Kinyarwanda
Assistance in Education
Why we are committed to support Education?
“Education is not a way to escape poverty – It is a way of fighting it.” Julius Nyerere, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania.
Education plays a crucial role in breaking the cycle of poverty. It is also a foundation and one of the sources of wealth creation. Education is a key to various economic, social, and self-development opportunities.
Our brothers and sisters in need cannot access education for one simple reason: poverty. United for Assistance is committed to helping our brothers and sisters in need through student loan program to pursue technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The student loan program helps less fortunate students to attend TVET schools so that they can gain knowledge of the skills needed for work and life. In January 2015, the United for Assistance released a communiqué to the Rwandan students in Rwanda who completed the secondary education to apply for the United for Assistance student loan. 47 students applied for the student loan and 7 students were awarded the student loan. The average cost of educating one student is Frw 294,500 per program (less than 400 USD).
Education in Number
In April 2011, the United for Assistance ran a pilot project by providing short-term loans to low-income students attending the National University of Rwanda. The total amount allocated to this project was RWF 1,035,000.00 and it was distributed to a select-group of 23 students. The amount provided to each student was based on his/her level of poverty in order to fulfill his/her student needs.
First five students benefiting from United for Assistance student loan program graduated from Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre-West in Rwanda. Each student enrolled in two different programs such as Domestic Electricity, Engine Technology, Joiner Carpentry and Culinary Arts. In addition, those students were lucky to do an internship in a field related to their studies. A student who completed his Culinary Arts studies turned his internship into a full-time job.
Help Us to support Education
Beneficiaries
The education assistance is dedicated to less fortunate students attending post-secondary education. United for Assistance’s loans beneficiaries should major in Maths and Science or attend polytechnic education. It is believed that Maths and Science majors and polytechnic education ensure students’ future employment possibilities. On the other hand, United for Assistance provides assistance to students who are about to graduate from secondary education to pass their national advanced level examinations.
How does it work?
In order to identify which students to financially support, we use the local media to run the announcement about the availability of short terms loans to university students and the criteria for eligibility.
The loan applications that we receive go through a thorough review in order to select the applicants that fulfill all requirements. The selected applicants are subject to signing a binding contract by agreeing to reimburse the loan in installments after completing their education and being full-time employed.