Organised by MAD4AfricaThe Barnes Primary and Rusuzumiro School Partnership was set up in 2009 to foster cultural awareness, respect and friendship between the schools and to raise funds for projects that improve educational standards and student well-being at Rusuzumiro.
Closes 14/08/2025
Rusuzumiro School has a new Head Teacher called Mr Andrew TWAGIRAYEZU! He explains that...
Rusuzumiro is a government aided day school with 1,270 students in three levels such as 185 nursery students, 745 primary students and 340 secondary students. The dropout rate from primary to secondary reflects the economic need for many students to help parents to cultivate their land once they have attended 9 years basic education. While this number may seem large, there is a significant improvement from 10 years ago. Parents increasingly understand the importance of children to attend school and we are making good progress.
This year Barnes Primary want to raise funds to support Rusuzumiro School by raising money for four impactful projects: -
1. Health Insurance Cards to access primary health care - IN PROGRESS/ COMPLETION DUE BY 30 JUNE 2025.
2. Nursery tables and chairs so each child has a seating class - COMPLETED DECEMBER 2024.
3. Nursery outdoor play equipment to develop learning through play - COMPLETED DECEMBER 2024.
And project 4, June update….
At the start of the academic year, ingredients to make school lunches were also on the menu. However, following a visit to Rusuzumiro School on 15 May 2025, this project was reviewed and deemed no longer necessary. Why? The government and parents are now able to adequately feed the children lunch which is extremely positive news.
Head Teacher, Andrew has asked if instead we could help fix a badly damaged kitchen chimney that is in desperate need of repair. Firewood is used to cook the children’s lunch and by the time lunch is ready smoke has filtered throughout the building - in the kitchen, in the store room and worst of all in the school dining room making it a very unhealthy and unpleasant place for children and staff to eat. We hope you agree this needs sorting asap!
Funds raised at Run 4 Rusuzumiro, will therefore now go towards this new ‘Kitchen Chimney Repair Project’. Quotes are in progress and the estimated cost is approx. £4,000.
Please read on for more details.
** Funds allocated from total above for payment by 30 June 2025. Payment is in progress. **
Helping about 350 people from low-income families access essential primary healthcare. This project is now in its eighth year and helps students and their families access prompt medical treatment. Head Teacher Andrew TWAGIRAYEZU says: -
Last year, we were able to purchase 353 health insurance cards for vulnerable students. This had a positive impact on their learning and future opportunities and by returning to health more quickly, it also enabled them to return to their home chores quickly which help their family. All beneficiaries knew they could seek medical help, if needed, and this knowledge alone was of great benefit to everyone. Thank you for this hugely beneficial gift of health to our community.
In June last year, before end of term three started, we had 4 students who fell down and got injured while playing. Three of them managed to get assistance from Kivu health center which is near our school and immediately continue their studies. Unfortunately, one of them did not attend end of term exams as he was hospitalized to Butare University Teaching Hospital. Today the school is very grateful for having all the students in a good health because of health cards received from Barnes Primary School'
** PROJECT COMPLETED DECEMBER 2024**
Ensuring every Nursery child has a comfortable seat in the classroom, fostering a better learning environment that is slightly less squashy too.
** PROJECT COMPLETED DECEMBER 2024**
Providing the youngest learners at Rusuzumiro School with its first outdoor play equipment to help them develop through play.
Investigations in progress and quotes awaited to repair the damaged school kitchen chimney and ventilation system.
If needed, this project will roll over to next academic year (Sept 2025) as part of the 2025/2026 school partnership project plan.
Head Teacher Andrew said:
This significantly helped our school to reduce the student dropout rate while simultaneously improving the success rate of students in national assessments.
Your support will directly impact the lives of these children and families, empowering a stronger, healthier, and more resilient community. Together, we can help Rusuzumiro School thrive!
Thank you for your support!
Barnes Primary and Rusuzumiro Schools
Head Teacher, Andrew pictured above in May 2024 with partnership founder and former Barnes Primary parent, Alison Hawksley (note the painting of Barnes behind them that was created by Year 2 during Arts Week many years ago!).
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