What's New?
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At Bright School, Rwandan teachers model exemplary teaching and learning opportunities for Rwanda’s youngest generation. TEACH Rwanda advocates for children by building Rwandan teacher capacity through its exemplary school and mentoring program. Children arrive happy and eager to learn. They thrive in an environment where their innate curiosity is nurtured and where play and projects are cornerstones.
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TEACH Rwanda’s Annual Report for 2020-21 is now available.
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NEWSLETTERS
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TEACH RWANDA
TEACH Rwanda is transforming early childhood teacher education in Rwanda. We prepare Rwandan teachers to offer young children engaging, meaningful learning experiences. TEACH Rwanda…
TEACH Rwanda is a U.S.-based NGO and an INGO in Rwanda.
- Provides pre-service and in-service professional development and resources,
- Equips our Exemplary and Project Schools with creative, Rwanda-centric learning materials and furnishings,
- insists on just 20 children per classroom with two well-prepared teachers and 22 primary children with one teacher, all of whom implement modern teachingstrategies, and
- Euilds Rwandan early childhood leadership capacity.
TEACH Rwanda is a U.S.-based NGO and an INGO in Rwanda.
WHY WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Why We Are Passionate About Early Childhood Education
Early childhood education is the foundation for life-long learning. High-quality, hands-on early experiences are essential for children’s early brain development.
Early childhood education is the foundation for life-long learning. High-quality, hands-on early experiences are essential for children’s early brain development.
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Outputs
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Outcomes
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Did you know your purchases can make a difference?
AmazonSmile donates to TEACH Rwanda when you do your shopping at smile.amazon.com/ch/45-5516209. |
HOW WE BEGAN
Louise Batamuriza, a Rwandan preschool teacher who founded Bright School, invited Jan Brown, her mentor, to help with her new school in January 2012. The school was equipped with just one box of 24 Crayola® Crayons!
A month later, TEACH Rwanda became a reality, and lives began to change dramatically on two continents. The vision—to bring world-class, culturally relevant practices in early childhood education to Rwanda—quickly expanded. Today, TEACH Rwanda is transforming the Rwandan early childhood education infrastructure across the country!
A month later, TEACH Rwanda became a reality, and lives began to change dramatically on two continents. The vision—to bring world-class, culturally relevant practices in early childhood education to Rwanda—quickly expanded. Today, TEACH Rwanda is transforming the Rwandan early childhood education infrastructure across the country!
TEACH RWANDA LEADERS
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Alana Augello, M.S., TEACH Rwanda Secretary, is a 2013 Graduate of The Pennsylvania State University, where she obtained her B.S. in Elementary and Kindergarten Education. In 2016 she earned her Master’s Degree from Lehigh University in Educational Leadership.
Alana has taught 5th & 6th grade for 2 years at St. Michael the Archangel School in Bethlehem, and is now teaching 5th grade in the Bethlehem Area School District at Hanover Elementary School. She is also involved with extracurricular activities within the school including the school’s Lighthouse Team Facilitator and Fitness Club Advisor. Alana has participated in a numerous international mission trips and educational field experiences. Locations include Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany, and Haiti. Alana is passionate about making a difference in the life of a child both inside and outside of the U.S. Alana joined the TEACH Rwanda Board this in the summer of 2016. Alana feels very strongly about and supports all of TEACH Rwanda’s mission and vision statements. She is highly intrigued with the leadership component of the professional development initiatives for the teachers in TEACH Rwanda’s schools. She is looking forward to traveling to Rwanda in the near future. |
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Clare Smith, M.Ed., TEACH Rwanda Co-Vice President, is a 2012 Honors Graduate of The Pennsylvania State University where she obtained her B. S. Degree in Elementary and Kindergarten Education. She graduated with high distinction and was the recipient of the 2012 Elementary Education Academic Service Award. Clare is also a 2020 Honors Graduate of Lehigh University where she obtained her Masters of Education Degree in Teaching and Learning. Clare has taught in both urban and suburban school settings in 4th and 5th grade. She has unique international teaching experiences including teaching primary students English in Taiwan for a Study Abroad Honors trip and a month-long teaching internship in Rwanda. During her internship in Rwanda, Clare taught English to primary students and mentored genocide orphans, while conducting research for her undergraduate honors thesis, which focused on building resilience in children of poverty and trauma. Clare’s thesis was published by the Schreyer Honors College. Clare’s international teaching experiences not only enriched her life, but also her students’ lives as she is able to teach about diversity while sharing first-hand experiences.
Clare joined the TEACH Rwanda Board in March of 2016 and traveled back to Rwanda in 2016 to volunteer at TEACH Rwanda’s schools. Clare is very passionate about education and TEACH Rwanda’s mission and vision. She and her husband, Co-Vice President Tom Smith, plan to return to Rwanda for more volunteer work. |
After teaching 4th grade for 3 years at St. Michael the Archangel School, she landed a position in the Bethlehem Area School District, teaching 5th grade at Farmersville Elementary School, where she is currently the school’s Webmaster and Digital Media Club Advisor. Clare arranged to donate 36 laptops to TEACH Rwanda schools on behalf of the Bethlehem Area School District.
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Danielle Johnson is an advocate for high quality, accessible, and inclusive early childhood education that honors the diversity of families' experiences and honors parents' visions of success for their children. Bringing more than 20 years of increasingly responsible program- and systems-level early childhood leadership experience in New York City and now in North Carolina's Triangle and Triad regions. Danielle has taught and trained educators and administrators seeking to make a lasting impact on the families and communities they serve. Following successful tenures in roles as the NC Pre-K Manager and Director of Early Childhood Systems, In August of 2019, Danielle was named Executive Director at Durham's Partnership for Children. She is responsible for providing leadership and oversight for programs within the organization representing annual investments of over $11M. Programs including Smart Start, Early Head Start, NC Pre-K, Transition to Kindergarten, and other collective impact community initiatives that help the Partnership achieve its mission that every child enters school healthy and ready to learn. Danielle is an author, award-winning adjunct instructor at Durham Technical Community College and a sought-after presenter and facilitator at national conferences, with special connections to the early childhood movement in Ghana, West Africa. She received a Master's in Education from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and a Master's in Public Health from Hunter College, City University of New York. Danielle is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Danielle serves on various advisory committees such as the, Durham Technical Community College Early Childhood Associate Advisory Committee, NC InCK Early Childhood Innovation Committee, and the Durham PreK Governance Committee. She joined the TEACH Rwanda Board in January, 2021.
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Rev. Debora Jackson, DMin, MDiv, ME, MS, BS. The Reverend Dr. Debora Jackson is Director of Operations at All Girls Allowed, a faith-based, non-profit organization that is committed to restoring life, value, and dignity to women by providing resources that promote healing and wholeness. She is responsible for evaluating and determining operational strategies, building a corporate culture of faith and service, and implementing organizational priorities.
Dr. Jackson was formerly the Director of Lifelong Learning at Yale Divinity School and was responsible for developing a robust program to assemble and leverage the abundant intellectual and professional resources of the School for the betterment of churches and other ministries. Prior to her appointment at Yale Divinity School, Dr. Jackson was the Executive Director of the Ministers Council of the American Baptist Churches, USA, a prestigious and historic organization dedicated to the support of American Baptist clergy. She led the Council from 2012 to 2017, helping the organization restructure and revitalize while securing important new revenue streams. Previously she served for eight years as Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Needham, MA, which under her leadership reversed years of decline and flourished as a church known for its engaged preaching, new ministries, and extensive outreach. She currently serves the historic Peoples Baptist Church in Boston, MA as the Minister of Worship. |
Dr. Jackson worked in business for 20 years, with an emphasis on IT and software engineering, before heeding the call to ministry. Key roles she held during that time included Chief Operating / Chief Information Officer of an e-commerce energy services provider and as Managing Director of a supply chain / IT consulting group.
Dr. Jackson received her Doctorate in Ministry, emphasis in Leadership, and Master of Divinity degree, emphasis in Spirituality, both with honors, from Andover Newton Theological School. She holds a Master of Engineering degree in Manufacturing Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Management from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Indiana University.
Dr. Jackson is also a consultant who leads custom, high impact engagements, including strategic planning, conflict resolution, and leadership development, for non-profit and faith-based organizations. As an author, Dr. Jackson has written numerous articles and two books, Meant for Good: Fundamentals in Womanist Leadership (Judson Press, 2019) and Spiritual Practices for Effective Leadership: 7 R’s of Sanctuary for Pastors (Judson Press, 2015), which was the 2016 Illumination Book Silver Medal Award Winner.
Dr. Jackson resides in Newton, MA with her husband, James Thomas, and their son, Jadon.
Dr. Jackson received her Doctorate in Ministry, emphasis in Leadership, and Master of Divinity degree, emphasis in Spirituality, both with honors, from Andover Newton Theological School. She holds a Master of Engineering degree in Manufacturing Engineering and a Master of Science degree in Management from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Indiana University.
Dr. Jackson is also a consultant who leads custom, high impact engagements, including strategic planning, conflict resolution, and leadership development, for non-profit and faith-based organizations. As an author, Dr. Jackson has written numerous articles and two books, Meant for Good: Fundamentals in Womanist Leadership (Judson Press, 2019) and Spiritual Practices for Effective Leadership: 7 R’s of Sanctuary for Pastors (Judson Press, 2015), which was the 2016 Illumination Book Silver Medal Award Winner.
Dr. Jackson resides in Newton, MA with her husband, James Thomas, and their son, Jadon.
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Janet F. Brown, M.Ed., TEACH Rwanda Founder and President, is grateful that she has able to spend her life advocating for high-quality early childhood education and teacher education. Early in a career that now spans 5 decades, Jan was a preschool teacher and child care director. She worked as Editor of Young Children and Director of Publications for the National Association for the Education of Young Children and then as Editor of Dimensions of Early Childhood. Later in her career she served as a consultant with Art As a Way of Learning® with Northampton Community College and then became Managing Editor for Crayola. After retiring, she regularly volunteered with Head Start in the Lehigh Valley. She has traveled extensively, enjoys photography, and began sharing her passion for social justice through play-based education in Rwanda in 2010. Jan and her husband William Whipple III are delighted to share 6 adult children, 6 grandchildren, and a growing number of great grandchildren, spread over two continents.
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Jasmine Jones, M.S., is an emerging leader who enjoys working in collaborative teams and engaging in innovative approaches that create impact. Jasmine believes that everyone has the power to be a change-maker. The opportunity to use their voices to inspire and share their expertise and creativity to positively impact the world.
As a project manager at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), her focus is to enhance the students experience in Innovation and Entrepreneurship through a variety of programs. Whether that is through innovation challenges, providing an opportunity for students to lead their own educational experiences, connecting students with mentors who are leaders in entrepreneurship, or hone their skills by competing for innovation awards. Jasmine holds a master's degree and a graduate certificate in Cybercrime investigation and Cybersecurity from Boston University and a bachelor's in Criminal Justice from Lynn University. She is currently studying to become a Certificated Associate Project Manager (CAPM) from the Project Management Institute. She joined the TEACH Rwanda board in February 2021. |
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Raza Visram is an invited board member and main point person for TEACH Rwanda's Africa operations. Raza is currently on sabbatical from the board for family reasons. He is a native of East Africa with connections to the land who deeply understands the ongoing intricacies, strategies, and challenges of operating any organization in Africa. He is very well traveled in Africa and brings more than 22 years of experience and expertise of working at AfricanMecca Safaris, an award-winning Africa travel and tourism organization. Raza's simple beginnings and humble family background has made him a passionate and fervent advocate for the rights of the poor and underserved, as well as giving back to Africa using his time, talent, and treasures with the sole aim of making a better tomorrow: an Africa with a self-sustaining healthy economy supported by an educated population and progressive government which is able to solvethe challenges of education, healthcare, conservation, employment, and more. His honest and open communication style has successfully led TEACH Rwanda to operate at its highest efficiency, allowing donor funds to be maximized for the benefit of TEACH Rwanda schools. His connections with the greater business trade in the United States has further allowed TEACH Rwanda to receive support for its non-profit operation. Raza is on currently on sabbatical while dealing with family health issues.
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Tom Smith, B.S., TEACH Rwanda Co-Vice President, graduated in 2014 with a degree in Communication in Arts and Sciences and a minor in Business from The Pennsylvania State University. Tom graduated from the Allentown Police Academy in June 2020. He is currently a police officer for the Bethlehem Township Police Department in Bethlehem, PA, fulfilling his life-long dream.
Tom served as Head Boys Basketball Coach for 8th grade at St. Michael the Archangel School for 2 years. Tom joined the TEACH Rwanda Board in March 2016 and took his first international trip to Rwanda in July 2016, where he volunteered at TEACH Rwanda schools. Tom brings unique talents to the Board, such as his business, management and communications skills. He also brings board experience as he formerly served as the Vice President and Chief of Staff for Penn State Berks’ Student Government Association. Tom is very passionate about the TEACH Rwanda mission and vision and is very driven to see the organization achieve its goals. Tom and his wife, Co-Vice President Clare Smith, plan to return to Rwanda for more volunteer work. |
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William Whipple III, TEACH Rwanda Business Representative, retired in 2014 from a 33-year career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator so that he could go to Rwanda for extended lengths of time with his wife Jan and TEACH Rwanda. Dietetics has a strong diet education component and Bill has had an interest in high-quality education all his life, hearing about it at the family dinner table from his father who was a literature professor and his mother who had an advanced degree in journalism. He finds fascinating the process of implementing high-quality early childhood education (ECE) in Rwanda, where many preschoolers still sit quietly and memorize what the teacher says. He understands now that good ECE gives a strong foundation for learning throughout life and sees potential for making a strong impact on the lives of children in Rwanda. He is learning a lot from, Jan, who is the ECE expert, and contributes his own talents, including communicating in French, a passion for teaching English, mentoring, management, and business skills. He loves being able to contribute in a meaningful way, even though he is “very old” according to his Rwandan friends, (a term of respect). He misses his children, grandchildren (see Jan’s bio), and friends in the U.S. when spending extended periods of time in Rwanda.
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TEACH RWANDA RWANDAN ADVISORY BOARD
The TEACH Rwanda Rwandan Advisory Board offers recommendations to our in-country TEACH Rwanda leadership team as well as the TEACH Rwanda Board in the U.S. to:
- Increase opportunities for success.
- Optimize effectiveness of our vision and mission in a Rwandan context.
- Identify goals, opportunities, and strategies in Rwanda.
- Make decisions congruent with Rwandan law, culture, communication, and expectations.
- Facilitate access to important Rwandan partners, decision makers, resources, and organizations.
- Strategize the process toward the long-term evolution of TEACH Rwanda to become a Rwandan NGO.
Members of this volunteer Advisory Board, which meets quarterly, are:
Aloys HAKIZIMANA, Lawyer, Muhanga
Betty KABEERA, International Education Exchange, Human Resources Director, Kigali
Carol MBABAZI, Head of Special Education, Green Hills Academy, Kigali
Esperence MUKAGASANA, Bank of Kigali Manager, Muhanga
Eraste NGABOYAMAHINA, Professor, Group Scholaire St. Joseph, Kabgayi
Emmanuel NIYIRORA, TEACH Rwanda Finance Officer
Clement Jacques RAFIKI, Owner, Rafitechnoz, Muhanga
Francois UHAGAZE, former Vice Mayor for Finance, Muhanga
Emmanuel USABUWERA, Accountant, Muhanga
Jeanne d’Arc UWAMWIZA, Director, Rwanda Management Institute, Muhanga
Bill Whipple, TEACH Rwanda Business Representative
Aloys HAKIZIMANA, Lawyer, Muhanga
Betty KABEERA, International Education Exchange, Human Resources Director, Kigali
Carol MBABAZI, Head of Special Education, Green Hills Academy, Kigali
Esperence MUKAGASANA, Bank of Kigali Manager, Muhanga
Eraste NGABOYAMAHINA, Professor, Group Scholaire St. Joseph, Kabgayi
Emmanuel NIYIRORA, TEACH Rwanda Finance Officer
Clement Jacques RAFIKI, Owner, Rafitechnoz, Muhanga
Francois UHAGAZE, former Vice Mayor for Finance, Muhanga
Emmanuel USABUWERA, Accountant, Muhanga
Jeanne d’Arc UWAMWIZA, Director, Rwanda Management Institute, Muhanga
Bill Whipple, TEACH Rwanda Business Representative
TEACH RWANDA RWANDAN STAFF
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Alain Eric Usengimana stood out in an early TEACH Rwanda workshop because he loved Clifford the Big Red Dog. He soon became a regular translator and after many years of volunteering joined our staff as TR Resource Development Specialist. Along the way, he completed his undergrad degree in journalism. Eric wears many hats, and he’s now the proud father of Ketia, a future Bright School student.
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Anitha Mereka, a beloved and creative preschool and primary teacher at Bright School, became TEACH Rwanda’s Teacher Mentor in August 2020. She holds an A2 diploma in Early Childhood Education from TTC Matimba and is a student at Kampala University in Early Childhood and English. How well does she exemplify what TR does? When her TTC Tutor observed her classroom 2 years ago, he told her, “I have a lot to learn from you.”
Anitha works with TR’s founder and our other board volunteers and Rwandan staff to advocate for high-quality education in Rwanda, for both children and teachers. She co-leads TR needs assessments, observations in our Exemplary Schools, workshops, and coaches teachers in classrooms to implement engaging, joyful learning experiences through play. |
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Joseph Kabundi is a former Head Master with a background in microfinance. He is the only elected parent president that Bright School has ever known. After years of volunteering, and with two joyful children at Bright, Joseph is now TEACH Rwanda’s Development and Finance Consultant.
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OUR PARTNERS
TEACH Rwanda is unique among INGOs working in Rwanda.
Our vision to transform children's lives through teacher education is
If your organization wishes to join us in our quest for high-quality education in Rwanda, please contact jbrown@teachrwanda.org.
Our vision to transform children's lives through teacher education is
- ambitious (we provide in-service and pre-service professional development)
- unique (through our demonstration system of Exemplary and Project Schools)
- blends modern education strategies with Rwandan culture (teachers, children, schools, and curriculum are all Rwandan)
If your organization wishes to join us in our quest for high-quality education in Rwanda, please contact jbrown@teachrwanda.org.
OUR EXPANDING LIST OF PARTNERS INCLUDES:
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OUR TEACHER EDUCATION INITIATIVES
How does TEACH Rwanda serve as a catalyst for change in Rwandan teacher education? We have a decade of experience learning with and about Rwandan early childhood and primary teachers. Before that, TEACH Rwanda’s founder was an early childhood educator in the US for four decades. As a result, our National Teacher Development Center operates through Bright School in Muhanga.
TEACH Rwanda’s depth and breadth of classroom experiences—in which children construct ever-greater knowledge and skills through play and projects—led to our development and implementation of uniquely Rwanda teaching strategies. Their effectiveness is demonstrated in our Exemplary Schools, by Rwandan teachers, with Rwandan children, using the Rwandan curriculum.
TEACH Rwanda’s depth and breadth of classroom experiences—in which children construct ever-greater knowledge and skills through play and projects—led to our development and implementation of uniquely Rwanda teaching strategies. Their effectiveness is demonstrated in our Exemplary Schools, by Rwandan teachers, with Rwandan children, using the Rwandan curriculum.
TEACH Rwanda’s systematic Module approach to professional development assures that teachers and education leaders have accessible, affordable opportunities to discover modern, research-based teaching practices. Educators…
Workshops on essential topics are also offered to schools, libraries, and organizations who wish to focus on specific goals for improvement. Workshop topics include
Partnerships expand our ability to formalize modern education in Rwanda. TEACH Rwanda is partners with Premier ECDE Teachers College in Kigali, the nation’s capital city. In this acclaimed certificate and diploma program, students benefit from TEACH Rwanda’s expertise as evidenced by extensive curriculum revisions, new models of engaging education strategies and classrooms, and guided observations for students and faculty to see children learning through play.
TEACH Rwanda is also active in RENCP’s Teacher Development and Early Childhood Development Working Groups. Our participation in this national organization enables other NGOs and INGOs to gain a growing awareness of our research-based and compassionate approach to education of both children and educators. For a full list of the organizations we partner with, see Our Partners section.
INTERESTED? To schedule a Module or workshop, or find out how to become a TEACH Rwanda partner, or for our affordable fees for consulting with your school or organization, please contact TRModules@TEACHRwanda.org.
- See high-quality classrooms in action in TEACH Rwanda’s Exemplary Schools—model programs in which a respectful school culture, small class sizes, and well-prepared teachers result in joy in genuine learning (Module 1)
- Fully engage in a 4-day, intensive series of workshops that introduce child and brain development research findings, tools to help teachers build on children’s skills and knowledge with an integrated curriculum, and strategies to establish a classroom in which children are fully engaged in learning through meaningful play and projects (Module 2)
- Continue to grow and learn with personalized classroom mentoring that includes observation, reflection, analysis, and goal-setting. Mentoring sustains new practices and engages educators in their own continuous quality improvement process (Module 3)
Workshops on essential topics are also offered to schools, libraries, and organizations who wish to focus on specific goals for improvement. Workshop topics include
- Play or Games? What Is the Difference?
- Tools and Techniques to Document Children’s Progress
- Math Skills BEFORE Children Count
- Strategies to Promote Early Literacy
- Steps to Integrate Any Curriculum
- Learn to Listen, Listen to Learn
- Exams for Primary Children: Why? What types of questions? How do I use the results?
- Inclusive Classrooms
- PLAN Smooth Transitions
- Coach: Conflict Resolution With Young Children
- Find Free or Natural Learning Materials
- Choose Compelling Rwandan Themes
- Creativity: Art in the Making
Partnerships expand our ability to formalize modern education in Rwanda. TEACH Rwanda is partners with Premier ECDE Teachers College in Kigali, the nation’s capital city. In this acclaimed certificate and diploma program, students benefit from TEACH Rwanda’s expertise as evidenced by extensive curriculum revisions, new models of engaging education strategies and classrooms, and guided observations for students and faculty to see children learning through play.
TEACH Rwanda is also active in RENCP’s Teacher Development and Early Childhood Development Working Groups. Our participation in this national organization enables other NGOs and INGOs to gain a growing awareness of our research-based and compassionate approach to education of both children and educators. For a full list of the organizations we partner with, see Our Partners section.
INTERESTED? To schedule a Module or workshop, or find out how to become a TEACH Rwanda partner, or for our affordable fees for consulting with your school or organization, please contact TRModules@TEACHRwanda.org.
Future teachers practice their sensory skill awareness in this child development class. Premier ECDE Teachers College students have many opportunities to observe…practice…and then implement
effective, inclusive teaching strategies. |
TEACH Rwanda’s module system invites head masters, TTC principals, school owners, international consultants, and classroom teachers to discover the challenges and rewards of teaching children with joy, creativity, and teamwork, all within a Rwandan context.
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Experienced TR teacher mentors coach teachers in their own classrooms. Often, students are part of the process, too.
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TR modules frequently take teachers outdoors, to find affordable learning materials wherever they are…to experience integrated learning through play… to explore how children invent uses for found materials.
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With a maximum of 12 participants, every educator is always engaged in TR module and workshops. Adults learn through play, too!
CONTACT US
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E-mail us
For organizational information JBrown@TEACHRwanda.org To inquire about teacher education Modules TRModules@TEACHRwanda.org |
Send official correspondence and contributions to
1787-C Chateau Place, Easton, PA USA 18045 Post Box 91, Muhanga, South Province, Rwanda Call us In the US, Clare Smith at +1 610-248-9027 In Rwanda, Jan Brown at +250 784 279 433 |
OUR VISION AND MISSION
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Vision:
Build capacity to provide high-quality professional development to teachers of children in Rwanda. |
Mission:
Enrich children's lives by establishing world-class early childhood and primary teacher education in Rwanda. Value Proposition TEACH Rwanda implements high-quality, accessible education for Rwandan children by building the capacity of Rwandan teachers. |
