The Building Learning Foundations programme draws to a close

The latest news from the Building Learning Foundations (BLF) programme in Rwanda 

“We are working to ensure teachers and headteachers are confident using the skills and knowledge they’ve learnt during BLF, keeping the longevity of BLF alive.” 

After five impactful years of BLF, the programme will be phased out over the next few months and my role will be changing to ensure that we leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. 

Rather than directly working with teachers in schools across the region, I will now be working closely with district officials as a District Official Advisor. My focus will be on equipping and empowering officials to start their own education programmes, using the learnings of BLF. 

While I am sad that the programme is ending, I am proud of everything you have helped us to achieve, and confident that the knowledge, resources and technical training we have shared over the last five years will ensure our impact lasts long after we’ve returned home.

We are currently working together on system strengthening to ensure that teaching skills and standards are maintained, and that effective and efficient leadership styles are adopted all the way through the system, from district to school level.  

Although the BLF programme will be coming to a close, it has already made a big difference across the community. The teachers we have trained are knowledgeable in terms of subject content, teaching methods and approaches, and are more confident in their English proficiency. The School Subject Leaders for Mathematics and English are continuing to provide extra support in terms of peer learning, classroom observations, and one on one meetings to discuss challenges. And the School Based Mentors are helping to improve English proficiency of new and current teachers.  

It’s been an incredible opportunity bringing you along on my BLF journey, but it’s time to say farewell.  

Even though BLF is ending, its legacy will remain. This will live on in the education of children in Rwanda. The most fundamental thing I’ll take away from this experience is resilience. It has taught me a lot in terms of how to work well with a community of people. With resilience comes patience, passion, team spirit, innovation, creativity, and love for change.  

Being able to support people, regardless of their background, race, or disability is one of the unique virtues that I’ve realised. Before you help, you need to love, and that’s the catalyst of bringing change into people’s lives.    

Words cannot describe the appreciation I have for supporters like you. If it were not for your generosity, then positive change through BLF would not be in existence. I’ll never forget this experience and your kindness will always remain in my heart. Thank you for all that you’ve helped BLF achieve.  

It’s time for me to introduce the volunteer who will be taking you on your next Sponsor a Volunteer journey! 

Meet Raj Karki. Raj is a national volunteer, currently working as a Diffusion Advisor on the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Prevention and Response project in Nepal. The project’s aim is to reduce violence against women and girls in rural areas of Nepal, where it is highly prevalent. The goal is to give women and men, girls and boys a way to report gender-based violence, address the beliefs and behaviours which cause it and - ultimately - to prevent it completely. 

Look out for your first update from Raj in the next couple of months, where you can find out how support like yours is helping to address GBV and make a lasting difference to rural communities across Nepal.