WFWP USA’s First Schools of Africa Service Trip: A Journey of Heart, Hope, and Healing inRwanda

In November 2025, a group of seven volunteers from WFWP USA traveled across the world to participate in our first-ever Schools of Africa Service Trip—a landmark visit to the New Hope Technical Institute in Kigali, Rwanda. What unfolded over four unforgettable days became far more than a site visit or cultural tour. It was a journey into the heart of a nation that has risen from unimaginable tragedy and into the everyday hopes of students striving for a brighter future.

Led by WFWP USA President Katarina Connery, the team included Carie Arline, Meagan Robles, Myrna Lapres, Elizabeth Aihe, Marguerite Felig, and Maria Ferreira. They were joined by WFWP International President Moriko Hori. The trip was organized by WFWP Rwanda President Georgette Umubyeyi, together with Marie Nozaki of WFWP Japan, who first arrived in Rwanda in 1994, only months after the genocide, and has devoted decades to helping build and sustain New Hope.

From the moment the group stepped into the warm embrace of WFWP Rwanda members, arms full of flowers and faces full of joy, the experience began touching each participant’s heart. “Never to be forgotten are the gracious greetings from WFWP members at the Kigali Airport,” shared Marguerite. “I was embraced warmly and sincerely… I felt the pure hearts of WFWP members!”

Confronting History, Embracing Hope

The trip began with a solemn morning visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, an experience that every participant described as deeply emotional and transformative. Walking through the exhibits featuring photographs, stories, mass graves, and more brought the realities of 1994 into sharp focus.

Elizabeth recalled seeing Georgette, herself a survivor, quietly crying on a bench. “She and her brother are the only survivors in a family of eleven,” Elizabeth reflected. “Hearing her story broke my heart. The visit gave me a much deeper understanding of the genocide.” Meagan added, “Learning what neighbors, relatives, and friends went through shook me to my core… I wish I could rid that stain from human history.”

Yet even in the pain, participants found signs of resilience, forgiveness, and extraordinary courage. That afternoon, the atmosphere shifted to celebration as the team arrived at New Hope Technical Institute for a beautiful welcome ceremony. Students performed traditional dances and proudly guided visitors through classrooms for tailoring, hairdressing, and culinary arts. Their joy was contagious. “The students are the fruit of all the investment and love given by Marie, Georgette, and the volunteers. Interacting with them gave me so much hope.”

Lessons, Gifts, and the Reality of Students’ Lives

The second morning brought laughter, connection, and learning as WFWP USA volunteers led English lessons with vocabulary relevant to each training course, teaching songs, and exchanging stories. The students’ eagerness to learn left a deep impression. The group then distributed gifts collected in the US and watched students’ eyes light up, delighting in the exclamations of surprise and gratitude.

The afternoon confronted the group with another reality: poverty that is difficult to truly comprehend without seeing it firsthand. Volunteers visited the homes of four scholarship students supported by WFWP Japan and other donors. Some homes were uphill through steep dirt paths; others were one- room structures housing large families. Meagan reflected tearfully, “I couldn’t sleep in my bed after seeing where the students and their families lived… Each person said ‘food’ when asked what they needed most. How can they only eat once a day, if that?”

Marguerite described one home as “the house on the mountain,” reached by an almost impossible incline. “Looking back, my conscience convicts me… Their will to live depends on their goals for the future and the helping hands given by New Hope.” These encounters strengthened a commitment to expand sponsor and scholarship programs, lunch programs, and sustainable development efforts at the school.

Experiencing Rwanda’s Natural Beauty, Culture, and Living History

The latter half of the trip offered participants a chance to absorb the broader story of Rwanda, its breathtaking landscapes, rich traditions, and deep historical roots. A daylong safari in Akagera National Park provided space for reflection amid Rwanda’s rolling savannas and diverse wildlife, reminding the group of the country’s extraordinary natural beauty. The following day’s visit to the Royal Palace Museum in Nyanza offered another dimension, immersing the team in Rwanda’s pre-colonial heritage, royal customs, and cultural identity. Together, these experiences rounded out the journey, giving volunteers a fuller understanding of Rwanda as a nation shaped not only by tragedy, but also by strength, dignity, and an enduring spirit.

A Trip That Marks a Beginning, Not an End

New Hope is more than a school. It is a living testimony to resilience, international friendship, and the healing power of education. Founded through the unwavering commitment of Japanese volunteers and Rwandan staff and volunteers, the school has grown into a place where young women and men gain technical skills and develop character, confidence, and hope. Many students come from backgrounds marked by trauma or extreme poverty, yet they pursue their education with determination. Graduates shared how the training transformed their lives, stories that gave Myrna “hope and pride in the evidence of recovery, resilience, and courage.”

Every participant returned home changed. “I cried all the way to the airport,” Meagan admitted. “I didn’t want to leave. I want to help create a sponsorship program in America… I feel called to tell my story.” The group echoed a shared sentiment: gratitude—to the Rwandan hosts, to WFWP Rwanda, and to the students, whose courage and hope touched them deeply.

The 2025 Schools of Africa trip was a first, but it will not be the last. Participants left Rwanda with a renewed commitment to support New Hope Technical Institute and expand WFWP’s Schools of Africa program. WFWP USA is grateful to all who made this journey possible, and to the people of Rwanda, whose resilience and beauty continue to inspire us.

If you would like to donate to the Schools of Africa, please visit www.wfwp.us/schools-of-africa. Your generous gift of any amount can truly make a significant impact on a young student’s future.