The teacher who changed thousands of girls’ lives, & the film that brought her story to Kigali

“Beyond the Clouds,” inspired by the life of Zhang Guimei, was screened March 5 at the Chinese Embassy in Kigali as part of activities leading up to International Women’s Day on March 8. Released in November 2023, the 131-minute production follows Zhang’s work as a principal in the mountainous communities of Yunnan Province and her efforts to help girls from rural families pursue education. Government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps and students from the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) attended the event, joining other invited guests for an evening centred on conversations about opportunity, perseverance and the role education plays in shaping women’s futures. ALSO READ: Temple fair in Uganda celebrates people-to-people exchanges ahead of Chinese New Year At the centre of the story is a 15-year campaign against poverty and gender barriers that has helped more than 2,000 young women reach university. The narrative traces the creation of Huaping High School for Girls in 2008, the country’s first free public high school dedicated to girls from low-income mountain communities. Its guiding motto, “I was born a lofty mountain, not a foothill stream,” encourages students to see their origins not as limits but as starting points. Scenes also highlight the scale of Zhang’s personal commitment. Over the years she covered more than 130,000 kilometres visiting villages across the mountains, persuading families to keep daughters in class and offering them a path that had rarely been available before. ALSO READ: Proof that gender policies work? Look at Rwanda’s schools One detail that stands out is the casting. Many roles are played by real students from Yunnan rather than trained performers, a choice that adds an unpolished, documentary-like quality. According to Chinese media, participants spent close to two months preparing for the shoot so they could grow comfortable on camera. Directors also encouraged spontaneity during filming. Instead of strict scripts or choreographed movement, students were free to adjust gestures and dialogue as scenes unfolded. The approach aimed to capture everyday interactions in a more natural way. Zhang’s contributions to education have also been recognized nationally. In 2021, she received the July 1 Medal, the top honour awarded by the Communist Party of China, in recognition of her decades-long effort to expand opportunities for girls in rural areas. ALSO READ: How coding is helping high school girls gain confidence, skills The production has also found commercial success, earning about $14 million at the box office, roughly Rwf20.4 billion. Speaking after the screening, Mireille Batamuriza, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, said the story reflects challenges still faced by girls in many parts of the world. At the same time, she noted that meaningful progress often begins with individuals who choose to act and later inspire broader support. “It is better not to work alone. There is a need for government support and dedicated teachers who love their students and encourage them, but most importantly, students must show commitment to their education,” she said. “The message is relevant to girls in Rwanda. At least we had FAWE girls in attendance. They observed that although it is still a challenge for some girls to pursue education, with commitment they can go far.” Batamuriza added that the story mirrors several initiatives already underway in Rwanda to promote girls’ access to learning. Among them are Inkubito z’Icyeza, which encourages academic excellence among girls, scholarships offered by the government and Imbuto Foundation for top-performing students, and individual contributions through the Dusangire Lunch programme, designed to support learners and reduce barriers to staying in school. “This does not remove the fact that individuals can voluntarily support students within their capacity wherever needed. Every Rwandan should feel responsible, and such contributions to the country are commendable for those who stand at the forefront of uplifting girls’ voices,” she added. Primary schooling in Rwanda is near universal. The National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda reports net attendance at about 94 percent for girls and 92 percent for boys in 2023–24. Still, gaps remain across generations. Census data show 17.8 percent of women in the population never attended school, a figure that largely reflects older cohorts who missed earlier opportunities. At the secondary level progress is visible. Girls made up 54.6 percent of lower secondary enrolment in the 2022–23 school year, a sign that gender parity is improving as students move up the system. Lieke Van de Wiel, country representative for United Nations Children's Fund in Rwanda, said the pattern fits a broader trend: girls now do better in primary school but face hurdles finishing secondary school. She added that expectations and risks tied to early dropout remain real concerns, and that linking education with job pathways can help young people translate learning into work. LIN Hang, charge d’affaires a.i. at the Chinese Embassy in Kigali, said the film screening was a timely lead-in to International Women’s Day. “For the girls, no matter where you are, do not sell yourself short,” she said. “Aim high for your family and the country.”

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The teacher who changed thousands of girls’ lives, & the film that brought her story to Kigali