Education - Small, but Mighty: The Fidrofa Excellence School in Rwanda

In East Africa there’s a little school that’s making a big difference.

Its mission is to provide quality education for the transformation of communities. Sounds good, right? Sounds perhaps like a lot of missions from a lot of places, but is it?

We hear these words, and while many of us are lucky enough to consider them boilerplate, living up to this mission in a place like Rwanda means the world. It’s empowerment. It means breaking free of generations and generations of struggle.

The Experience
Kids come to this modest school building from miles away. They walk. They run. They hop on their bicycle (if they have one), and pedal to school from as far as eight miles away. And when they get there, they’re greeted by a well-worn dirt path to the front door, the Rwandan flag flying proudly outside. To welcome students in, cheery animal artwork and even a cartoon Mickey Mouse adorn the building’s exterior.

Once inside children find wooden desks, stone walls, non-carpeted floors, a small library, a traditional chalkboard, and four – yes, four computers. At lunchtime some can pay for lunch, some pack, and some are simply provided lunch.

You see, this educational oasis was created by Fidele Nizeyimana, and he pays for everything. Relying on donations, volunteerism, and the sheer will to do good in this world, Fidele and his wife, Rose, work hard to keep this school, the Fidrofa Excellence School, afloat.

How it Started, Where it's Going
It started in Fidele and Rose's home. At first it was a bit like daycare, and grew into a preschool, and now grades 1-6. Quite the accomplishment – yes, but at this point you won’t be surprised to hear that Fidele has even more plans to expand.

He’d like to purchase some adjoining land and build another structure to serve older students. More computers, additional books, more teachers, even more bicycles for children in need could make a big difference. Fidele, a Ph.D in his own rite, says he can train and feed 10 people for four months with just $7,000. This training can go a long way to educating the children of Rwanda as they grow.

As it stands now, the 102 children who attend the school, work on languages like English and French, they’re exposed to math and science. Fidele even makes school available for weekend programs! A secondary school could mean training in things like healthcare, massage therapy, and so much more.

A Happy Accident
Playing a part in Fidele’s future plans is somewhat of a happy accident, an international airport is being built close to the school. The construction of the airport has resulted in the area being considered a strategic place. It’s expected that folks will purchase land and develop the surrounding area, potentially making the school accessible to even more pupils.

The future is certainly bright for the children of Rwanda, thanks in part, to Fidele and his family! To learn more about his school, visit the Fidrofa Excellence School (FES) on Facebook.

Thank you Fidele, and to all the educators worldwide, working hard every day to make a difference in what can be a chaotic world. You are our anchors, a grounding and safe place for our youth.

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