Frequently Asked Questions

The school project started at the request of the then mayor of Nyagatare, a schoolmate of Fr. Jean’s from Uganda. He asked Fr. Jean, who has been in charge of church schools in southern Uganda for nine years, to build a school in Rwanda where the need is great and there is only one secondary school in the district which is an all girls school. The mayor asked for a school for boys. The request was seconded by the Bishop of the diocese of Byumba. Then, the voices of parents in the area became insistent that the school be for girls also, and so it will be. Local politicians promised to help, and the government gave title to the first parcel of land for a nominal fee. A second parcel, adjacent to the original parcel, became available and was purchased at fair market price. Both parcels have water and electricity, a particular blessing in this area.

The school will be a three-story building, rather than two story, because that will cut down on the cost and save construction time. In addition, we will be able to use more of the land for trees and green areas.

Phase I, as described above, will cost $1,040,000 US dollars.  It includes classrooms which will double as dormitories until Phase II is completed. The cost of Phase II will be affected by length of time it takes to raise the funds as well as the impact of the ever-changing exchange rate.

Five months, but the government will not grant the permits until the school is completely finished. In other schools I have built in Peru and Ecuador and Uganda, I have been able to open the school without installing the doors and windows. In Rwanda, that is not possible. The inspectors want things done properly.

Father Jean has requested that the next large project will be the construction of a medical clinic. While there are still ongoing needs at the school, the need for a medical clinic is of utmost importance. Currently, students who need medical care must be driven two hours to a facility in Kigali. The medical clinic, as proposed, will be a shared facility designed to serve both the school and the local community. FRE has pledged to undertake the school clinic and will cost approximately $80,000.

 

In addition, FRE is continuing to support academic and classroom needs, extra-curricular student activities, a sponsorship program and the basic and ongoing needs of both students and faculty, e.g., food, shelter, and healthcare. necessities. Walkways, classroom computers, a chapel, athletic fields and equipment as well as administrative offices are also future projects.

FRE is pleased to offer scholarship grants for students seeking higher education in the U.S. and abroad, emphasizing our mission in empowering students to achieve their educational goals. If you are a Rwandan student and would like to apply, please visit our Scholarships page for additional information.

Please visit our Donate page and select your preferred option to sponsor a student. The cost of sponsoring a student for a full academic year is $1,000 (USD). You may elect to pay this in one lump sum or in monthly installments. If you have any questions regarding your sponsorship, please contact us at info@freohio.org.