LITTLE ANGELS
Little Angels School – Mbyo Village, Kigali, Rwanda
Little Angels, designed to serve the growing population of the reconciliation village at Mbyo, is a private school which currently has 12 classrooms and 270 students, serving nursery through primary grades (N1-P5, US equivalent of pre-K through grade 5).
The specific short term goal of this school was to provide a facility for children who needed moral and spiritual assistance with a place in which to acquire education that was close to their home. The school was established for and serves the children and families of victims and perpetrators who live together peacefully side-by-side in the Mbyo reconciliation village. The school buildings were initially built by the combined efforts of Prison Fellowship Rwanda in partnership with an array of other organizations and stakeholders. This school is a sign of practical reconciliation as well as a symbolic expression of unity.
The existence of this school also meets one of Rwanda’s long-range goals from “Rwanda Vision 2020“, which is to foster reconciliation, facilitate individual transformation, and encourage crime prevention in order to reach the frame of mind where forgiveness and reconciliation are genuinely embraced. As this is achieved, residual feelings of anger and vengeance do not have a chance to fester. More importantly, the need for vengeance will not be passed on to the next generation, perpetrating another cycle of violence. The mission of Little Angels School is to care for children’s needs in the following areas:
- Education
To encourage school attendance and provide assistance so that the children can develop the skills they need for a bright future.
2. Safety
Visitation of the children to ensure their urgent needs are being met, including the need for safety and protection.
- Good health
To make sure the children receive essential health care and food supplements to ensure their health.
- Spiritual resiliency
To receive guidance anchored in the Gospel to help resolve emotional and spiritual wounds caused by rejection and loss, and to help build their confidence.
