Our Mission
Empowering Rwandans to achieve their educational goals by supporting and establishing schools, awarding scholarships, and subsidizing business training.
Our
history
Click a date below to discover:
family is killed in 1994 Genocide, turns family home into orphanage.
US homes for promising students from his orphanage who are now high school age.
• Ball hosts meeting to discuss such with interested families.
• Debbie Kukurza, a theology teacher at Walsh Jesuit High School, hears Fr. Jean at Mass at St. Mary’s. She has just finished her Masters thesis on the Genocide and waits to speak with him after Mass. He tells her of his frustration with trying to arrange for the Catholic high school enrollment of the six students coming. Only one school in the diocese of Cleveland returned his call: WJHS.
• Kukurza helps with the enrollment of 3 of the 6, where she keeps a close eye out for them and develops strong ties with them.
• Fr. Jean asks Kukurza to come to Rwanda to help him start a boarding school for boys there.
• After much prayer and multiple conversations with Fr. Jean, Debbie agrees to open a non-profit in Ohio to support the school. She turns down his offer to come live in Rwanda.
• Kukurza recruits a BOARD OF DIRECTORS to govern the non-profit.
• Kukurza’s long-time friend, a teacher at another Catholic high school in the area, hosts a fund-raiser for FRE. The students of NDCL raise the first $5,000. It sits in the bank until FRE is a legal entity.
• Back in Karangazi, where Fr. Jean has purchased land from the government for $1, brick making BY HAND begins.
• The school receives gift of 5 cows, providing milk and dairy for the school.
• The school receives gift to outfit Science Lab.
• Betty Clark’s family donates our first Chicken Coop in Betty’s memory.
• Kaulig Giving donates money for land to farm in order to feed the students of St. Antoine School.
• Our local parish, St. Mary, forms relationship with St. John XXIII parish one mile from the school.
• Kukurza makes first BOOTS ON THE GROUND Trip to Rwanda.
• Students score EXCELLENT on National Exams. The result is burgeoning enrollment and national recognition as one of the top schools in Rwanda.
• Med-wish donates equipment and supplies for the Medical Clinic. FRE covers the cost of shipping it to Rwanda.
• Students again score EXCELLENT on National Exams. The result is burgeoning enrollment: school opens with 389 students!
• Best-selling author Immaculee Ilibagiza (Left to Tell) speaks at St. Mary to broaden awareness on the 30th anniversary of the Genocide.
• FRE receives the 2024 BISHOP WILLIAM M. COSGROVE Justice Award, diocese of Cleveland. FRE was applauded for “doing wonderful work connecting the local community here with the needs of Rwanda’s people, transforming the lives of Rwandans through education.”
• Planning begins for hosting Medical Mission Trip to the School (tentatively set for 2026).
• Second BOOTS ON THE GROUND Trip to Rwanda by Kukurza and members of FRE Board. [All travel is at the expense of the traveler.]
• Medical Clinic is completed.
PURSUING SUCCESSFUL OUTCOMES
Students Excel on the
National Exam
Each year in Rwanda, students sit for the National Examinations. These are difficult exams given at all grade levels, the results of which are used to then rank students. We have recently learned that our students from St. Antoine’s passed with flying colors, “beyond expectations.”
14 students received a 100% out of 45 who took the exam
Please follow the link below and discover the numerous ways you can support the students of St. Antoine’s Secondary School.
ESSENTIAL MEDICAL CARE
Progress continues on our new medical clinic
After many months, many generous donations, a shipment of donated medical supplies from Medwish and Reidy Medical Supply, Inc., many hard working hands, and the extreme diligence of Fr. Jean, the Medical Clinic is ready! We have earned the Certificate of Occupancy, and Fr. Jean is busy hiring a medical team to attend to the students of St. Antoine’s Secondary School. The clinic will also serve the villagers of Karangazi. The FRE Board is organizing a Medical Mission Trip when medical personnel from the US will travel to Karangazi. Headed by Dr. Kenneth E. Remy, MD, MHSc, MSCI, FCCM of the University Hospital Health System, the US Team will assist the medical team there and investigate the possibility of a nursing school.
Your generosity can transform
the lives of youth in Rwanda.
The youth we serve have endured difficult challenges in their young lives, more than many of us experience in a lifetime. With your support, our mission to change the lives of youth in Rwanda through education will flourish. Please explore more about the Friends of Rwandan Education and consider supporting us in making a difference.
The Chosen Event
The Chosen Meet and Greet! Register Today
Join us for FRE’s Golf Outing
Join FRE's Golf Outing! Where: Signature of Solon Country Club When: Monday, August 3rd, 2026 (Shotgun start at 12:45pm, Dinner to follow at 5:30pm) Why: To support Rwandan education! Held at the beautiful Signature [...]
Our Lady of Kibeho
Immaculée Ilibagiza, author of "Our Lady of Kibeho" On Thursday, October 1st, FRE will once again welcome best-selling author and retreat leader Immaculée Ilibagiza to NE Ohio! St. Francis of Assisi parish in Gates Mills [...]
