The President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, expressed his appreciation to the leadership of Hope Haven Christian School for its significant contribution to improving education and the livelihoods of Rwandans, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.
He made these remarks on Friday, June 6, 2025, during a meeting with a delegation led by Susan Hollern, the founder and head of the Christian school located in Ndera Sector, Gasabo District.
Hope Haven Christian School Rwanda was established in 2012 by an American philanthropist with the mission of providing quality education to children from low-income families, ensuring they can learn without fear of lacking essential supplies. Parents of the students are also employed at the school, earning wages that support their daily lives.
President Kagame stated: “I thank you. You have done what our country and our people needed. When we began this journey, one of the urgent needs was access to education. That need has not gone away. Education will always remain vital.”
He went on to share how his own experience as a refugee taught him the value of education:
“As a young boy in a refugee camp, we studied under trees. We wrote on our thighs as if they were notebooks, and used pieces of dry grass as pens. It was tough, but we knew it was the right thing to do. Even in difficult circumstances, we understood the importance of learning.”
He also reminded his guests that even when he later joined the liberation struggle, education remained a core value: “During the struggle to liberate our country, we once again found ourselves in school—this time in the forest. We kept learning. Every step of that journey was a lesson in itself.”
President Kagame concluded by emphasizing that education should go beyond teaching academic subjects; it should be a foundation for life transformation, vision, and purpose for both young people and the nation as a whole: “When you provide education, it shouldn’t stop at teaching alone. You are helping young people reach their dreams and transform the future of their country.”
President Kagame expressed his appreciation to the leadership of Hope Haven Christian School for its significant contribution to improving education and the livelihoods of Rwandans, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.
