THE INSPIRATION
In 2000 the London-based, Ghana-born nursery teacher Ruth Akainyah started to spend her summers working with orphans and widows in post-genocide Rwanda. Her experience as a teacher, and her deep concern for the situation of Rwandan children, inspired her with the vision of moving to Rwanda in order to establish her own Montessori nursery for children of child-headed households in the capital Kigali.
THE CONTEXTAccording to UNICEF, Rwanda is still affected by the lingering impact of the 1994 genocide. The number of orphaned children and the proportion of child headed households are high. In fact about 810,000 Rwandan children have been orphaned, in part due to the genocide, of which more than 100,000 live in child-headed households. (Fuller information can be found at www.unicef.org/infobycountry/rwanda)
THE CHARITY’S AIM AND ETHOSIn February 2005 Ruth Akainyah founded the Children’s Ark Project. The charity’s purpose is to fund, establish and run a Montessori nursery for young children belonging to child-headed households in Kigali, Rwanda.
In this way the charity hopes to support the most vulnerable group in Rwandan society: the children who have lost their parents during the genocide, through subsequent imprisonment or through HIV/AIDS or TB.
The nursery will offer 50 places to children between the ages of 3 and 7 who are growing up in child-headed households. By educating, feeding and looking after the younger members of such families, the school hopes also to support the older caring children by giving them a chance to pursue their own education before the younger ones are ready to attend primary school at the age of 7. The nursery’s principal objective will be to restore a piece of their childhood to young children, and indeed to their child carers.
The school will take its inspiration from the Christian ethos but will be open to children of all faiths. Its aim is not to proselytize, but to inspire its pupils to love, respect and help one another regardless of their racial, religious or political backgrounds.
ORGANISATION AND STAFFThe day will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions, each with a maximum of 25 children. All 50 children will receive a free meal at lunchtime.
The nursery will be run by Ruth Akainyah herself. To help her the Children’s Ark Project will hire three Rwandan trainee nursery teachers (preferably survivors of the genocide) who besides their salary will receive encouragement and financial support for obtaining Montessori teaching qualifications.
The school will also hire a cook and his or her assistant, as well as a caretaker who will live with his family in purpose-built accommodation on the premises. Rwandan craftsmen will be commissioned to make simple Montessori-style toys to reflect the children’s culture and experience.
It is anticipated, that after a few years, one of Ruth’s assistants will take over the running of the nursery. Funding will continue to be provided by the Children's Ark Project on an ongoing basis. Ruth will still oversee the nursery, but will be engaged in developing the follow-on project of starting a Montessori primary school on the premises.
RESPONSE IN RWANDAIn July 2005 Ruth had a meeting with Professor Romain Murenzi, then Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Scientific Research, in Kigali. His Excellency has given the project an enthusiastic go-ahead and has offered his full support in expediting any legal, bureaucratic or taxation matters. He has granted tax redemption for building and school material as well as equipment, and has offered important contacts to the Directors of Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Schools.
THE SCHOOL BUILDINGA major step forward came in February 2006, when Magyar Marsoni Architects (www.mmarchitects.co.uk') got in touch with CAP and offered to design the school building on a pro bono basis.
A series of fund-raising events in London made it possible in May 2006 to acquire a plot of land in the district of Kicukiro-Kagasa, Kigali on which the purpose-built school building will be erected.
In July 2006 José Manuel Carrizosa of MM Architects travelled to Rwanda. He interviewed possible contractors, architects and engineers, met politicians and researched planning law. His on-site visits were crucial for the development of the design and the choice of building material.
His extraordinary design is influenced by the traditional Rwandan building which is typically built as a rotunda. The inside will be an open plan teaching space of 88m².The school will be built of sustainable local materials and will produce its own solar and wind power. Thick rammed walls of on-site soil will provide thermal mass for excellent climatic conditions. An easily assembled timber roof structure will echo traditional weaving patterns. Good light levels and ventilation will be achieved by a ring of openings all around. The roof will be used to collect rainwater as well as to generate solar power. Its generous projection will provide shading for outside play areas. The kitchen and dining facilities, the toilets and the caretaker’s lodging will be situated in separate buildings.
MM Architects believe that the successful running of a charitable project depends on the functionality of the building in which it is based, but also on its symbolic value for the community and the donors. The open plan design is perfectly adapted to Montessori teaching and will make the building highly flexible and cost-efficient. This will mean that it can be used in the evenings for community activities such as meetings, ceremonies or performances.
THE MONTESSORI TECHNIQUEDr Maria Montessori (1870-1952) was an Italian doctor who developed an educational technique based on confidence in the child’s own initiative. The principle underlying this approach is expressed in the statement “Help me to do it myself”. Children are encouraged to work independently and to develop their power of concentration. Montessori materials are designed to develop the senses and are understood as a “key to the world”. Practical techniques for acquiring literacy and numeracy with the help of feeling, handling, pouring or rubbing are combined with lessons in practical life e.g. tidying, washing hands, laying table and growing plants. The Montessori method instills great confidence in children and has been shown to work particularly well in post-conflict situations.
SUPPORT, PRO BONO WORK AND FUNDRAISINGWe are very grateful for the following support:
- Since February 2006 MM Architects have supported and inspired the CAP with their vision and dedication, designing an outstanding school building of civic dignity and sustainability. Their pro bono work for the charity has exceeded £25,000.
- Scobie Alvis of Hyder Consulting has offered his services as a pro bono structural engineer.
- De:’vir:’city are donating their services in providing architectural visualization.
- Devonshire House Preparatory School has chosen CAP as its school charity for the year 2007.
- White & Case have agreed to provide legal services on a pro bono basis.
- Simon Kirsch of Remedica Publishing is kindly hosting our website.
- Shelly Ammann of Meyer’s Design is providing our graphics on a pro bono basis.
- Printline Printers have offered us a discounted rate.
- Amount raised and pledged so far £30,000
Extensive fundraising in the course of the next three years will make it possible to set up a trust which will ensure the ongoing financial support of the project.
The Children’s Ark Project is aiming to raise funds for:
- Planning, erection and upkeep of school building
- The ongoing running of the school including staff salaries
- 50 free lunches per day
- Building maintenance
- Medical bills