Wisdom

Even with a whole new wing in the making the Musanze based Wisdom Nursery and Primary School remains close to bursting at the seams . I stumble upon the school during one of my walks around town and am immediately impressed. A large, new building and well-kept grounds are the first things to catch my eye. A neighboring construction site is the next; ladies walking to and fro with bags of cement on their heads and men mixing and casting concrete make for a great sight. In the schools emblem I read the motto “Fearing God is knowledge”; the words make me raise an eyebrow. Is this the stern kind of institute that we have come to dread in other parts of the world? At the gate I’m warmly greeted by Mr. Innocent Kwizera, a history graduate from Uganda, currently teaching English to the younger pupils. Just now they’re having a break, sure I can have a look around, always a pleasure to welcome guests. Upon entering the premises I am directed to the office, where the reception is equally warm. The keen head teacher, Mr. Bosco Nizeyimana, gives me a short introduction to ‘Wisdom’. To start with the motto, that should not be interpreted negatively. Here fear is not forced upon the pupils, the school stands for the right to a high quality and loving education. Fear should thus be read: learning to obey rules, to ask for guidance from God. In a country where lawlessness has thrived, I meekly accept this point of view.

Founded in 2008 and kicking off with 44 pupils and 3 teachers, the school is experiencing an unstoppable growth. In the first quarter of 2012 the number of pupils has mounted to an impressive 856 and applications keep coming in. Wisdoms name and fame are crossing borders. That is why pupils also enter from Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, and teachers, besides those from Rwanda, from DRC and Uganda, the amount of teachers rising to 24 this year. Providing basic schooling for Musanze's children was and is top priority; the need for schooling orphans, hearing and other -impaired children and street children in the district remains equally great. The school has wheelchair access and currently houses 4 disabled children. Roughly two third of the students pay tuition, the other third, mainly orphaned children, are provided with education, uniforms, accommodation and food by the the Fair Children Youth Foundation (FCYF). For the youngest children Wisdom Nursery School, under the supervision of headmistress Mrs. Bernadette Nyiraburabyo, provides a high standard of teaching and supervised play, thus preparing them thoroughly for the attendance of primary education.

The school is part of the aforementioned FCYF, founded in 2003 to restore human rights and to rebuild lives and community in a Rwanda devastated by genocide, civil war and disease. As a grassroots movement, FCYF promotes a long and impressive list of strong community-based initiatives, with a special focus on children, youth and women. Committed to end poverty of the community members and creating an environment in which people share and live together in dignity and grace, projects such as education in human-, child- and women's rights, emergency support for orphans, literacy training for older youth and women, gardening and sustainable food projects and micro-loan facilities have been set up. Walking through the neighborhood actually shows activity everywhere, new houses rising up, land being cleared and tilled, fruits and vegetables sold. Men and women are partaking alike, although there is clearly a division in types of work. These certainly are positive signs.

I’m fortunate to meet the founder of FCYF, Mr. Eliah Nduwayesu, a passionate man in the truest sense of the word. He travels extensively around the world to raise funds for his brainchild. Has he visited Amsterdam, I ask, but the busy globetrotter has merely seen Schiphol Airport, passageway to Europe. He fiercely states that his country is in big need of vocational trainers. Because of the genocide entire generations have been wiped out and with them all knowledge has disappeared of such basic skills as nursing, civil engineering, agricultural- and computer-science and mechanics at all levels. It would be a great help if foreigners came to teach and help rebuild the general know-how .

With permission to freely explore and take pictures I enter the premises, now followed by a trail of ‘muzungu’ calling children. A white person may not be that rare, given the volunteers from abroad that regularly give a hand at Wisdom, but a camera, now there is something else. When- or wherever I aim, dozens of children come running towards me, striking odd poses and wishing to be immortalised. An image still possesses its magic here, I ponder, as opposed to Western society, where everyone eats drinks and sleeps with cameras and shares every single futility on their social media sites.

to be continued..