Education is playing a vital role in the reconstruction of Rwandan society, said Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame, speaking February 12 at a ceremony marking the completion of 26 classrooms at Bukomero Primary School in Ntenyo district of Gitarama Province. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency built the classrooms with funding provided by the Danish International Development Agency.

Natalie Williams, communication manager for ADRA Rwanda, reports that leaders of government ministries, members of Parliament, local authorities, and project beneficiaries surrounded President Kagame as he addressed the crowd of nearly 4,000 people who attended the ceremony. Kagame said that knowledge acts as a bridge between people and that shared information contributes to unity and, ultimately, security. He emphasized that AIDS, ignorance, and division are what Rwandans need to fear the most.

Bukomero Primary, which now has an enrolment of 1,118, is just one of 21 schools assisted by ADRA Rwanda through the Ruhango Education Project. As a result of ADRA’s work, more than 14,500 students have access to training that will enable them to shape their future. ADRA has also provided training for some 250 teachers, helping them to improve their English skills and classroom methodology. French is the predominant language in Rwanda.

Education is one of ADRA Rwanda’s priorities in its efforts to assist recovery from the 1994 genocide that left more than 1 million people dead and displaced 2 million more. Many schools were damaged or destroyed during the conflict, leaving thousands of children without access to classrooms.