forward.

Chldren welcome visitors, led by one of our carers, Mayaya, who is himself deaf but perfectly able to teach children drumming and dancing

Looking Forward

Every step we take — from opening new SILUs, to training educators, parents and farmers, to strengthening partnerships — helps us develop sustainable activities which improve opportunities for individuals and communities into the future.

We are deeply grateful for your continued support, which makes this work possible. Together, we are transforming education, opening doors for people living with disability and empowering communities to reduce poverty in this part of southwest Rwanda.

Warm regards,
Janyis Watson
CEO, Rwanda Action

PS Christmas cards are available in the shop on our website.