FAET: Steve Kaim-Caudle on a Rwandan collaboration

‘Friends’ involvement in education makes them an excellent partner.’

Education is a key to opportunity, and partnership can be pivotal. One such collaboration exists between Rwanda Yearly Meeting, its schools, the Rwandan Friends Career Center, and Forward Africa Education Trust (FAET), a small UK charity with Quaker roots. Together, we work to provide quality education.

Rwanda is known as the ‘land of a thousand hills’. Society is largely rural, with most people living on subsistence farming. It is one of the world’s poorest countries, with serious inequality. Rwandan Quakers espouse core values of fellowship, transparency, pacifism, purity, stewardship, humility, integrity, and equality. These align with our own Yearly Meeting. Friends’ involvement in education, and their emphasis on community development, makes them an excellent partner.

Education is crucial in empowering teenagers as they become the citizens, peacemakers, innovators, and leaders of the future. Recognising this, the Rwandan government has sought to increase access to secondary education, but poverty, limited infrastructure, and lack of resources continue to impede progress. This is where organisations working together can make a significant difference. FAET provides scholarships, mentorship, and support services to students across Rwanda. Our holistic approach goes beyond financial assistance, addressing the multifaceted challenges that students face. This theme of collaboration is echoed in the work of the other charities associated with the Quaker Africa Interest Group.

Quaker trusts, and support from Meetings, are crucial to us. Through financial contributions, and upholding Quaker values, donors enable programmes to continue and develop. Project feedback and formal reporting strengthen the cycle. For some, outcomes are key; for others, the knowledge that their grant is helping is enough.

One of the key pillars of student support is scholarship provision. With school fees, uniforms, and other essential expenses covered, disadvantaged teenagers can access quality education. This benefits individual students, their families, and their communities. Students also receive counselling and careers advice. Mentors serve as role models, inspiring students to build their aspirations on solid foundations, serious research, and effort. Determination is required; dreaming big is not a shortcut.

Beyond school, FAET emphasises personal development and life skills. Workshops on conflict resolution, leadership, and mental health, equip students with tools to survive. The experience of the 1994 genocide, and expertise gained from Quaker Peace & Social Witness’s Turning the Tide programme, ensure students have the chance to learn – but also an opportunity to build a network of friends.

Steve is a trustee of FAET (www.forwardafricaeducation.org.uk)

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