» As the leaves on the trees in Seattle are beginning to change colors and we are settling into fall and a new school year, the girls at the Gashora Girls Academy are nearing completion of their first academic year. It’s truly remarkable how quickly the time is flying by… it seems like just yesterday that Soozi and I, along with friends from the U.S. and Rwanda, celebr... read more
» By Peter Thorp, Head of School, Gashora Girls Academy I’m writing this just an hour before our first term final examination Physics exam is about to start. After three years of planning and many months of construction, teacher hiring and preparation, national advertising and student enrollment, we are open and functioning just like a real school! And real we are... read more
» Beginnings… By Suzanne Sinegal McGill It’s hard to believe that less than 3 years ago Shal and I were first in Rwanda trying to decide where best to fit in to support education in the country. On Friday, February 25, we stood up to welcome the first class of 90 amazing girls, their parents, more than 400 people from the local community, the Governor of the Eastern... read more
» By: Esther Harder, Gashora Girls Academy English Teacher Although we've only had students in their official combination classes (like a three-subject major in the British system) for exactly two weeks at this point, we had to give them a mid-term exam this week because our first term ends on April Fools Day. I've covered three topics with my upper level classes, so I de... read more
» I’m sure my former students, who described me as “tough but fair,” would be surprised to hear how emotional I am these days. But what has been a project in the abstract since I arrived on May 1, is now very immediate, very real, and very personal. This “doing good” industry is equal parts personally rewarding and personally painful—it is so clear that the ... read more
» We are leaving for Rwanda today with 12 bags stuffed full of fabric (for uniforms), office supplies, smoke detectors, and other items that have been difficult to find or expensive in Rwanda! As usual, our itinerary is packed - we are looking forward to meetings with the ministry of education, the RGI team on the ground, and other partners thoughout the country. Wish us luck!... read more
» Promise. Hope. Strength. Gratitude. And People, people, people everywhere. Last night Cameron and I tried to come up with five words to encapsulate our trip to Rwanda. It was really hard to narrow it down. Let’s start with people. Upon arriving in Kigali, we headed out of town toward the mountains. I was struck by the amount of people in the road,... read more
» By Peter Thorp, Head of School, Gashora Girls Academy The opening of Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology is now a little over 4 months away, and the entire Rwanda Girls Initiative team here and in Seattle is pushing ahead to get ready. Roof trusses and roof panels are going up on the school buildings, and not a week too soon as the rainy season has arrived. With th... read more
» By Peter Thorp, Head of School, Gashora Girls Academy Kigali, Rwanda, 29 May, 2010 08:00 hours Today is umuganda, the last Saturday of every month when everyone in the country is required to stop and participate in community work from 8:00-noon. I’m told even President Kagame can be spotted occasionally, helping with neighborhood cleanup. Saturday is typically th... read more