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!
July 2024 Mission Trip: Rwanda - Africa
This trip will take place over the course of 12 days between 7/12/2024 - 7/31/2024.
Hello! I am so excited about your interest in our upcoming mission trip! My first trip to Rwanda was life changing and every trip afterwards has been impactful in so many different ways. Whether it’s meeting the needs of a local villager, seeing the impact of our work in the lives of the children we serve, or hearing testimonies of the lives changed through our sewing program, I come back more grateful and motivated to keep building and doing Kingdom work. I cannot wait to have you join me and see how the Lord will use your giftings to impact the people of Rwanda and how He will use the people of Rwanda to impact your life because it will surely happen!
On this page, you will find all the information needed to help you prepare for your trip. If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out at any time.
I am excited you are considering joining us and look forward to serving the people of Rwanda with you by my side.
In Service,
Andrea Williams
What is the cost of sponsorship?
Education - Our main priority when it come
What do sponsorship funds cover?
Education - Our main priority when it comes to sponsorships is getting these kids in school. Education is not free in Rwanda. Many poor families get a minimal education if that. Once students get to secondary level, they must go to boarding school to get a decent education. Sponsorship fully pays for school fees, school materials, lunch at school, and covers access to free tutoring and learning enrichment at our Student Learning Center in Kabuga. Education is needed to break the cycle of poverty.
Meals - In Rwanda if families do not have food, they don't eat. At our learning center in Kabuga, we provide breakfast and dinner to our students while they are in school and breakfast, lunch, and dinner while school is not in session.
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This Month's Live Meetup Schedule
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DEEP SEA FISHING COURSE
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Kayovu Kids
In March 2024, we determined we would do what we could to help the children in Kayovu. Kayovu is a rural area about an hour and a half outside of the capital city Kigali. Little opportunity exists for one to make a living.
One of our longtime foster parents gathers the very poor village children and tries to teach them what she can with very limited resources and materials. She tries to feed them with food she grows, but there are so many that it is impossible to make sure they are all getting the proper nutrition they need. We knew that working together and finding partners/sponsors, we could make a change.
We snapped some photos and got their ages before we had to return. This is all the information we currently have. As we learn more about each child, we will update their profile. We are inviting you to partner and help us feed and provide learning opportunities to these children. We currently have 29 children that are needing to enroll but need sponsors before we can launch this program.
Here are our Kayovu Kids that need sponsorship...
Huguette Irakoze
Female - Birthday: October 13, 2013
Huguette is the elder sister of Christian and Claire. Their parents try to find work locally cultivating land. They usually find work once a week and are only paid $2 per day for a full day of work. This makes it nearly impossible for feed a family of 5. Will you partner with Huguette and ensure that that her basic needs are met?
Favorite things to do: fetching water
Favorite Subject in School: Kinyarwanda (local language)
Dream: become a teacher
Favorite Food: rice
Favorite Color: yellow
Marie Claire Nisingizwe
Female - Birthday: June 15, 2021
Claire lives with her mother and father. They look for work each day but only find work about once a week which does not provide enough income to provide for the children. Sponsorship of Claire ensures that she is able to have food to eat consistently.
Favorite things to do: washing dishes
Favorite Subject in School: Claire is not in school but enjoys learning to sing
Dream: become a teacher
Favorite Food: meat
Favorite Color: red
Honorine Uwanyuzwe Chance
Female - Birthday: February 16, 2019
Honorine comes from a very poor family in the rural area of Kayovu. She lives with her father and mother. Her family is unable to afford school requirements and clothing. They also only eat once day if there is there is food to eat. We are hoping that with your partnership we can start with providing Honorine 3 meals a day.
Favorite things to do: washing dishes and cleaning the home
Favorite Subject in School: She enjoys learning numbers
Dream: become a doctor
Favorite Food: rice, posho, and beans
Favorite Color: red
Oscar Byishimo
Male - Birthday: June 15, 2016
Oscar and is sister Honorine live with both of their parents. Work is hard to find in the rural area. They struggle just to be able to eat each day. Your sponsorship ensures they are provided with the basic necessities.
Favorite things to do: washing dishes and lighting the fire when it is time to cook
Favorite Subject in School: Kinyarwanda (local language) and Mathematics
Dream: become a doctor
Favorite Food: rice
Favorite Color: green, yellow, and blue
Gerard Ntwali
Male - Birthday: March 31, 2017
Gerard's mother is a single mother who gets day jobs cultivating fields. She only receives work when there are fields to cultivate, and they only eat when there are jobs. Sponsoring Gerard means ensuring that he has food to eat on a consistent basis.
Favorite things to do: fetching water and lighting the fire to cook
Favorite Subject in School: Kinyarwanda (local language)
Dream: to become a soldier
Favorite Food: rice
Favorite Color: blue
Samuel Niyonshuti
Male - Birthday: September 18, 2020
Samuel lives his mother, grandmother, and older brother Gerard. His mother tries to find work cultivating fields, but work is not always available. We are seeking sponsorships for Samuel so we can help provide for the basic necessities needed for Samuel.
Favorite things to do: play with other children
Favorite Subject in School: he likes learning numbers
Favorite Food: sweet potatoes
Favorite Color: red
Benjamin Ishimwe
Male - Birthday: July 12, 2022
**Only 1 co-sponsorship needed to be fully sponsored!
Benjamin lives with his mother and father. Benjamin's father's first wife passed away so Benjamin lives with his older 1/2 siblings. Total there are 3 siblings in the home. Benjamin's father tries to find carpentry work where he can, and his mother tries to find work cultivating fields. Work is scarce in their rural area. We are seeking sponsorships for Benjamin so we can help this family.
Ndayishimiye Muhire Emmanuel
Male - Birthday: January 1, 2018
Emmanuel is one of 6 siblings. His parents live together and try their best to provide for the family. They work when there is work to be had but in their remote area work is not always abundant. They often struggle to provide food and basic needs for the children. With your help, we can ensure these needs are met for Emmanuel and his siblings.
Favorite things to do: washing dishes
Favorite Subject in School: Mathematics
Dream: become a doctor
Favorite Food: posh and beans
Favorite Color: green
Alex Uwayezu
Male - Birthday: November 20, 2010
Alex lives with is father, mother, and 2 siblings. As with the other families in the area, Alex's family struggles to have enough to eat on a daily basis.
Favorite things to do: fetching water and playing soccer
Favorite Subject in School: Biology
Dream: become a policeman
Favorite Food: posh and beans
Favorite Color: yellow
Piorinne
Female - Birthday: March 29, 2020
Piorinne lives with her mother, father, and two siblings. She spends a lot of her days playing with he other children in the community.
Favorite things to do: play
Favorite Subject in School: she enjoys reading
Favorite Food: posh and rice
Favorite Color: blue
Donatha Uwineza
Female - Birthday: July 9, 2019
Donatha lives with her mother, father, and three siblings. Her parents shared that they are not able to feed their children every day which causes a big stress on their life. They cannot see a vision for their life past what will they eat tomorrow. Our desire is to find a sponsor for Donatha that will help break this cycle in her family. The Lord has more in store for this family.
Favorite things to do: washing dishes
Favorite thing to learn: she enjoys singing
Dream: become a soldier
Favorite Food: rice and posho
Favorite Color: yellow
Habimana Jacques
Male - Birthday: July 16, 2012
Jacques lives with his father, mother, and 3 siblings.
Favorite things to do: fetch water
Favorite Subject in School: Kinyarwanda (local language)
Dream: become a soldier
Favorite Food: sweet potatoes
Favorite Color: blue
Sadette Niyomufasha
Female - Birthday: September 18, 2016
Sadette lives with her father and mother. Because of a lack of job opportunities in the area, they sometimes eat once a day or every other day. Partnership with Sadette ensures that that she will received 3 meals a day.
Favorite things to do: washing dishes
Favorite Subject in School: Mathematics
Dream: to become a doctor
Favorite Food: rice
Favorite Color: yellow
Daniel Ishimwe
Male - Birthday: August 18, 2019
Daniel lives with his father and mother.
Favorite things to do: play
Favorite thing to learn: singing
Favorite Food: posho
Favorite Color: orange
Umutoniwase Rosine
Female - Birthday: December 13, 2021
Rosine lives with her father and mother who struggle to find work and feed their children. Rosine is very shy and does not like to talk much.
Favorite things to do: play
Favorite thing to learn: singing
Favorite Food: sweet potatoes
Favorite Color: blue
Dusabimana Rosine
Female - Birthday: July 28, 2014
Rosine lives with her mother, father, and 3 siblings. They struggle to makes ends meet for the family.
Favorite things to do: Sweeping, fetching water, fetching fire wood for cooking
Favorite Subject in School: SET
Dream: to become a doctor
Favorite Food: rice and ugali
Favorite Color: green
Uwase Joselyne
Female - Birthday: March 17, 2017
Joselyne lives with her father, mother, and 3 siblings. Her parents struggle to provide enough send the children to school and feed them. Sponsorship of Joselyne would ensure the has her basic needs met.
Favorite things to do: clean dishes
Favorite thing to learn: mathematics
Dream: become a teacher
Favorite Food: rice
Favorite Color: red
Uwimana Pierre
Male - Birthday: April 10, 2014
Pierre lives with his father and step-mother. Like others in the area, work is hard to come by which makes taking care of basic needs very difficult.
Favorite things to do: Fetching water and cleaning dishes
Favorite Subject in School: Mathematics, Science Elementary and Technology, and English
Favorite Food: Posho
Favorite Color: Yellow
Irakoze Devotha
Female - Birthday: January 07, 2016
More information coming soon.
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Samuel
October 22, 2020
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Munyentwari Jean Pierre
Male - Birthday: February, 23, 2020
More information coming soon.
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Lucy
Female - Age: 6
More information coming soon.
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