Hope Community School is a mission of Columbus Church of Christ and steered by Janet Robertson, who was a missionary in Kigali, Rwanda from 2013-2018. Janet maintains the position of Educational Advisor and co- fundraiser from the states. Its founder, Chantal Mubarure, runs the school and serves as a home missionary in partnership with Janet.
Hope is a non-profit preschool – 6th grade in the Ndego sector in the eastern province in Rwanda. This is a very underserved and impoverished area in Rwanda. Hope serves the most vulnerable families in the community and no tuition or school expense is asked of the students who attend. The work of the school is funded solely through individual donations and child sponsors. No other corporate or church involvement is present, save the body at Columbus. God daily provides miracles in meeting the ever-increasing needs of running a school.
Hope’s mission is to use education as a means to present the gospel first and foremost! We seek to disciple the students in their spiritual growth, as well as the families and school staff who work at Hope. In addition, Hope provides for the physical needs of our students through meals, basic health and hygiene care, and all school supplies. Hope seeks to offer a quality education that will better the lives of the students who may apply for scholarships for secondary school after leaving Hope.
Hope offers adult literacy classes to families. We are the early childhood development model school for this community and our teachers are trained in early childhood instruction and the use of learning centers and hands-on teaching. Our parents and teachers have a PTO through which parents are able to contribute to the progress and upkeep of the school through tending the garden plots on site that feed the children or cooking and cleaning as needed. Hope’s spiritual life coordinator and project leader, Blaise Milinganyo, conducts evangelism efforts like chapels and Bible clubs. This year, we are introducing a teacher scholarship opportunity for Teacher Training Institute to increase the quality of education in our classrooms. Increasing professional development training for teachers is also one of our goals for 2020.
Construction on the school buildings was completed in 2020 and requirements were met for accreditation by the Rwandan Education Ministry. The school now has a building to house a library and computers, as well as a certified kitchen. Covid 19 site requirements were also implemented at the start of school. These efforts depleted our funds and we are seeking to find other opportunities to involve more people in this kingdom work and vision we have for our next phase: vocational training for families. We will attempt to purchase goats for families to breed and use, provide women with sewing skills and other business training once they complete the literacy classes. The gospel and Bible study will be central in all areas we attempt to implement.
Prayers and funding are always needed for salaries, supplies like Bibles and school books/uniforms, food, training, buildings, transportation, etc. If you would like to know more or become a monthly or one time sponsor in this mission, please contact Janet Robertson at 662-889-7320 or janetrobertson13@yahoo.com or contact the church office at 662-328-6084. You can also give online at www.columbuscoc.com and click the give online tab.