Cardinal Antoine Kambanda lauded Ntare Louisenlund School (NLS) as an excellent institution that will nurture students both academically and spiritually.
The Archbishop of Kigali was speaking during his visit to the Bugesera-based school on Saturday, September 27, where he presided over Mass and administered sacraments to students before touring the school premises.
He described the new international educational institution, inspired by Uganda's Ntare School and Germany's Stiftung Louisenlund, as an extraordinary opportunity for young Rwandans to access education that will prepare them to be leaders and change-makers.
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"Nothing is as important a legacy as giving a good education to a child. That is a golden inheritance every parent would be happy to give out to their children,” Kambanda said.
"Some sacrifice a lot for their children to go overseas for a good education, but the campus is already here. This is an extraordinary opportunity that we give thanks to the Almighty God and visionary leadership. With its absence, many parents would have spent a lot for their children to go to the same German school. Now it&039;s here, we're looking forward to many promising talents that we're about to witness coming from this campus,” he said.
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Ntare Louisenlund School opened in 2024 and offers personalised learning, STEM education, and leadership programmes. With exceptional facilities, diverse extracurricular activities, and a multi-national community, the school is committed to nurturing well-rounded students prepared for success at top universities worldwide.
During his visit, Cardinal Kambanda toured several key facilities, including the dining hall, and modern science and technology laboratories that enable comprehensive experimentation.
He also visited the school’s spacious courtyard, designed for multiple sports such as basketball, tennis, volleyball, and football. In addition, he explored the studios and arts classrooms, where students engage in creative and recreational activities beyond regular lessons.
"The school has awarded scholarships to top-performing students from across the country who might otherwise have joined other ordinary institutions. They are learning a lot here, and the school is contributing greatly to the nation. Brilliant students are a gift to the country, and the school recognises that,” he said.
Cardinal Kambanda noted that the school draws inspiration from Uganda’s Ntare School, whose philosophy has nurtured leaders in Rwanda and Uganda. He expressed confidence that this philosophy will be maintained at NLS, ensuring that Rwanda’s future generations inherit the same values.
"That is how visionary leadership works,” he explained. "If your goal is to end hunger in one year, you cultivate rice. For ten years, you plant a tree. But if you look a hundred years and beyond, you raise a child in a dignified and efficient way. That is an example of our country.”
"However, the best education without spiritual awareness is nothing. It is better to nurture both the mind and the spirit. When a child is able to connect knowledge with faith, that is the most meaningful result. The greatest knowledge is to know the Almighty God and His wisdom,” Cardinal Kambanda said.
He hailed the school's programme that provides time for spiritual formation, with students guided in faith according to their respective denominations.
Damien Paul Vassallo, Head of NLS, said that Cardinal Kambanda's visit meant a lot for the school and learners.
"We're honored by that chance to have someone who's so high ranking in the church to be here at our school. But also because he, as a member of the Catholic Commission on Education for the Vatican, is a bishop who especially prioritizes the importance of education, especially for young people.That's really significant for us,” he said.
Paul further said that the moment is "so special for our kids, who we call lions, the lions here, to have him come and celebrate this special occasion with them.”
"We had 14 of our students who were either baptized, confirmed, and or received their first Holy Communion today. And so these are milestones in the lives of individuals who are a part of this community. And so for the whole community to be able to come together and celebrate those milestones in their personal lives and on their spiritual journey is so significant for us. And to have him there to celebrate that with us made it all the more special. It shows that he cares so much about young people's upbringing, character education, and them becoming the best possible people” ” he added.