Eight years ago, Matt and Andrea Miller moved to Rwanda with a mission to boost the country’s education sector. They strived for a school where Rwandans and other students can learn to think, create and innovate in a loving community rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. They also wanted to create a place where students felt loved and safe, so that their interests, talents and abilities could flourish with a belief that love is much more powerful than fear in bringing out the students’ full potential. And so, they established Virunga Valley Academy, an international school that would make an American curriculum school available, especially to the people of Musanze District where the school is based. When they first came to Rwanda, they recall having their hearts captured by the people and story of this country. Its efforts to overcome a difficult past and write a new story of hope inspired them, they say. Students are prepared for leadership roles in whatever disciplines they choose to persue in future. “We were drawn to the city of Musanze and wanted to contribute to its development. We noticed that most people who began projects in Rwanda were based in Kigali, and we believed that some people needed to engage other parts of Rwanda to help the entire nation develop,” the Millers say. In August 2014, Virunga Valley Academy was launched with an initial student body of 13 students. Their experience in Rwanda The couple says it loves being a part of a nation that has a vision for a better future, and a leadership that is serious about making decisions that bring that future about. “We also love how beautiful and clean Rwanda is, and that things work here in a way that other African nations find challenging. Our son Aidan, along with his friend Prince Kamari, founded Crema Coffee Shop, a coffee specialty shop in Musanze. The couple is proud to be part of nation that has a vision for a better future and leadership. When Aidan and Prince registered their business, from the time they submitted the application to the time they held their business registration certificate in their hands, it took only four hours!” they say. The Millers believe Rwanda is a place of great opportunity for people who can combine vision, creativity and hard work. “Our time in Rwanda has not always been easy. There is so much to be done, and the leadership of the nation has set an example of working hard and expecting results. We still could use more help, but it is very rewarding being a part of building the future of Rwanda through educating the next generation of leaders.” “The biggest confirmation on how we feel about living in Rwanda is that we have built our house here and are in the process of applying for citizenship. We want our future to be tied to the future of Rwanda,” the couple says. Faith as a cornerstone Their faith in Jesus is at the core of everything they are doing in Rwanda. They believe that one of the biggest challenges for the Church is a fragmented worldview that separates faith from the rest of life, making Christianity about what is done for a few hours on Sunday, or during weddings and funerals, rather than every moment of every day. “We believe that the idea of ‘ministry” has been misunderstood as something that only pastors or missionaries do. In reality, any work that is done in the name of Jesus that contributes to the restoration of wholeness in the world is ‘ministry’. “What would it look like for God’s will to be done in Rwanda as it is in heaven? In Musanze as it is in heaven? These questions drive everything that we are doing. So we have a garden at our school, every time we have a harvest in the garden, we give it to our students and ask them to find a vulnerable person in their community to give it to. We hope this will instil in the hearts of our students the understanding that they are blessed in order to be a blessing to others. If the hundreds of students who will eventually graduate from VVA take this idea with them into their future lives, they will change the world!” they add. The impact Students not only learn to read and write and understand mathematics, history, and science, they also learn how to share what they learn in creative and innovative ways; such as art, music, dance, and theatre. “VVA students are learning the skills of critical thinking and creativity and are regularly given opportunities to share their ideas in front of others. We believe this is preparing them for leadership roles in whatever disciplines they choose to pursue in the future. Our greatest contribution to Rwanda’s development and the world will be to produce creative and intelligent students who have the character of Jesus and steward the blessings they have received in order to serve others,” the couple reveals. Students learn in creative ways such as art and theatre Some of the things students engage in include monthly visits to the paediatric ward of the Ruhengeri hospital, where they distribute bags with food items and soap to patients provided by donations from VVA families, and a special campaign that raised over $1200 that was sent to buy food for starving people in Zambia as a result of the recent drought and famine there. “This reflects the amazing growth of Rwanda from a country that used to consume aid to a country that is growing in its ability to sustain itself and even be a source of aid to other nations in Africa.”
