A new generation refuses to be sidelined by their country’s dark past
Emmanuel was only about three years old when the genocide devastated his country. Now, 34, he is determined that the next generation will have a better life. One that is built on hope—not tragedy and trauma.
As a church leader and head of a technical school associated with the Anglican Church in Byumba, Rwanda, this young man has a clear purpose. He wants to equip young people with not only job skills, but the transforming power of the Gospel.
And with your generous support, he is fulfilling this call.
Faith in Action
Through the Anglican Church, he attended a Bible League Bible study that changed his life.
“The study guide inspired me and and impacted my life. After every topic, we went out to practice it; to put it into action. Through growing in the knowledge of the Word of God, many of us have become preachers or are assisting the pastors in their church activities.” — Emmanuel
Emmanuel and his group put their faith into action by:
- Visiting the sick and vulnerable
- They raise money for funeral costs
- They also fund school supplies for children who cannot afford them
In a place that can still seem hopeless, these acts of generosity spread Christ’s hope. Now he is using the same materials that grew his faith to bring hope to the next generation.
Living on $2 a Day
Nearly half of Rwanda is children and teens, and close to 40% of the population lives in extreme poverty on less than $2.15 a day. For families already struggling to make ends meet, school fees become impossible barriers to overcome.
“Because of the history [with the genocide], some families find themselves in poor living conditions,” Emmanuel explains. “Their kids fail to access school. Even if they go to school, they go without school uniforms or school materials, so they study very badly.”
The Cost of Education:
- Primary school: 1,000 Rwandan Francs ($.69) per term
- Secondary school: 20,000 RF ($13.77)—roughly a week’s income
Every year, kids and teens drop out because their families can’t afford to send them. Emmanuel explains that when they drop out, they become street boys and girls. They often use alcohol or drugs. Some even become teen parents.
Emmanuel shares, “We try to prevent those life hindrances by encouraging them or helping them financially to access the school.”
“I appreciate the work you did to provide these books and Bibles. That’s a very good gift because the Bible contains knowledge and wisdom from God. May God bless you because you are spreading God’s Word.”
A Nation of Youth
- Half of Rwanda’s population is under age 21
- Many students drop out due to school fees as low as 69 centimes per term
- Nearly 9,000 kids and teens studied God’s Word through Bible League’s ministry in 2025
Agents of Transformation
Emmanuel’s dreams for Rwanda’s future go far beyond keeping children in schools. Through Bible League’s Bible study leader training and materials you provide, Emmanuel is equipping the next generation to be what he calls, “agents of community transformation.”
He says earnestly, “You can study, but without Jesus, you can do nothing. Outside [of] Him, you cannot change your community. That’s why we call them agents of community transformation.”
His approach is holistic: “Because they are living in rural areas in poor families, we need them firstly to know Jesus, to know God, and the Word of God. Then, they will get skilled and sent back to their communities to be agents of community transformation. So, we encourage and teach them the Word of God as their guide, their provider, so that their lives can be as good as possible, better than their previous living conditions.”
The Future is Bright
In a country with a heartbreaking past, this generation is proving that with God, all things are possible. Because of your desire to spread God’s Word, young people in Rwanda are discovering that their future does not have to be defined by their past.
They are seeing that with their Savior, Jesus Christ, they can change the trajectory of their lives and break the past cycles of poverty, pain, and trauma. Their futures are still being shaped. But they are becoming the agents of transformation that their communities desperately need.
Rwanda’s future looks bright.
Want to hear more about how God is on the move in Rwanda? Check out the “The Joy of Reconciliation in Rwanda” episode of The Word in Action podcast. Look for us on your favorite podcast app or YouTube.
