Starting NOW we are raising $20,000 by the end of the day on December 2nd to support women and families in Rwanda. If we reach our goal, an anonymous donor will contribute $10,000 and Boeing will match another $10,000 — doubling your impact to $40,000!

Together, we can build brighter futures. Give today and help unlock both matches!
How Your Giving Tuesday Gift Will Change Lives in Rwanda:

Every dollar you give this Giving Tuesday will go directly toward transforming lives in the Rugarika community. Together, we can create safety, stability, and opportunity where it’s needed most.

• $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.
  
  • Jacques has endured unimaginable hardship — his father took his mother’s life and is now serving a life sentence. Though the community stepped in to help, Jacques was separated from his siblings and now lives in unsafe conditions, walking hours each day to reach school.
  • Eric lives with his siblings — Liliane, Jeremy, and Vedaste — and their grandparents in extremely difficult conditions. His mother recently passed away from cancer, leaving the children orphaned.

We’re already supporting Eric’s education and providing food for his siblings, but through this campaign, we hope to give both Eric and Jacques what every child deserves — a safe, stable home.

• $3,300 — Food Support and Farming Empowerment
  This portion will provide essential food supplies to Eric, Jean, and Rachel, and milk for baby Peace. It will also help five families begin cultivating their own land, offering immediate hunger relief while building long-term food security.

• $30,000 — Scholarships for 154 Students
  We have two more tuition payments to make this school year — one in January and one in April — to cover scholarships for 154 of the village’s most vulnerable children:
  44 in primary school
  101 in secondary school
  9 in university
  
  Your gifts ensure these students can stay in school and continue pursuing their dreams — including many who have no family support system at all.
  
• $2,300 — Tailoring Training for 25 Young Women
  We’ve already funded $3,100 of this program, with just $2,300 left to complete it. Your generosity will allow 25 young women to finish their tailoring training and receive their certificates and sewing machines — equipping them to earn income, support their families, and serve their community with pride.
  

Your gift this Giving Tuesday will change lives — providing safety, education, nourishment, and opportunity for families in Rwanda.

While these combined projects total $55,100, our campaign goal remains $40,000. Reaching that milestone will give us incredible traction to complete every one of these action items by year’s end — and we believe, with your help, we can make it happen.

Together, we can do this. 

Through a connection made by my nonprofit coach, Maryanne Dersch, I met Andrea Kazindra, Musana’s inspiring founder. Together, we arranged this powerful opportunity for learning and collaboration—a trip focused on growth, sustainability, and shared purpose.

Below are photos from the visit: a tailoring room where young women are trained to become skilled tailors, the Empowerment Center, where programs and activities equip individuals and communities with skills for lasting change, and Paterne greeting students at one of Musana’s primary schools.

From November 9th–12th, Brigitte and Paterne experienced firsthand how Musana has built a self-sustaining model of transformation, now operating schools, health centers, empowerment centers, and even hotels across three districts. They were warmly welcomed and generously shown every step of Musana’s journey—from humble beginnings in a rented house to becoming a leading example of community-led development.

Highlights from the visit:​

• Touring Musana’s schools, vocational programs, and health centers

• Learning about how Musana supports its staff with housing and healthcare

• Seeing the strength of their culture of prayer and collaboration

• Building a new partnership rooted in shared values and a vision for sustainable growth

Brigitte shared, “We were very pleased with their hospitality and the ways they helped us learn how to develop like them—they shared everything with us.”

This trip marks a turning point for GIFTS Rwanda—a step toward expanding our impact, creating lasting systems of sustainability, and continuing to empower the community of Rugarika with dignity and purpose.

Please enjoy the photos from their journey below, featuring: chalk production, a student learning to knit sweaters, Brigitte visiting the Empowerment Center, a bakery within the Empowerment Center, a community health center, and a hairdressing training room at the Empowerment Center.

We can’t wait to apply what we’ve learned and to continue building partnerships that lift and inspire.

On October 15, 2025, Rwanda joined the rest of the world in celebrating the International Day of Rural Women under the theme: “A Woman is Valuable.”

At the sector-level celebration in Rugarika, GIFTS Rwanda was invited to participate and highlight the achievements of women who have gained economic independence through our programs. These women proudly showcased their progress — demonstrating that when women are supported and empowered, entire households and communities grow stronger.

In recognition of this work, the Rugarika Sector leadership presented GIFTS Rwanda with a Certificate of Appreciation for our contribution to advancing women’s empowerment and household development.

This honor reflects the dedication of our local team, the resilience of the women we serve, and the commitment of our global community of supporters.

​Together, we are proving that a woman is valuable — and when given the tools and opportunity to thrive, she can transform her family, her community, and her world.

​We’re thrilled to share that three of our university students in Rwanda have officially completed their first year! Their progress is a powerful reflection of what happens when compassion meets opportunity.

With your ongoing support, these young men and women are pursuing their dreams through higher education — something that once felt far out of reach. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve now funded their second year of university, which began this October.
​
To celebrate, we’re sharing a short video testimonial from one of the students, along with photos of all three. In his own words, he expresses how your support has given him hope, helped him complete his secondary education, and made it possible for him to attend university. 

These students are living proof that education changes lives. Your support isn’t just funding tuition — it’s building confidence, opportunity, and hope for an entire generation. Thank you for walking alongside them.

We recently received the sweetest photos from our team in Rwanda — during their lunch break, they pulled out a deck of cards we brought them on our visit in August and spent time laughing and playing together!

Their goal was simple but powerful: to take a mental break and strengthen the bond between team members. These are the moments that remind us how important connection and joy are in the work we do together.

Your support helps make these moments possible — not just the big projects, but the small, meaningful ones that build community and heart within our team.

Thank you for continuing to be part of this journey with us.

From baby Peace cuddling her new stuffed animal, to two boys laughing over a simple card game, to Paterne heading off to work with his new leather bag—your generosity is felt every single day. Even warm sweatshirts and a fresh shirt bring smiles to Claudine, Chantel, and Brigitte as they wear them with pride.

But the story doesn’t end with gifts. In Rugarika, care goes far beyond possessions. Our head seamstress, Claudine, has lovingly taken on the responsibility of helping raise little Peace. Her compassion reflects the strength of community—the very strength your partnership helps make possible.

📚 Back to School in Rugarika
Children returned to the classroom filled with excitement, hope, and the joy of learning. Education remains at the heart of our mission—empowering students to dream big and build brighter futures.

This year, 154 students in the Rugarika sector are pursuing their education—the most we’ve ever supported in our 10 years—an increase of 30 students from last year—thanks to the generosity of GIFTS Rwanda supporters. Scholarships cover full tuition for:

• 🎒 44 in primary school

 

• 📚 101 in secondary school

 

• 🎓 9 in university

​🌱 First Eggplant Harvest
For the very first time, students harvested eggplants grown in their community garden. Beyond nutrition, this moment represents sustainability, pride, and the practical skills they’ll carry into adulthood.

💬 Student Spotlight
Meet Fidelite, one of our students:

Meet Fidelite Nayituriki. ​Fidelite is a young boy who lives with his sister in a home provided by kind neighbors. GIFTS Rwanda welcomed him on Monday, and he is preparing to begin his fourth year of secondary school. His sister became unexpectedly pregnant, a situation brought on by their daily struggle to find enough food in their difficult circumstances. Despite the challenges, Fidelite holds strong dreams of creating a better life for both himself and his sister.

His smile, words, and resilience are a powerful reminder of the impact education and community support can have—and why your support matters. Every pencil, every plant, every opportunity adds up to hope and transformation.

We are thrilled to share some inspiring updates from our work in Rugarika, Rwanda, celebrating the incredible achievements of women in our community. 

Honoring Women Leaders in Development
We are proud to announce that GIFTS Rwanda was recognized by the Kamonyi District Administration for our contributions to the “Mutimawurugo” performance targets during the 2024–2025 fiscal year.

Mutimawurugo is a Kinyarwanda phrase meaning “the heart of the household,” symbolizing the vital role women play in building strong, thriving communities. The certificate of appreciation, issued on August 28, 2025, by Dr. Nahayo Sylvere, Mayor of Kamonyi District, acknowledges our leadership and the positive impact of our programs on women’s lives.

Empowering Women Through the Sewing Program

Supporting Girls in School
​Our sewing program continues to empower women while addressing critical needs in the community. Recently, women have begun sewing washable sanitary pads to support our female students, ensuring they do not miss school due to their menstrual cycle.

Celebrating Shari’s Impact
​We also want to share that Shari’s Celebration of Life took place this past Saturday and it was truly beautiful. Thanks to your generosity, we have now raised $44,368 to support GIFTS Rwanda and continue her legacy of creating lasting impact in the community.

We’re back from an inspiring trip to Rugarika! The time spent with the community left us deeply encouraged and more committed than ever to the work ahead.

Not sure how to get involved? Here are two easy ways!

1. Explore & Share Our Blog
   We’ve documented each day of our trip in the “Rugarika Trip 2025” category right here on this website! You can find all the blog posts from the trip [HERE]. After reading, help us spread the word! Share this blog with your family and friends so they can see the incredible work happening in Rugarika and join us in creating lasting change.
2. Host a Gathering
   Looking for something more personal? I’d love to share about our trip with your friends and family in a community space or even your home. I’ll bring handmade soap, lotion, beaded bags, and tailoring items created by our groups so everyone can experience the beauty of their work firsthand. Together, we can inspire others to be part of this mission! ​

GIFTS Rwanda 2025–2026 Action Plan: Moving Forward

EDUCATION

• 154 scholarships (44 primary, 101 secondary, 9 university) → Students from vulnerable families or who have no family can stay in school and pursue their dreams. Cost: $45,800
• Reproductive health support → Girls receive menstrual supplies so they don’t miss school during their cycle. Cost: $470

HEALTH & DEVELOPMENT

• Health insurance for 2,104 individuals → Families gain access to essential medical care they otherwise could not afford. Cost: $4,600
• 25 young women trained in tailoring → Skills, certificates, and sewing machines empower them to earn income and serve their community. Cost: $5,395
• Goats, chickens, and garden seeds for families → Improves nutrition and provides ongoing food security. Cost: $5,782
• Food support for vulnerable households (Eric, Jean, Rachel, baby Peace, and their families) → Immediate hunger relief while learning to cultivate their own food. Cost: $4,200
• Two-in-one home built for Eric and Jacques → Safe, stable housing for students without shelter. Cost: $19,500
• Motorcycle and fuel for local team in Rwanda → Affordable and reliable transport for project follow-up in Rugarika’s mountainous terrain. Cost: $5,400

LEADERSHIP SUPPORT

• Medical insurance for Brigitte & Paterne’s families → Ensures our local team leaders can access quality medical care as they continue serving the community. Cost: $4,326

Together, we can bring this Action Plan to life. Your support ensures education, health, and hope continue to grow in Rugarika—one student, one family, and one community at a time.

​We are deeply grateful for your partnership in making this trip possible. Because of your support, we were able to witness firsthand the powerful progress being made in Rugarika. The road ahead is filled with hope, and our commitment to walking alongside the people of Rugarika as they work toward their dreams has never been stronger.

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I wanted to share with you a very special letter that Brigitte, on behalf of our team in Rugarika, recently wrote. It is a message of gratitude to all of you who give so generously—your time, your resources, and your encouragement.

Her words are a reminder of how deeply your support touches the lives of those we serve in Rwanda. Whether through financial gifts, donated items, or simply standing with us, you are making a lasting difference in this community.​

Please take a moment to read her message below.

​Thank you for being such an important part of this work. We could not do any of it without you.