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Education
Access to a quality education in an age-appropriate environment for children three years to end of senior school
Every child has the right to a quality, inclusive education in a safe and nurturing environment—an education that provides a solid foundation for the child to reach their full potential. AEE Rwanda supports children’s education at the early childhood development (ECD) stage as well as in primary and secondary schools. We recognize the crucial role that the home plays in supporting formal education and include interventions aimed at strengthening families’ ability to support their children’s learning. Our programs enhance the quality and accessibility of basic education, from early childhood through to senior school, including non-formal and alternative education options.
Early Childhood Development
Early childhood development centers (ECDCs) promote the intellectual, physical, and social development of three-to-five-year-old children through age-appropriate structured learning and play. To ensure that ECDCs are accessible to parents and children, AEE Rwanda supports small home-based ECDCs and larger community-based and school-attached ECDCs. AEE Rwanda builds new facilities or refurbishes and equips existing ones, and trains early childhood caregivers and teachers. Beyond play and education for children, ECDCs are invaluable to parents who must work daily for the income to feed their families. Leaving a child at an ECDC in the morning frees parents, predominantly mothers, to work without worrying about young children being unattended at home or out in the fields under the sun or rain. Feeding programs at ECDCs not only provide children with a nutritious, balanced meal but also engage the parents in preparing the meals, providing important health and nutrition knowledge they can use at home. The caregivers and teachers at ECDCs are trained to monitor children for developmental problems and work with parents, referring them to local health services where needed.
Primary and Secondary School
All children should have the opportunity to participate in Rwanda’s twelve-year formal education, regardless of their social or economic circumstances. AEE Rwanda supports students from disadvantaged families by providing uniforms and school materials.
We recognize that the home is the foundation of a child’s education. AEE Rwanda works with students’ families to build their capacity to support and contribute to their children’s learning. This includes programs focused on increasing household income, ensuring children enjoy a balanced diet, and offering adult literacy for parents.
Sponsorship
AEE Rwanda’s student sponsorship programs assist the most disadvantaged students in our program areas through direct support—such as essential school materials—and by helping their families increase household income in sustainable ways.
Community Learning Support
AEE Rwanda provides literacy programs for out-of-school youth and adults to ensure they can actively engage in Rwanda’s social and economic development. Limited availability of reading material, particularly in Kinyarwanda is a major barrier to building literacy.
To address this, AEE Rwanda establishes local libraries stocked with diverse books and trains community members to manage them.
