RWANDA - GIRLS INITIATIVE

 

 

The Gashora Girls Academy is an upper-secondary boarding school for 270 girls, which is located in the Gashora Sector of Rwanda.   Our vision for our students is that they will graduate as inspired young leaders filled with confidence, a love of learning, and a sense of economic empowerment to strengthen their communities and foster Rwanda’s growth.

 

In addition to offering high quality college-prep academics, the Gashora Girls Academy will focus on addressing the needs of the “whole girl” and eliminating the impediments that exist to her receiving an education. The girls will be provided nutritious meals, mental and emotional support, access to healthcare and will be in a supportive learning environment with optimal conditions for assuring their future success.

 

The school is currently under construction and will open in January of 2011 with an incoming class of 90 students.

 

 

The Gashora Girls Academy overlooks Lake Milayi and is located on approximately 30 acres of beautiful land. The campus will include student dormitories, a dining hall with attached kitchen, science and technology labs, an art/mixed media center, and sports fields.  Internationally recognized architecture firm, Mulvanny G2, has generously donated their time and resources to create a design for the school that is environmentally sustainable, echoes local architecture, and supports a thriving learning environment. 

 

The school’s teachers and administrators will be recruited from both inside and outside of Rwanda, and supported by significant teacher training and coaching. Head of School Peter Thorp comes to the Gashora Girls Academy with a depth of experience ranging from running a private boarding school for girls to founding a nationally recognized charter school.

 

The Community Center will serve as both the gateway to the school and as a bridge to the village of Gashora. RGI views community engagement and ownership of the project, as paramount to its long term success. The facility will be available for community gatherings, school functions, and educational classes. The community was the first building constructed on the property, and opened in May 2010.