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Baho Neza Kibondo ECDC

Location: Bugesera District, Gashora Sector, Mwendo Cell, Kayovu Village 

 

 

Background

According to Unicef data only 18% of children between ages 3 and 6 have opportunities to attend pre-school programs, day care, or other early learning facilities in Rwanda. As a response, the government  started home based Early Child Development (ECDs) programs. One of our foster mothers, Alphonsine Nyirarukundo, was requested by the local authority in her sector to start an ECDC in her neighborhood.

 

In the last four years, Alphonsine has supported approximately 100 children. Children came to Alphonsine’s home twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays, from 7:00 am to 12:00 pm.

 

In October of 2024, Alphonsine had 24 children, one with special needs, in her home based ECDC. All the children were between the ages of two and half and five years old. The children were played with but received no formal education to help prepare them for primary school if they were even able to attend. Alphonsine also fed the children at her own expense.  

 

I Will Stand International's Intervention

Our team met with the Gashora Sector Education Inspector who reconfirmed the need for formal education in most of the ECDCs in the Gashora sector office.  The ECDCs did not have teachers or educational resources (books, learning and educational toys, play facilities etc). The government and some NGOs occasionally provided milk, porridge, and flour to Baho Neza Kibondo ECDC but it was not a dependable source leaving Alphonsine personally responsible to feed all the children. Alphonsine, a trained community health worker, provides basic health and medical intervention, but education remained inaccessible at the center. 

 

I Will Stand International saw an opportunity to partner with Alphonsine and help make an impact in the lives of the children in this rural area. Specifically, we wanted to help make an impact in the following ways:

  • Children will be taught, cared for, and fed 5 days of the week instead of only 2 days reducing the risk of these children being in the streets while their parents are out trying to find work. 
  • Many children in Rwanda have a late start to school or gaps in their education due to poverty. Our ECDC will help children get a head start in school to set them up for better success.
  • While the children are at school, their parents will be able to focus on finding work in the local fields without the concern for the wellbeing and safety of their child. This will help improve the overall conditions of the family. 
  • The ECDC will be an avenue for us to present the gospel and disciple the children and their families. 
  • As the school, grows it will impact overall community development. 
  • The school will provide job opportunities to the people in the community. 

 

One of our generous supporters donated $6,000 to help us:

  • remodel in order to create a dedicated classroom
  • purchase desks and chairs for all the children as well as a teacher's desk and book shelves
  • install a swing set in the yard
  • purchase uniforms for all the children which is standard in Rwanda for school children. 
  • purchase some school materials and cleaning products
  • provide food for the children 
  • pay the salary of the teacher, the cook, and Alphonsine, who provides medical care and overall support to the staff. 

 

In January 2025, we officially launched the I Will Stand International Baho Neza Kibondo Early Childhood Development Center with the one class consisting of 24 children ages two and half to five years that Alphonsine had in her home when we originally approached her.

Looking to the Future

Our strategy is to add a classroom to accommodate the children who will be advancing each year. This planned growth has us quickly over taking Alphonsine's property. Improvements will only increase the value of the property...property that we do not own. In June of 2025, we approached Alphonsine with a proposal to purchase her property and agreed on a price of $7,000. This property will provide all the space we need to accommodate 3 classrooms, a lunch room, a kitchen, an administrative office, and a playground. 

Below, you will see a fundraising campaign to help us secure the property and buildings for the ECDC. We will also need to renovate some of the buildings to get them classroom ready and build out our playground. Here is a list of needed funds:

  • $7,000 to purchase the property and buildings
  • $2,000 for renovations and property improvements to better serve the children
  • $1,000 to install additional playground equipment. We currently have one swing set with 2 swings. 
  • $250 per month sponsors an entire classroom
  • $38 per month sponsors one of our preschool students. This covers their school need and also allows us to pour into their family. Our goal is not only to educate and nourish but to introduce them to Jesus. 

We would be honored to have you partner with us!