FORGE runs two preschools in the Meheba Refugee Settlement that serve children ages six and younger. Both preschools provide basic education in literacy and arithmetic, as well as lessons in song, dance, and crafts. The Kunachi Preschool serves children living in a community within Meheba for orphaned and chronically-ill refugees, and holds additional afternoon crafts classes for children that provide extended time for structured play, growth and development. The name “Kunachi” was chosen by the Kunachi Parent Teacher Association because it means “illumination” and “growth.” The Dufatanye Preschool serves children specifically from the Rwandan community in Meheba, and is named after the Rwandan word for “togetherness.” Dufatanye runs preschool classes in the mornings and English classes for adults in the afternoons. To get parents involved in sustaining the school, FORGE devised an innovative goat-lending project, through which all Dufatanye families are required to raise one goat at a time to be sold for a profit at nearby markets. All profits from the goat-lending project go directly to supporting the Dufatanye Preschool.
In Meheba, children age 5 and younger comprise a significant proportion of the total population. Without preschool, these children would have no opportunities for formal learning before entering primary school. The two preschools FORGE runs in Meheba are located in isolated communities with an especially high density of preschool-aged children. Without these schools, none of the children would have access to preschool education. Many of the children have been orphaned by AIDS, or left behind by parents pursuing opportunities elsewhere, and most of the children living here are too poor to begin studying at the local primary schools.
Every year the Meheba Preschools directly benefit 200 children ages 3-5 enrolled in the preschools, as well as 240 children ages 6-16 who take part in the after-school “Playspace” arts and crafts program and 100 adults who take English classes. Indirectly, the preschools lift the burden of childcare from the children’s family and caretakers for much of the day, and bring regular activity to what has been a severely resource-poor community.
• Conducting daily exercises in basic literacy and arithmetic
• Leading lessons that develop play skills, communication and teamwork tools
• Providing activities involving music, dance, and crafts in a safe and secure environment
• Hosting monthly Parent-Teacher Association meetings to involve families as volunteers and solicit feedback on student progress
• Providing beginning and advanced English lessons to adults
• Helping to sustain school through innovative goat lending project
• To prepare the 200 children enrolled for primary education
• To ensure at least 90% of the preschool graduates matriculate at local Basic Schools
• To eliminate the burden of childcare up to 5 hours a day for adults and caretakers
• To provide healthy creative outlets for youth through arts and crafts
• To improve English fluency of 10% of the Rwandan adults in Meheba every year
*Because of budget constraints, FORGE has temporarily scaled back the scope of many of its projects. The project descriptions and budgets seen here describe the project's typical operations, and might therefor not reflect the current situation on the ground. Once sufficient funding is secured for each project, its operations will be expanded back to those reflected in this description and budget.