Education remains a key to unlocking children potential

ACCESS TO QUALITY EDUCATION PROGRAM

AcrossAid defines Quality Education (QE) as the ability of all children and young people to have equal opportunity in quality education regardless of their social class, race, gender, sex, ethnic background or physical and children with disabilities. The program seeks to fast-track quality education among pre-primary and lower primary learners i.e. from 3 to 9 years of age through literacy and learning interventions, as well as providing catch-up programs to children with special needs. AcrossAid relies on the following Strategic Approaches through which children cognitive learning and development is sustainably achieved. 

Develop and distribute reading storybooks across reading sites
Conduct professional development for reading mentors
Foster the culture of reading and writing at established reading sites

AcrossAid Quality Education Program provides children with age-appropriate, user-friendly and high-quality reading materials in compliance with CBC (Competence-Based Curriculum) approach. These materials are developed, illustrated by AcrossAid professionals and approved by REB (Rwanda Basic Education Board) to be used wheither in schools or community by learners. Titles developed fall in three main categories:

  • Kinyarwanda Read Aloud Storybooks
  • Kinyarwanda Leveled Storybooks
  • English Leveled Readers (Storybooks)

Once approved by REB, Storybooks are multiplied (printed) and distributed at the reading sites to be used by children and reading mentors during reading sessions. 

In addition, through the partnership with REB, AcrossAid enables pre-primary and primary school children to have access to such reading materials through donation.

AcrossAid developed manuals and trained 21 national Trainers with knowledge and skills that enable them to train their fellow reading mentor across AcrossAid reading sites.  And do Follow up of reading mentors to monitor the reading programs.

AcrossAid has established community-based reading sites where reading sessions are conducted during week-ends and holidays to promote the culture of reading and writing at early age. Parents are sensitized to send their children to attend the program and they are provided with reading materials (storybooks) and reading assistance with the support of reading mentors who accompany them all along the journey.


As one of AcrossAid Strategic Approach during implementation, at least nine community-based reading sites (Amasomero r’imidugudu) are to be established in each sector across the country.

(Ref. EPR Karama, in Kigali Sector, Nyarugenge, is one of AcrossAid established reading site).

Quality Education at the Heart of Development

Education remains a key fundamental cornerstone to unlocking children’s potential it enables people to unleash their capabilities and empower them with greater access to employment opportunities. To such extent, AcrossAid do believe that access to quality education can significantly contribute to successful achievements  in people’s lives as active citizens.

"MFASHA NSOME" Project

Children during reading sessions at the reading sites
To implement Quality Education Program, AcrossAid has established MFASHA NSOME Project meant to empower children with reading and writing skills focusing on four main areas:
  • Availability and accessibility of reading materials
  • Providing professional development for reading mentors
  • Community engagement and parents’ participation in child’s literacy improvement
  • Fostering the culture of reading and writing through reading sessions

Objectives of MFASHA NSOME Project

MFASHA NSOME Project aims at:

  • Increasing the availability of age-appropriate, high quality and child-friendly reading storybooks and other learning support materials in  English and Kinyarwanda languages;
  • Promoting quality education through capacity building for parents and reading mentors through professional development, trainings and mentorship programs; 
  • Strengthening literacy skills for learners through out-of-school reading sessions, continuous reading assessments, reading and writing competitions as well as literacy campaigns across the country;
  • Engaging and reinforcing the role of educational partners including but not limited to local faith-based organizations (local churches), parents and the community in general for children literacy development.

Alongside the project objectives, Mfasha Nsome  helps:

  • Strengthen children’s reading and writing culture.
  • Improve children’s cognitive development and learning outcomes at an early age.
  • Equip children with writing skills in Kinyarwanda and English languages with the aim of writing their stories, poems and writings for academic purposes.

AcrossAid Mfasha Nsome Project: Approach and Strategic Partnership

For the project to successfully achieve its objectives, AcrossAid reinforces the role of educational partners throughout activities implementation. In so doing,  various development partners including but not  limited to Faith-Based Organizations (local churches), public and private  schools, parents and the community in general are actively engaged for children literacy development.

 

For example, Parents, who become reading mentors after trainings, are sensitized to spare at least thirty minutes for their children to support them during reading activities. In so doing, children are able to develop their critical thinking through creating and writing their own stories.