Hello ROP Imizi Friends!

Despite ongoing challenges, ROP and our Imizi Children’s Center are still working hard to keep all of our children safe, healthy, and in school. We hope you enjoy this update, and we thank you for helping make these stories possible.

The 2020 School Year is Finally Coming to an End

It has been an incredibly challenging year for students all around the world, including for our boys and girls in Rwanda. Numerous school closures, national lockdowns, and disruptions to their lives at home have made learning very difficult for even our brightest students. Students and teachers alike are all welcoming the end of a school year that seemed to never end - one that should have ended last November.

None are more excited, or as anxious, as our students who are taking their National Examinations this week.

National Exams results have major consequences for Rwandan students. They dictate not only whether students pass or fail the school year, but also which secondary (high) schools they are eligible to attend in the future, as well as which subjects they will specialize in during their final years of education. For students preparing to graduate secondary school, success or failure on the exams can determine entry to university and access to scholarships and other opportunities.

Students at Imizi Primary School have always received extra tutoring and preparation for these exams, but this year we have added even more support. Our teachers have been putting in extra hours after school to offer support to students who would like extra help, and every Saturday our teachers come in and offer prep classes for our P6 students who are hoping to start secondary school next year. Historically our exam results have been at or near the top in our region, and our teachers and students are working very hard to see that this year’s results are no different. Good luck students!

Rwanda Still Struggling with the Pandemic

Sadly the pandemic continues affecting all aspects of life across Africa, with only 1% of Africans having been vaccinated to date. In Rwanda only 2% of the population have received the vaccine, with stocks having dried up back in March of this year. The Rwandan government initiated yet another lock-down just last week that is still ongoing, adding to the hardship that businesses, families, and individuals have already been facing for well over a year.

ROP continues doing our best to support our children, their families, and other families in Imizi’s community throughout these trying times. Our social workers are still visiting our children at home, when they are allowed to travel. When they are not allowed to physically visit, they reach out to them, their parents, and their neighbors by phone to check in and see how they are doing and what struggles they are facing. They are also staying in contact with our graduates, many of whom lost their jobs or their small businesses during the pandemic, to see how we can help prevent them from going hungry or losing their housing.

Usually this means delivering parcels of food, hygiene materials, medicine, and school supplies to those who need them, no matter how remote their village may be. Some of our children’s families are receiving rent support from us so they do not become homeless. The needs are great, but our commitment is greater, and it is only with your support that we are able to help so many through this pandemic.

Catching Up with Muneza

Muneza joined Imizi 11 years ago when we were still located in Kigali. Back then he was a just a seven year old boy who had been homeless for a couple of years before our social workers found him on the street. He immediately impressed our staff and the other Imizi children with his quick wit, resourcefulness, and great sense of humor.

Today Muneza is 18 years old and has just completed his second year of secondary school. Next year Muneza will be taking his National Exams, and he hopes to perform well enough to specialize in economics so he can continue pursuing his goals of attending university and eventually becoming a “big businessman” someday.

During this break before the next school year begins Muneza plans on selling hand sanitizer and masks to motorcycle taxi drivers and their passengers to bring in extra money for his family. Pictured above with Muneza is longtime Imizi director Celestin, who ran into Muneza in downtown Kigali recently. Muneza wanted Celestin to thank all the donors who rescued him from the street, gave him a home, and continue funding his education; and to thank all the Imizi staff who have been great role models, mentors, and teachers throughout his life.

Thank you!

ROP and the children we help have never faced a time as difficult or as uncertain as we have the last year and a half. We have had to help more families in more ways than ever before. This has placed added financial pressure on our organization and we would not be able to continue making a positive impact in Rwanda without all the support we receive from our donors and partners around the world.

We greatly appreciate the ongoing support so many of you give our charity and the children we care for. Thank you!

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