The early years of life are critical for a child’s growth and development. Kids who are well nurtured, instructed and cared for during their earliest years in a family and social environment are more likely to grow physically and mentally healthy, develop language, thinking, social and emotional skills and achieve their full potential when they become adults.

The above statement is the premise behind establishment of Red Rocks Kindergarten in Nyakinama village, Musanze district, where 150 group of children between the age of three and five years are now enrolled to receive early childhood education. Most of the children come from vulnerable families, they provided holistic education and we initiated this program to provide the best care for these young kids from poor rural families who otherwise would not have had access to early intervention in education at this young age due to their family backgrounds.

The establishment of the kindergarten is part of Red Rocks Initiatives for Sustainable Development’s efforts to integrate tourism, conservation and community development around the Volcanoes National Parks, adding that some of their parents also have been actively involved in income-generating activities like making of traditional handcrafts they sell to tourists to uplift their living standards. We realized that apart from helping their parents to market their skills and products, and initiating programs to help them support their families, their children also needed an early good start in life and this is how the idea of kindergarten was born.

With the support of donors and well-wishers, we also purchase them the scholastic materials they need so that they can have the best education possible at their early age. We teach the children positive values and Rwandan culture so that they can be agents to push forward the country’s rich cultural heritage, adding that we also involve them in bible studies to instill discipline in them at early age.