Rainbow Academy Rwanda was once just a dream born from a village where education was never guaranteed. Growing up, I watched many of my peers drop out of school not because school fees were high, but because motivation, exposure, and quality education were missing. At that time, public education existed, but as many understand, public and private education cannot be compared when it comes to long-term impact. That reality shaped my life and later became the foundation of Rainbow Academy Rwanda.

I was born and raised in a rural village near Lake Kivu, one of the most touristic and beautiful regions of Rwanda today. However, back then, beauty did not translate into opportunity. In my generation, almost no one went beyond Senior 3. High school felt unreachable. I remember looking up to a few older students Mark, Étienne, and later Mutuyimana who inspired us simply by staying in school longer than the rest of us.

Among them, only Mark managed to complete Senior 6 and became a symbol of pride for the entire village. Mutuyimana also completed high school but never returned home, as he found work in Kigali. That absence was understandable, yet it left a gap. At that time, there was no university graduate in the village, and for me, that absence quietly became a challenge I carried within myself.

Education as a Personal Struggle and a Turning Point

Although I passed my national exams, family instability almost prevented me from joining high school. It was only through the government’s Nine Years Basic Education program that I continued. Even then, the journey was painful. Every day, I walked nearly 7 km to school and another 8 km back home. Meanwhile, many of my colleagues slowly disappeared from the classroom. Some stopped in Senior 3, others never joined high school at all.

Years later, through determination and grace, I completed high school, joined university, and eventually became the first person in my village to earn a master’s degree. Today, there are still fewer than five bachelor’s degree holders in the entire village. Because of this journey, I was also able to sponsor my younger brothers, who are now proud bachelor’s degree holders themselves.

Professionally, I joined the hospitality industry and later moved into tourism. I now have over 13 years of experience, holding a Bachelor’s degree in International Hotel Management from Vatel University and a Master of Science in Tourism Management from Mount Kigali (Mount Kenya University). However, education did not make me forget where I came from. Instead, it reminded me of what was still missing.

Why Rainbow Academy Rwanda Had to Exist

Seeing myself educated while children in my village faced the same struggles I once endured made me uncomfortable. I could not celebrate personal success alone. That discomfort became motivation. I began looking for people with compassionate hearts to help start a small kindergarten that could offer quality education, especially for children from vulnerable families.

Rainbow Academy Rwanda became the second private school in the entire Cell of Rubona. From the beginning, the goal was not profit, but impact. Today, the school has 311 students both primary and Nursery and 15 dedicated teachers. We have grown from nursery to Primary Six, and our first candidates sat for national examinations with 100% pass rate, now continuing to Senior One which is our pride.

Currently, 38% of the students receive completely free education, while others pay affordable fees designed to attract parents who had never seen this level of quality education in their lives. In addition, we intentionally recruit teachers from the village and region, train them, and combine their efforts with international teachers to raise standards that will never fail the future.

Voices From the Community to Rainbow Academy Rwanda

Elion, one of our teachers and someone from my own generation, once said:
“It feels like a dream to see children from this village speaking English at such a young age. In our time, we learned English much later. Seeing this quality of education here makes me proud.”

Musoni, a parent, shared:
“At first, we never imagined the school would reach this level. But after seeing how active and confident the students were, I transferred all my three children here. Their English is now even better than mine.”

Console, a grandmother, emotionally added:
“May God bless Enock, Theo, and Yves. My children study here at no cost. When they return home speaking English, I don’t understand the language, but I cry tears of joy.”

Leadership, Volunteers, and the Role of Tourism

Because I often travel for work, Tubanambazi Theonest, our headmaster, took full responsibility for implementing the vision. His experience in education and total commitment have been central to every success Rainbow Academy Rwanda has achieved. Without him, this dream would not be standing today.

In addition, Yve Bernardin, one of our safari guides, plays a key role in welcoming volunteers, coordinating visits, and guiding travelers who wish to understand the school’s impact firsthand. His presence connects education, tourism, and community in a very practical way.

I would also like to sincerely appreciate Huza Gateway for the role the company has played in supporting Rainbow Academy Rwanda through its clients. While I currently work with Huza Gateway as a destination manager and senior safari guide, the impact comes from travelers who choose to book their journeys responsibly. Many guests, after understanding the story of the community, have willingly supported the school in different ways. Because of them, classrooms have improved, teachers have remained motivated, and children have continued learning with dignity.

Looking Ahead: A Shared Responsibility

Looking forward, our aim is to buy more land, build additional classrooms, and increase the number of students and teachers so that more children can access quality education. Not all students study for free, yet every booking made through responsible tourism helps us give back where it matters most.

Booking a tour is not just about travel. For us, it is about transformation. Every journey booked contributes to a future where children from a once-forgotten village can dream bigger than we ever did.

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