In a collaborative effort to promote inclusive and safe education in Rwanda, Chance for Childhood (CfC) and Young Women’s Christian Association Rwanda (YWCA Rwanda), in partnership with Oxfam, a global organisation that fights inequality, and Link Education International (LEI), hosted a joint gathering highlighting key education initiatives supported by the Scottish Government on February 18.

Inclusive Education in STEM and Realizing Inclusive Safe Education (RISE), both aimed at increasing access, retention, and transition rates for vulnerable children, particularly girls and children with disabilities, are the main projects that will be supported in a five-year period.

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Felicien Turatsinze, the Country Director and Head of Operations East Africa, of Chance for Childhood, emphasised the importance of aligning efforts with government policies to ensure education for all.

"We are looking at the main problems affecting children with disabilities and girls, and trying to stay in line with what the government needs, so that they can be educated to higher levels, secure jobs, and live a better life just like all other Rwandans,” Turatsinze Said

The Inclusive Education in STEM Project focuses on empowering girls and young women to pursue education in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Operating across 10 districts, the project provides bursaries to over 200 vulnerable girls, allowing them to enroll in tertiary and technical/vocational education and training (TVET) institutions.

Pudentienne Uzamukunda, Executive Director at YWCA Rwanda, highlighted the importance of the project in shaping the future of young girls.

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"We implement inclusive education because we believe every girl should have the opportunity to reach her full potential. This project will encourage girls in high schools to embrace STEM, pursue higher learning institutions, and benefit from scholarships tailored to their needs,” said Uzamukunda.

Beyond financial support, the initiative also aims to raise awareness within communities, encouraging more girls to explore STEM and TVET career opportunities.

"Our priority is to support girls who couldn’t continue their studies due to poverty or early pregnancies. We want to ensure that these bright young women get the education they deserve and create a better future for themselves and their communities.”

The initiative aligns with YWCA Rwanda’s broader mission to empower young women through education and economic opportunities.

The programme is already operating in Gicumbi, Gakenke, and Burera districts identified in the 2022 population census as having high numbers of children with disabilities who are out of school.

"There are always barriers, and there are more children in need than we can currently reach. While we can’t remove all the challenges faced by children with disabilities and other special educational needs in schooling, we will do our best to help in the ways we can. That’s why we are creating model schools in the Northern Province that will serve as examples for other schools in Rwanda on how inclusive education should be done.”

The RISE program, a five-year initiative, is also dedicated to enhancing access to quality education for children with disabilities and special educational needs. The project will support over 5,130children aged 6-15 across three districts in Rwanda’s Northern Province.

By the end of the programme, 57 schools, 1,311 teachers and leaders, and 100,035 learners including 5,130 children with disabilities will have benefited from the initiative, with a key focus on improving teacher training, school accessibility, and learning conditions, ensuring that children with disabilities receive equal opportunities to thrive in school.

"The Realizing Inclusive and Safe Education (RISE) project team, under support of CFC leadership and team in general, is dedicated to the successful implementation of the project. Their efforts are focused on identifying children with disabilities, conducting thorough special educational needs assessments and referral to appropriate services , providing assistive devices to children with disabilities in need, providing teacher training, removing potential barriers to learning, and developing effective social behavior change communication strategies to raise community awareness,” Theophile NTIGURIRWA, RISE project manager said

Additionally, the event highlighted other interventions provided by CfC, including the Community-Based Integrated Support to Children Experiencing Disabilities and Families (CBIS) project, funded by UNICEF.

The initiative aims to demonstrate best practices in supporting children with moderate disabilities, ensuring that they can join schools without discrimination.

Operating in Huye and Bugesera districts, the project has already supported 7,259 children with disabilities and their families, trained parents and service providers on disability inclusion, established 146 parent support groups, and created 138 rehabilitation sites for basic rehabilitation services.

"We truly believe that this project will help communities, institutions, and the education sector promote inclusive education across the country. We must ensure that no child is left behind. By working together, we can create an education system where all learners, regardless of gender or disability, have the chance to succeed,” said Turatsinze.

The programme emphasises family-based care, reducing stigma, and improving access to education, healthcare, and social protection.

The gathering brought together government representatives, civil society organisations, and educators to discuss the progress, challenges, and opportunities in making education more inclusive.