Tubafashe Academy School in Rwamagana District concluded a two-week vacation camp on August 15, 2026, bringing together children, teachers and parents in a program that combined education, play, sports, arts and mental well-being.
Held in partnership with educators from Quebec, Canada, the camp aimed to show that education goes beyond classroom lessons. It focused on helping children learn in different ways, build confidence, discover their talents and develop healthy relationships with others.
The program also trained teachers to better support children with different learning needs, while parents took part in discussions on family relationships, parenting, conflict resolution and creating supportive homes for children.
For Tubafashe Academy, the camp became an opportunity to put new teaching approaches into practice and explore ways of supporting children as whole human beings.
Learning Through Play
About 120 children from the Tubafashe community took part in the program. According to the school, some were selected because of family challenges and other circumstances that could affect their learning and well-being.
For the children, the camp provided an opportunity to learn while also having time to play, rest and interact with their peers.
Irumva James Happy, a Tubafashe student moving from Primary Five to Primary Six, said the program gave children meaningful activities during the school holiday.
“I am very happy that the school gave us something to do during the holidays. It helped us avoid having nothing to do. We also had teachers from Canada, from Quebec, who taught us many useful things that can help us in everyday life. I believe children need time to rest because if you study every day without a break, it becomes difficult to understand everything you learn. After having time to rest, you can return to school feeling refreshed.”
Nshuti Honnete said the games and activities helped children relax and refresh their minds.
Mwiza Gladys also said the camp helped her spend more time with other children and move away from isolation.
“These activities helped me a lot because they gave me time to be with other children. When a child is alone, they may not enjoy being with others and may also find it difficult to follow what teachers are teaching. Being here helped me relax and spend time with others.”
A New Approach to Children Who Learn Differently
One of the key lessons from the camp was that children do not learn at the same pace or in the same way.
Nayituriki Gabriel, an English teacher at Tubafashe Academy, said the training helped teachers understand how to support children who face difficulties in learning.
“We learned that every child, according to their level, has a way that you can use to teach them so that they can learn and move together with the others. It makes things easier for the teacher and also gives the teacher satisfaction because all the children can understand the lesson.”
The educators from Quebec introduced methods based on small-group learning, games and teaching aids.
Uwimana Mapendo, another teacher at Tubafashe, said group learning had changed the way teachers involve children in lessons.
“Our colleagues from Quebec taught us that working in groups helps children participate. If you put five children in a group and give them a team leader, every child gets a chance to speak and take part. I learned a lot from that approach.”
Teachers also learned to use teaching aids to make subjects such as mathematics and science easier for children to understand.
Arts and Sports Become Part of Learning
Arts and sports were central to the camp, with organizers using them not only for entertainment but also as tools for learning and emotional well-being.
Michèle Lemelin, a French teacher from Quebec, said the program focused on arts, sports and teaching strategies that can support children with special needs.
“What really struck me in the classrooms was how well the students work. They respect their teachers and they want to learn. They are curious. During the two weeks, we saw the children grow through art and sports, and we also saw teachers welcome new strategies with joy. For me, this camp was a completely successful mission.”
Valérie Lavoie, a specialized educator from Saint-Joseph School in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, said the exchange also allowed the Canadian educators to learn from the Rwandan school community.
She described the experience as a strong cultural and educational exchange and praised the warm reception from the children and teachers.
Parents Join the Conversation
The camp also involved parents, who discussed family relationships, parenting and the importance of recognizing children’s individual talents.
Uwanyirigira Claudine, a parent at Tubafashe Academy, said parents should avoid forcing children into interests or careers that do not match their abilities.
“We saw that our children have different talents. Sometimes a parent sees a child and wants that child to become something, even when that may not be what the child should become. Every child can have a talent that can help them in the future. When a family is united, it also helps children develop and learn.”
Alexandre Bizumuremyi, another parent, said the training helped parents understand how family challenges can affect children and the importance of addressing those challenges.
From 12 Students to 500
Tubafashe Academy School was established in 2018 with 12 students. Today, the school has about 500 students.
School director Alphonsine Mujuganji said the camp was organized to help children and teachers gain new knowledge while giving special attention to children facing difficult family circumstances.
She said teachers had also learned new ways of using games and teaching materials in subjects including mathematics and science.
The school’s founder, Dr. Chaste Uwihoreye, said the program was based on the belief that a child’s education cannot be separated from their well-being.
“Knowledge cannot enter a place where there is no well-being. We first need to help heal the wounds of parents and children so that knowledge can find a place to enter. Our goal is to continue sharing knowledge, experience and teaching materials so that children can grow with the ability to create their own dreams.”
A Partnership Looking Ahead
The two-week program ended with a commitment to continue cooperation between Tubafashe Academy School and Saint-Joseph in Quebec.
For the participants, they said that the camp showed that education is not only about academic performance. Children also need time to play, family support, emotional care, effective teaching and opportunities to discover their own abilities. The experience also demonstrated the value of bringing teachers, parents and children into the same conversation about education.
