ALARM has a history of ministering to the vulnerable widows and orphans of genocide and HIV/AIDS in the Rwamagana District since 1998. ALARM started a farm that has distributed pigs, goats, and chicken to thousands of widows and orphans in the region. Since 2003, ALARM established a Tailoring Vocation School that has graduated more than 20 students and has currently 61 young girls and women who were not able to go to high school due to lack of financial support.
The Institute of Women Excellence (IWE) was started in the year 2006 in Rwamagana, Eastern Province of Rwanda. It was set up after local Church leaders and local government authorities of the then Rwamagana District approached ALARM-Rwanda and requested them to set up a girl’s school in order to assist the local churches and communities to address such needs as gender capacity building, reduction of female prostitution, reduction of street girls caused by school dropouts, and making quality education available to orphans and vulnerable girls in the society at large. In February 2006, ALARM responded by setting up a girls school named IWE (Institute of Women Excellence) which is still under development. By prayers and financial assistance from friends, the school was inaugurated with 36 girls and 3 teachers. From its start, the school enrolled only 36 girls due to its financial status. Many more applications were received that had to be turned down due to the limited capacity of the school and lack of financial and material resources.
Current Situation of the School
Today, IWE has three classrooms, a Computer Hall (Hudgens Information Technology Hall), and two small temporal offices for the headmistress and business manager (these rooms were built to serve as a small shop /kiosk). There are three other infrastructures under construction: a dormitory that will house 150 students (it includes a room for the matron and a small clinic) and a foundation for the Science Lab and School Library.
Current Population of the School
The school has a total of 64 students (30 in first year and 34 in second year 34). All students are female. The majority of these students are orphans of genocide and HIV/AIDS. The school has seven members of staff: four teachers, the Headmistress, the Business Manager and a night guard.
Planned Extra Curricular Activities
We are developing an HIV/AIDS Education & Prevention Club, a Volleyball club, a football (soccer) club, an English Club, and a Bible Club. Other relevant clubs will be developed as the school continues to grow in order to provide opportunities for both social development and spiritual formation.
Ministry and Service Opportunities
ALARM Rwanda welcomes short-term and long-term missionaries and interns from partner churches and ministries to serve and minister to the IWE community and surrounding communities. Teachers of English, Math, Sciences, Athletics, Bible, and Computer will work under the supervision and leadership of ALARM and IWE. A volunteer full-time or part-time Counselor / Spiritual Director is needed for the spiritual formation of these young girls. A volunteer short-time or long-term matron is needed beginning January 2008.
CURRENT URGENT NEEDS (June to December 2007): $87,200
- Tuition for 64 Students (for 2nd and 3rd term 2007): $6,400 - Completion and equipment of the dormitory (for 150 students): $55,800 - Building the Kitchen & Dining Hall: $25,000
SUPPORT NEEDED FOR 2008
- Full support for a student per year ( tuition, room and board): $1,200 - Support of Staff (seven members): $1,500 per month - Completion of the Science Lab and Library $16,800 - Books for the library $5,228 - Basic Lab equipment $6,000
Support for IWE can be sent directly to ALARM Rwanda or the ALARM US office at:
ALARM, Inc.
P.O. Box 740337
Dallas, TX 75374
For more information, contact Rev. Andre Mfitumukiza (
) or Rev. Dr. Celestin Musekura (
).
