Our Mission

About Rwanda: Reborn from Tragedy

The Rwandan Civil War lasted between 1990 and 1994 and was fought between the government-backed Rwandan Armed Forces and the Rwandan Patriotic Front ("RPF") rebel group, formed in Uganda by ethnic Tutsi led by current President Paul Kagame.

The plane of Rwanda's former President Juvenal Habyarimana was shot down on April 4, 1994 as he returned from negotiations with the RPF over an agreement to transition to a more democratic government. The assassination ignited genocidal killings of Tutsi throughout Rwanda, beginning with top leaders. Over the next 100 days, an untold number of civilians were executed (estimated between 800 thousand and 1 million total). The world watched while a country was destroyed. But since then, Rwanda has been reborn from the ashes of the genocide.

Today, Rwanda boasts the 2nd fastest-growing economy in the world, the highest percentage of women in parliament of any country, and universal healthcare coverage for its citizens. Rwanda is regularly voted one of the cleanest and safest countries in Africa. Significant economic strides include the development of the first smartphone made entirely in Africa (Mara), the world's first drone delivery system for emergency therapeutic medicines (Zipline), and an internet user base that increases by 15% or more annually. The creativity and ingenuity of Rwanda are inspirational to all who know its story.

The children of Rwanda today grow up in a country with a level of opportunity that was inconceivable only a few years ago. But in most cases, the lives of the students we work with have not been without their personal struggles. Through our advisor networks, expert research, and unique one-on-one student mentorship program, we help our students prepare for college and become their own best versions of themselves.