On Wednesday, June 11, – Professor Jean Paul Niyigena, the Papal Advisor on Education, has launched a youth empowerment initiative aimed at supporting economically vulnerable children in Ngoma District.

The initiative, which involves distributing goats to young beneficiaries, seeks to equip them with a sustainable means to address basic financial challenges.

This program was officially inaugurated at Foyer URUGO TUZAMENYA GUSOMA TWITEZE IMBERE, a community learning center founded by Prof. Niyigena.

The center provides after-school tutoring and moral guidance to children and is located in Karembo Sector, Ngoma District.

Fifty children—many of whom are either orphans or live in single-parent households—received goats during the launch ceremony.

In addition, vocational training programs were introduced for young mothers and girls seeking to acquire practical skills to improve their livelihoods.

Speaking to ICK News, Prof. Niyigena, who also lectures at universities in Rwanda and Belgium, said the initiative was born out of a desire to support children who often struggle with access to basic necessities due to limited financial resources.

“We’ve spent years assisting parents in supporting their children’s education. However, we noticed that as children transition to secondary school, families face increasing challenges. That’s why we launched this initiative—to help children take small steps toward self-reliance,” he explained.

Reflecting on his motivation to establish Foyer URUGO TUZAMENYA GUSOMA TWITEZE IMBERE, Prof. Niyigena cited the compassion he received from neighbors during his own upbringing.

“This is not a school in the traditional sense—it is a home. I was raised here, and neighbors supported me in countless ways. Founding this center was my way of passing on the kindness I received from the community—my siblings, elders, and local families,” he said.

Parents whose children attend the center expressed appreciation for its transformative impact. They highlighted how it offers a nurturing environment for academic reinforcement, especially during weekends and evenings when formal schooling is not in session.

Angelique Niyomukiza, a mother whose child is currently in Primary Four, praised the center’s holistic approach to education and character building:

“The teachers and administrators here provide both academic support and moral guidance. My child has developed exceptional behavior—she is responsible, helps with house chores without being asked, and shows a maturity beyond her years.”

Niyomukiza also emphasized the added benefit of French language instruction, “I completed secondary school myself, but the French my daughter speaks is beyond my level. The center truly equips them with quality education.”

Established in 2021, Foyer URUGO TUZAMENYA GUSOMA TWITEZE IMBERE currently serves 180 children at various educational levels. Its mission is to support primary school learners through academic tutoring while instilling discipline, hygiene, responsibility, respect, and punctuality.

Children typically begin attending the center from their first year of primary school and progress through the program based on academic performance.