On International Women’s Day, more than 500 community members gathered at the GIFTS Rwanda Community Center to celebrate the incredible value and contributions of women in the Rugarika community.

This past weekend, something truly special happened at the GIFTS Rwanda Community Center.

More than 500 members of the Rugarika community gathered to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme “A Woman is of Great Value.” The event was filled with joy, dancing, speeches from local government leaders, and powerful moments honoring the women who are helping transform their community.

We were deeply honored that the sector-level International Women’s Day celebration was hosted at the GIFTS Rwanda Community Center.

During the celebration:

• Government leaders addressed the community and recognized the importance of empowering women.
• Outstanding women in the community were honored.
• Women proudly displayed and sold products they have created through our programs.
• Families in need received goats, helping them begin sustainable sources of income and nutrition.
• Community gardens were showcased, highlighting the impact of agricultural training and support.

In a particularly meaningful moment, GIFTS Rwanda was officially recognized by local leaders for promoting development and continuing its support of women in the community. Both Brigitte, our Rwanda representative, and GIFTS Rwanda received certificates of recognition for this work.

The celebration was full of music, dancing, laughter, and hope. Even the children joined in the festivities and enjoyed sharing corn together.

Moments like this remind us that empowering women doesn’t just change individual lives — it strengthens entire communities.

None of this would be possible without your support.

Because of you, women in Rugarika are gaining opportunity, dignity, and a stronger future for their families.

Today, on International Women’s Day, we pause to celebrate the strength, resilience, and courage of women around the world — and especially the incredible women of Rugarika, Rwanda.  

At GIFTS Rwanda, women are at the heart of everything we do. They are mothers, farmers, business owners, caregivers, leaders, and change-makers. When a woman is empowered, an entire family — and community — rises with her.  

Today, we are celebrating in a tangible way. At our GIFTS Rwanda Community Center, we are hosting a special gathering to honor the women in our community. Together, we will share encouragement, community, and hope.  

We are also gifting goats to several women — a powerful and practical investment. A goat provides nutrition through milk, creates income opportunities, and offers long-term sustainability for families working hard to build a better future. It’s more than a gift — it’s a pathway to stability and dignity.  

Because of your generosity, moments like this are possible. You are helping create opportunity, independence, and lasting change.  

I look forward to sharing photos and stories from the celebration in the coming week so you can see the joy and impact firsthand.  

Today, we celebrate the women of Rwanda — and we celebrate you for standing beside them.  ​

There is so much joy happening at GIFTS Rwanda, and we couldn’t wait to share it with you.​

First — meet our tiniest (and possibly cutest) mascot.

Two years ago, a mother in our program received a goat. Recently, she returned — not empty-handed — but leading her goat’s offspring so it could be passed on to another family in need.

So far, we have received two goats back through this “pass it on” model.

On March 8, we will celebrate International Women's Day at our center, and during that celebration, these goats will be given to new beneficiary families.

This is sustainability in action.
This is dignity.
This is women empowering women.​

Meanwhile, life at the center is flourishing:

• Our vegetable gardens are beginning to bloom.
• The women’s sewing group continues working diligently, building skills and income.
• And Paterne recently met with Eric’s sister, Liliane, who shared her deep gratitude and excitement as her tailoring training progresses beautifully.

These are not isolated moments. They are threads of transformation woven together — families strengthening, women rising, skills growing, and opportunity expanding.​

Thank you for being part of a community that believes in long-term impact, not quick fixes. The seeds you help plant are blooming. 

There is something powerful about watching opportunity multiply.
​
This season, GIFTS Rwanda welcomed 21 graduates of Rwanda’s national Urugerero program into our tailoring training program — marking a meaningful milestone for our vocational initiative.

What Is Urugerero?
In Rwanda, Urugerero is a national program for students who have completed secondary school. Participants receive training in cultural values, patriotism, leadership, and life skills as they prepare for adulthood and future livelihood opportunities.
After completing Urugerero, some graduates move on to university. Others pursue vocational or skills-based training as a pathway toward financial independence.

This year, 21 of those graduates chose tailoring — and they chose to train at GIFTS Rwanda.
That choice speaks volumes.

A Ripple Effect in the Community
One of the new students shared that her decision was inspired by a woman in her neighborhood who previously completed tailoring training at GIFTS Rwanda. Since graduating, that woman has significantly improved her family’s living conditions through the income she now earns.

​That is the ripple effect of vocational training.

When one person gains a skill, a family gains stability. When families stabilize, communities strengthen.

​Growing the Program to Meet Demand
Prior to welcoming the Urugerero graduates, our tailoring program already had 20 trainees enrolled — many of whom are school dropouts or young mothers working to rebuild their futures.

With 41 students now participating, we organized the program into two shifts:

• Morning session
• Afternoon session

Despite the growth, the program is running beautifully.

Students are cooperating well, sharing equipment, and maintaining a positive and focused learning environment. The Urugerero graduates attend training in uniforms provided by the district, and their prior academic experience has contributed to a faster learning pace. Meanwhile, the existing trainees bring resilience, determination, and lived experience to the classroom.

​Together, they are learning — and growing — side by side.

Why This Matters
Vocational training is more than learning how to sew.
It is:

• Economic empowerment
• Dignified employment
• Long-term sustainability
• A pathway out of poverty

Each student who completes this program leaves with a practical skill that can generate income, support a household, and change the trajectory of a family.

And now, 21 more young adults are on that path.

Thank you for being part of a community that believes in sustainable solutions and invests in opportunity. The impact of this work is not temporary — it is generational.
​
Hope is being stitched into every lesson. 💛

There are moments in this work that remind us exactly why we do what we do.

​This season in Rugarika was filled with those moments.

🐐 Goats Given, Dignity Restored
​
We had the incredible joy of distributing goats to families in need. In rural Rwanda, a goat is so much more than livestock — it is income, nutrition, sustainability, and hope.

A goat provides manure for crops, offspring that can be sold, and milk to nourish children. For families walking through hardship, this gift becomes a pathway toward stability and self-reliance.

As each family received their goat, you could see it in their faces — gratitude, relief, and renewed belief that tomorrow can be better than today.

​This is what sustainable impact looks like.

🤝 A Stronger Future Through Leadership
​
During our recent board meeting, leaders gathered with unity and vision to continue strengthening the mission of GIFTS Rwanda.

Every meeting is more than an agenda. It is a reminder that transformation happens when local leadership and global partnership work hand in hand. Together, we are building programs that are thoughtful, accountable, and community-driven.

🎓 Equipping Students for Success

Education remains at the heart of our mission.

We distributed school uniforms to our primary and secondary students — a simple but powerful act. A uniform removes stigma, restores dignity, and ensures students can walk into their classrooms confident and prepared.
​
For many of these families, providing uniforms would be a financial burden. Because of your support, our students can focus on learning instead of worrying.

Each uniform represents opportunity.

❤️ Supporting Parents to Support Their Children

One of the most meaningful moments was gathering with the parents and guardians of the students supported by GIFTS Rwanda.

​In a powerful group meeting, we discussed the importance of parents being present, engaged, and close to their children in daily life. Education does not succeed through school fees alone — it flourishes when children feel supported at home.

The room was filled with honest conversation, reflection, and commitment.

At the end of the meeting, each family received eggplants to take home — a small but practical gift to nourish their families. It was a beautiful reminder that care for the whole family matters.
​
We are not only investing in students.
We are investing in families.

🌟 Justin’s Story: The Power of Access to Education

Justin Rugambwa is a 20-year-old student from Rugarika Sector. Coming from a family with limited financial means, Justin faced significant barriers to continuing his education.

Through the support of GIFTS Rwanda, he received school supplies and assistance with school fees, allowing him to complete his secondary studies. He studied manufacturing technology and now dreams of continuing to university to further build his skills and knowledge.
​
In his video testimonial, Justin shares his deep gratitude and his hope for the future.

His story is a powerful reminder: when young people are given access to education, they do not simply change their own lives — they strengthen their communities.

Because of you:

• Families have livestock and sustainable income.
• Students are equipped for school.
• Parents are empowered to lead their homes well.
• Young adults like Justin are dreaming bigger dreams.

Thank you for standing with us.
​
The work continues. The impact grows. And hope is rising in Rugarika.

Together we ran our Giving Tuesday 2025: Empowering Women, Supporting Families campaign and you helped raise $36,236 for the following:

~Safe Housing for Eric & Jacques – $19,500 funded
You are helping build a duplex home for Eric and Jacques, two teenage students facing unimaginable hardship and unsafe living conditions.

Jacques’ father took his mother’s life and is now serving a life sentence. Jacques was separated from his siblings and currently walks hours each day to get to school.

Eric recently lost his mother to cancer and now lives with his siblings and grandparents in extremely difficult conditions.

This new home will give them safety, stability, and the support they need to continue in school. Once they are able to secure their own housing as adults, this home will continue serving other vulnerable children and mothers for years to come.

Your gift creates generational impact.

~Food Support & Farming Empowerment – $3,300 funded
You made it possible to provide food to families in urgent need, including Eric’s siblings, Jean, Rachel, and baby Peace.

​You also funded land cultivation for five families, giving them the ability to grow their own food and build long-term security.

~Scholarships for 154 Students – $30,000 funded (matched!)
Your support ensures we can make the next two tuition payments, in January and April, so that 44 primary students, 101 secondary students, and 9 university students can stay in school.

Many of these students have no family support at all. You became their support system yesterday.

~Tailoring Training for 25 Young Women – $2,300 needed to complete funding (and you covered it!)
Because of you, 25 young women will finish their tailoring program, receive certificates, and receive their own sewing machines—launching careers that will support their families and uplift their community.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you.

As we reflect on all that unfolded in 2025, we are deeply aware that none of it would have been possible without you. Your generosity, faith in this work, and commitment to the people of Rugarika have transformed lives, strengthened families, and expanded opportunities in ways that will be felt for generations.

Through moments of celebration, growth, and even loss, you stood with us. Because of you, dignity was restored, skills were learned, futures were reshaped, and hope continued to rise.

Thank you for being an essential part of the GIFTS Rwanda family and for carrying this mission forward with us.

We look ahead with gratitude and purpose, excited to continue this journey together in 2026 and beyond.

We are excited to share an encouraging update from Rugarika — one that reflects resilience, opportunity, and the power of community.


Recently, a new sewing group officially began studying through the GIFTS Rwanda program. This group includes 20 students total:

• 8 young mothers
• 12 young people who had dropped out of school due to poverty
• And for the second time, one young man who chose to join the sewing program

Traditionally, sewing is not a skill many boys pursue, but when he arrived, he was welcomed with open arms. His presence is a reminder of what this program represents — inclusion, dignity, and the freedom to learn without judgment.

Alongside this new group, we are sharing two powerful video testimonials from mothers in our sewing program. These women speak honestly about isolation, hardship, and the fear that their lives were “over” — and how learning a skill, being surrounded by others like them, and receiving support has restored their confidence, peace, and hope for the future.

Through sewing, these women are gaining more than technical skills. They are rebuilding self-worth, creating paths out of poverty, and working toward the ability to provide for their children and families with dignity.​

The photos of this new group show more than students at work — they show second chances in action.

None of this would be possible without you. Your generosity continues to open doors for young people and mothers who were once left with few options. Because of your support, education and vocational training are becoming tools for lasting change in Rugarika.

Thank you for believing in these students, these mothers, and the future they are building — one stitch at a time.

Five months ago, Baby Peace was found alone in the woods in late July—tiny, vulnerable, and in need of immediate care. Since that day, her story has been one of community, compassion, and incredible resilience.

Today, we are so happy to share that Baby Peace is five months old and thriving. She is holding her head up on her own and even sitting up like a big girl—milestones that once felt uncertain but are now moments of pure joy.

​Through the love of her adoptive parents and the ongoing support of GIFTS Rwanda, Baby Peace has everything she needs to grow strong. We continue to help provide essentials like diapers, formula, and clothing to ensure she is cared for and surrounded by dignity and love.

Recently, our team member Birgitte had the opportunity to visit Baby Peace and deliver diapers on behalf of GIFTS Rwanda. The photos of Birgitte holding her are a beautiful reminder of what happens when people show up—when generosity turns into real, tangible change for a child.

Because of you, Baby Peace is not just surviving—she is flourishing. Thank you for being part of her story and for continuing to stand with the most vulnerable.

We are thrilled to share that this year’s Giving Tuesday campaign was an incredible success — and it’s all because of YOU.

Together, you raised $18,118, and with the matching funds, that total doubled to $36,236.

While we came just shy of our $20,000 goal, the impact you created is extraordinary. Because of your generosity, life-changing projects will now begin in Rugarika — projects that bring safety, stability, education, and hope to children and families who need it most.

Here’s what your support is making possible:

Safe Housing for Eric & Jacques
$19,500 funded
You are helping build a duplex home for Eric and Jacques, two teenage students facing unimaginable hardship and unsafe living conditions.

• Jacques' father took his mother’s life — he is now serving a life sentence. Jacques was separated from his siblings and currently walks hours each day to get to school.
• Eric recently lost his mother to cancer and now lives with his siblings and grandparents in extremely difficult conditions.

This new home will give them safety, stability, and the support they need to continue in school. And once they’re able to secure their own housing as adults, this home will continue serving other vulnerable children and mothers for years to come.
Your gift creates generational impact.

Food Support & Farming Empowerment
$3,300 funded
You made it possible to provide food to families in urgent need — including Eric’s siblings, Jean, Rachel, and baby Peace.
You also funded land cultivation for five families, giving them the ability to grow their own food and build long-term security.

Scholarships for 154 Students
$30,000 funded (matched!)
Your support ensures we can make the next two tuition payments — in January and April — so that:

• 44 primary students
• 101 secondary students
• 9 university students

can stay in school.
Many of these students have no family support at all. You became their support system yesterday.

Tailoring Training for 25 Young Women
$2,300 needed to complete funding — and you covered it
Because of you, 25 young women will finish their tailoring program, receive certificates, and receive their own sewing machines — launching careers that will support their families and uplift their community.

From the bottom of our hearts: thank you.
You showed up with love, compassion, and belief in what’s possible. Even without hitting the exact goal, you gave us everything we need to begin the work that truly matters.

Lives in Rugarika will change because of you.
And we cannot wait to share every milestone along the way.

On this Giving Tuesday, we are humbled to share a powerful story of resilience — and an opportunity to double your impact for children and families in Rwanda.

Thanks to Boeing and a generous donor, every gift given today will be MATCHED, up to $20,000 — meaning your Giving Tuesday donation goes twice as far to keep vulnerable students in school and uplift families in crisis.​

Donate now and DOUBLE your impact:

Your Gift Today — MATCHED — Changes Lives
Here are just a few ways your matched donation will create lasting impact:

• $19,500 — Safe Housing for Eric and Jacques
  Your support will help build a duplex home for Eric and Jacques, two teenage students who currently have no safe place to live. This will be a GIFTS Rwanda home, providing them with safety, stability, and a supportive environment as they continue their education. Once Erik and Jacques are stable and able to secure their own housing, the home will be used to shelter other children or mothers in need, ensuring it continues to serve and uplift the community for years to come.

 

• $3,300 — Food Support and Farming Empowerment
  Provide essential food supplies and help five families cultivate their own land, offering immediate hunger relief and long-term food security.

 

• $30,000 — Scholarships for 154 Students  
  Cover tuition for 44 primary, 101 secondary, and 9 university students — many of whom have no family support.

 

• $2,300 — Tailoring Training for 25 Young Women
  Equip young women with skills, certificates, and sewing machines to support their families and community with pride.

This Giving Tuesday, please take one brave action: help us keep more children safe, supported, and in school.

Your generosity — matched dollar for dollar today — truly transforms lives.​

Give now and DOUBLE your impact: