Programs

THE STAR SCHOOL

Star School is a Christian school valuing academic excellence, discipline and human dignity.

Bishop Nathan Amooti, the founder said, “I look to Star School to be a training ground for future leaders of our country. For giving children great values: excellence in academics, discipline, and valuing life, children who understand the sacredness of life. In doing that, it will help avoid another genocide.”

The school aims to inspire students to seek education and live lives of integrity and purpose. It accepts fee-paying students, but about half the school’s population is on scholarship. The goal is to build a school in which students can succeed regardless of the circumstances into which they were born.

Star School has a nursery, primary, and secondary school. There are dormitories on campus for students who board at school, as well as a library, computer room, farm, greenhouse, and science laboratory. There is a soccer field, volleyball court, basketball court and music and dance clubs after-school, so students can practice their God-given abilities.

There are 62 staff members, including teachers, administrators and both a nurse and a pastor to help care for the physical and spiritual wellness of the students.

A large majority of children at Star School are coming from families that are at-risk. Our school has orphans, former street boys, children of former prostitutes and street beggars and families who are barely getting by. There are children of missing parents or of parents who are unable to pay the school fees.

We work hard to give students scholarships that allow them an opportunity to experience life change. One such student captures the heart of what a scholarship means: "Today I am thankful, because today, I am alive." Esther Treasure, Primary Four. Education at Star School is more than just classroom learning - it is a chance to live and experience life to the fullest!

There are currently 835 children attending Star School and about 269 who are there because of sponsorship. There are 114 children in nursery school, 414 children in primary and 307 in the secondary school. There are 25 primary school children who board and 114 secondary students. Most boarders are orphans who are sponsored by different organizations.

Church Building

In Rwanda, the church is a hub for the entire community. It provides not only spiritual nourishment, but it is a center for education, literacy, agricultural scholarship, and a marketplace for micro-businesses that generally support female led households. Rwanda Shines is committed to building these centers for vital communities throughout southwest Rwanda. You can help give birth to vitality and life in a community through your donation of a church building, a roof, a window, or even a single brick. When you partner with Rwanda Shines, you are building more than a Church structure, you are building a center for transformation.

Health & Wellness

Rwanda is making strides toward increased health and wellness for its citizens, but the need for health care remains dire. With roughly 1 doctor per 55,000 people, there simply is not enough help to go around. Rwanda Shines is helping to change that. With a focus on delivering clean water, educating the population about hygiene and disease transmission, family planning, and offering AIDS testing and treatment, our donors are literally providing life to those in need. Through our Rwandan partners, we support the Cyangugu Hill Clinic, the Gihundwe Clinic, the Nkombo Island Clinic, and are prepared to launch a hospital in Bugarama as funds become available. Once you have seen a child collecting her drinking water from a stagnant roadside pool, its not hard to see how.

Preaching & Evangelism

Nothing can change a life so completely like an experience with Jesus Christ. Rwanda Shines operates under the leadership of Jesus Christ and is committed to making sure good news is shared with the people of Rwanda in both word and action. Our founder, Nathan Amooti's life is a testimony to the ability of God to change our lives completely when we respond to his gracious invitation to allow Jesus Christ to be our Savior and Lord. Nathan was the son of a cattle keeper in western Uganda. He grew up in a thatch hut in rural Africa. Today, he is an innovative world leader with ministry connections on multiple continents. Those who have similarly experienced life change through their encounter with Jesus Christ know how valuable sharing the faith is with the people of Rwanda.

About Rwanda

Rwanda is a republic in central Africa, in the Great Lakes Region, made up of five provinces. It is known as "The Land of a Thousand Hills" and is a highly elevated country. It is a highly dense population made up of many young people. Rwandans once had three people groups know as the Twa, Hutu and Tutsi. Today, everyone is simply Rwandese. Kinyarwanda, French and English are the languages spleen in the country, but English is now the official language used in schools and by the administration. Rwandans have a love for music, cultural dance and crafts.

Rwanda was colonized by Germany in 1884, followed by Belgium in 1916 during World War I. These nations ruled using kings and favored Tutsi citizens promoted anti-Hutu policies. There was a Hutu revolt in 1959, in which many Tutsi were massacred. In 1990, the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front led a civil war. In 1994, about 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed, which is known as the Rwandan Genocide, affecting every person in Rwanda. There were hundreds-of-thousands left as orphans, widows, victims of AIDS and traumatized people. 2014 marks the 20th year remembrance of the 1994 Genocide, honoring those who lost their lives and reminding the country of something they will work to make sure never happens again. 

Rwanda is known for its lack of tolerance for corruption and for its promotion of gender equality; having the highest proportion of female population representation in the world. 

The economy is based mainly on subsistence agriculture, with coffee and tea as the major cash crops. Technology, mining and tourism are quickly becoming Rwand's biggest industries. There have been impressive economic growth and development since 1994. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate dropped from 59% in 2001 to 45% in 2011. Rwanda is a strong nation, overcoming great tragedy and making impressive developments. However, the country still has a long fight ahead to overcome the long term effects of colonization, genocide and poverty.