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fhcanada.org 1Rwanda BWIRA Mid-Year Community Update 2025Across the community of Bwira, families are planting the seeds for a brighter future—one built on practical steps and local innovation. In classrooms and community libraries, children are discovering a love of learning through storybooks, skilled teachers, and hands-on activities that extend learning beyond the classroom. Even the youngest children are building stronger foundations through simple, joyful activities, like counting games and picture books shared with home-based preschools.Meanwhile, clean water, safe latrines, and healthy habits are becoming part of daily life. Local volunteers are leading by example, showing how small changes can protect children from illness and help them grow up strong. In the elds, farmers are turning new techniques and seeds into abundant harvests, while youth and women are launching businesses through practical, hands-on training.All of this change is rooted in leadership. From church leaders guiding reconciliation to youth taking the rst steps into entrepreneurship, people across Bwira are stepping up and shaping a future lled with hope.POPULATION22,362HOUSEHOLDS5,239PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS22,362Written by Donat Ntagungira, FH Rwanda Prepared by FH Canada5 COMMUNITIESBanana plantations not only nourish the body, but also provide a livelihood, shaping communities and economies with each harvest.— Gervais, farmer, BwiraWalking with Bwira20312021 Message

fhcanada.org 2New Desks and Dreams at Bungwe SchoolStory and photographs collected by Donat Ntagungira, FH RwandaEmmanuel, the headteacher of Bungwe School, remembers when the basics seemed out of reach. Classrooms were so crowded that one desk often sat four children. Families living in poverty kept their children home to help in the elds. Nearly one-in-ve students were dropping out, and for girls, early marriage often meant leaving school for good. Even students who managed to stay had little to support their learning: no clean water, no school gardens, and no resources.But Emmanuel held onto hope. When FH began working with the school in 2021, everything began to shift. New desks gave children space to learn. Vegetable seeds turned empty plots into kitchen gardens, which helped feed students and save money. As a bonus, this money was then used to buy a water lter to provide clean water! Teachers and parents joined training sessions, learning how to champion education for every child, including girls. Math and reading competitions lit a new excitement, and children even learned to graft fruit trees, taking their knowledge home to share.The impact has been remarkable. Classrooms no longer feel overcrowded. The dropout rate dropped to just 2.4 per cent and every student passed their national exams—proof that with the right support, children can reach for their dreams. Parents are stepping up like never before, contributing materials, cheering on their children, and taking pride in the school’s achievements. “Students are happy to study at this school,” Emmanuel shares. “I feel glad for the positive changes that were brought by FH’s intervention into the school and the community.”He knows there’s more to do—desks to add, a playground to build—but even with a never-ending to-do list, there’s a sense of hope. Small changes are adding up as the community sees what’s possible when children are given the chance to learn. Education isn’t just about passing exams—it’s about building futures, and at Bungwe School, that future has never looked brighter.From the CommunityWith dropout rates decreasing from 18.5% to 2.4%, more children are staying in school and building brighter futures!

fhcanada.org 3Growing from Blocks to BooksFrom preschool to primary school, children in Bwira are gaining the support they need to learn and grow. Forty teachers received training to create warm, engaging classrooms that spark curiosity and condence, while also nurturing childhood language development. Community libraries are also on the rise! Four new spaces are now stocked with books in Kinyarwanda and English, with over 2,000 children already discovering a love of reading with each visit. At the preschool level, six home-based Early Childhood Development Centres received materials like picture books and counting blocks, giving young learners the strong start they deserve.Cascading Health and HopeWhen families have the tools and knowledge to stay healthy, children thrive. In Bwira, 303 cascade group volunteers stepped up to champion healthy habits like handwashing. Now they’re sparking change across their communities by teaching others! Home-based preschools were equipped with water lters, while three vulnerable children received the urgent medical support they needed to grow healthy and strong. And soon, thanks to a new ve kilometre pipeline under construction—with four communal water points and a connection to a local school—over 500 more families and 1,900 students will have access to clean water every day.community librarians trained to keep libraries safe and welcoming for young readers16kilometres of new pipeline will bring clean water to families and students5volunteers trained to share healthy habits303Teachers were equipped with books, toys, and learning supplies to promote learning among young children.Health & EducationEarly childhood development is the key to healthier, wealthier, and more equitable communities. It is amazing that our children are happy and healthy today.— Chantal and Philomene, Early Childhood Development Caregivers, Bwiranew school desks provided, creating more positive learning spaces for children170

4Filling Tables, Fuelling FuturesIn Bwira, families are seizing new opportunities to grow their harvests and incomes. Over 200 farmers received improved maize and potato seeds, along with hands-on training to boost their harvests. Mothers with young children learned to prepare nutritious meals using those homegrown crops, while 23 community members were trained to grow kitchen gardens that will bring fresh, healthy food to their table. Youth also gained practical skills in trades like shoemaking and hairdressing, complete with toolkits to get them started. And with support from savings groups and business training, 40 community members are launching small businesses to build their incomes and shape brighter futures! Guiding the Way in BwiraLeadership is the spark that fuels community transformation, and in Bwira, that spark is catching on. Thirty local and church leaders received in-depth training to help them develop the leadership skills to guide their communities. The training focused on preventing violence, addressing local challenges and disaster response, and ensuring children stay in school—practical tools that help leaders tackle the issues that matter most. Equipped with new tools and a shared vision, these leaders are walking alongside families and helping build a stronger, more united Bwira.Thank You! FH Rwanda, FH Canada, and the families of Bwira thank you for your heartfelt support. Your generosity is helping open doors for children to learn and dream, empowering farmers and small businesses, and nurturing leaders who bring hope and healing to their communities. Thank you for walking alongside Bwira as they build a future of possibility.potato vines distributed to farmers to boost harvests75,000women with children under ve learned to cook healthy meals using homegrown produce207youth trained in job-ready skills and equipped with toolkits to launch their careers75Farmers received improved seeds, enabling them to plant better crops for more plentiful harvets!Livelihoods & Leadership@fhcanada @foodforthehungrycanada @fh-canadafhcanada.org/storiesFollow your impact all year long.local leaders trained in leadership skills to prevent violence, respond to disasters, and guide their communities30