“When our partners in Rwanda were in deep need of help, we chose to go forward as partners and meet urgent needs. Without a passionate commitment to listen to our partners and participants as peers in a troubled world, this would not have happened. Responsive collaboration has resulted in greater trust, resilience and creativity, even in the midst of a storm.”
Libby Karangwa-Miles, Rwanda Country Director

As a regular supporter of Wellspring’s work, the word “partner” will be very familiar to you. Through your generosity, you are partnering with our work in schools, in communities, with educators, with children. You give financially each month; but you do so much more—you stand with us in good times and bad, reminding us that we are not on this journey alone. 

In this update, we want to share what partnership means to us in times of crisis and challenge, and how deeply impactful partnership has been in the midst of a pandemic, a natural disaster, and unexpected new normals. Over the past 18+ months, it has been this spirit of partnership and collaboration—both in Rwanda and Canada—that has allowed the work you support to survive, and even thrive. 

In May, the Nyiragongo Volcano, located 19km from the heart of our work in Rubavu, erupted and triggered 6 weeks of earthquakes, displacing 450,000 people (including our team and their families) and suspending our work in schools for several weeks. Wellspring adapted quickly to support displaced Congolese and Rwandan families. 

We procured 25,020 kgs of food; 1500+ feminine hygiene packs, sleeping mats, blankets, and infant supplies; provided coaching support to school and community leaders as they responded to the crisis; and loaned vehicles and drivers to distribute food and escort Congolese families back to their homes. The Vice Mayor of Social Affairs in Gisenyi shared encouraging words with our team, expressing her sincere appreciation for our consistent presence and support, even during earthquakes, pandemics, times of hunger and challenge.

“During the lockdown, work was challenging as it halted the implementation of some of our activities, especially those that require us to meet beneficiaries in person. For those that did not require physical contact … we used phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp messages to communicate with them. In short, work continued during lockdown.”
– Aimable, Quality Education Trainer.

Following the turbulence of 2020 (when your partnership allowed us to buy and deliver truckloads of food to families in crisis, provide drivers and vehicles to support the government’s COVID response, and supply schools with vital hygiene equipment), we celebrated the reopening of schools earlier this year. However, national case counts skyrocketed in July which led to a renewed national lockdown and the realisation that oscillating restrictions are likely to remain the norm for some time. We are thankful that the vaccination of the entire Wellspring team is complete, but with only 21% of Rwandans partially vaccinated and 13% fully vaccinated, we remain committed to advocating for vaccine equity in the months ahead.

As we continue to pursue quality education for every child in the midst of restrictive gathering rules—such as limits on numbers and requirements for mandatory testing—we are choosing to listen carefully to critical needs and to adapt our models and programs in response.

Catch-up training continues from the months lost in 2020, in areas such as early childhood education, Asset-Based Community Development, school dropout and retention, and we remain focused on coaching, mentoring, and supporting our partners as the new school year begins. We are also excited to share about some new initiatives that are underway to expand our impact on education across Rwanda.

We have recently had the exciting opportunity to support thousands of newly recruited and unqualified teachers across the country. These teachers have been hired to fill 22,000 newly-built classrooms, but due to the urgency of the situation have not been trained with the skills they need to succeed. It has been our privilege to lead a project, in partnership with the Rwanda Education Board and with support from 3 education sector partners, that has resulted in the development of a new teacher workbook.

The workbook is written in simple English, is classroom-focused, and explains the skills needed to teach well and develop engaging classroom environments.

During initial testing of the workbook with a group of key teachers and “school-based mentors,” participants shared their perspectives on the difference this workbook will make:

• This book is crucial for new teachers and I believe it is going to be a great tool for them to succeed in their job.
• This book is very rich in content and relatable. It is full of knowledge and skills that meet teachers’ and learners’ needs in any situation. I would recommend every teacher to have it.
• As teachers, we are always learning. This book will sharpen our mind for our work.

Part of Wellspring’s vision for the years ahead is to reach more teachers and leaders beyond our partner districts, and to explore digital learning solutions that contribute to the quality of education in Rwandan schools. In a time when COVID restrictions are significantly limiting group gatherings, we need alternative means of providing the training, mentoring, and support that is the hallmark of our work with teachers, leaders, and parents alike.

This is why we have launched an exciting pilot project that combines digital interface learning through video with peer learning conversations and in-person or remote coaching from Wellspring trainers. This initiative will expand the reach and impact of our tried and tested training modules, while also increasing our relevance in a country that values technology as an effective learning tool.

Responding in a pandemic, innovating in a crisis, adapting to an ever-changing context … this is all made possible through partnership.

Thank you for partnering with Wellspring, and with the teachers, leaders, parents, and children of Rwanda, as together we chart a way forward through and beyond this storm.