City of Joy Rwanda, an organization located in Nyarunyinya Cell, Mukingo Sector, Nyanza District in Rwanda’s Southern Province, has become a lifeline for disadvantaged families by providing various forms of support. Its greatest contribution is in education through Joy Christian School, which offers free education from nursery to secondary school for children from low-income households.
The organization has been operating in the area since 2011, enrolling children from nursery school and supporting them until they complete secondary education. Students receive everything they need for learning, including school supplies and free lunch, enabling them to focus on their studies. The school also provides dedicated teachers who closely monitor students’ academic and personal development, helping them excel.
Parents whose children attend the school, which currently has 437 students, say the initiative has transformed their lives because they could never have afforded a school of such high quality.
Uwingabiye Annonciata, a parent at Joy Christian School, says it would have been impossible for her to pay her children’s school fees due to her limited financial means.
“My child joined the school when it first opened. She has studied here from nursery school and is now in her final year of secondary school. I sincerely thank the school’s leadership because when she first came, she could barely take care of herself. The teachers taught her personal hygiene, provided her with meals, and gave her a quality education. Today, she is an outstanding student and speaks English fluently”, she mentioned.
“I am deeply grateful to the management of this institution for doing what I could never have managed on my own. I also had another child whose education I struggled to finance, but the one studying here receives a completely free education. May God bless them. Besides education, every Christmas each child is given food to take home, helping our families celebrate the holiday”, she added.
Another parent, Shyiriburyo Fidèle, also expressed his appreciation, saying the school is a blessing because it offers an education comparable to the best schools found in urban areas.
“This is a great blessing for us because it is a school of a standard that is rarely found in rural areas like ours. In addition, students receive all the learning materials they need and pay no school fees. It has truly been a rescue for low-income families. We are very grateful to the leadership of this institution”, he said.
The Director of City of Joy, Rugira Emmy, explained that the organization is committed to ensuring children receive the care and support they deserve.
“We enroll children from vulnerable families, beginning in nursery school and supporting them through secondary school without asking them to pay anything. We also provide free lunch every day. In addition, we pay annual community-based health insurance (Mutuelle de Santé) for both the students and their families. We have also trained parents in basket weaving and help them sell their products in international markets, enabling them to improve both their livelihoods and household incomes”, Rugira said.
Rugira added that the organization’s next goal is to build student dormitories so learners can spend more time studying, since they currently commute from home each day.
On Sunday, June 28, 2026, the organization held a graduation celebration for its first class of 18 students, who had been with the school since it opened and were completing their secondary education. During the event, the graduates demonstrated their skills by performing a drama in English.
The founder of City of Joy International, which supports the school, Jon Coughlin, encouraged the graduates never to forget where they came from.
“Be brave, be kind, and be compassionate. Strive to become people you will be proud of when you look back on your lives and the time you spent at Joy Christian School. As the first graduates of this school, we have walked together throughout these years. God has blessed each one of you and has a wonderful purpose for your lives”, Coughlin told graduates.
The Director of Education in Nyanza District, Nshimiyimana Edouard, praised the school for providing exceptional care and quality education.
“Although it is a private school located in a rural area, it provides education of a very high standard and treats children with great care. Many parents wish to enroll their children here. Even families from Nyanza town would fill the school immediately if it accepted everyone and charged tuition. In this community, the school has significantly reduced the number of children dropping out because it supports students from vulnerable families in every aspect of their education”, he said.
Joy Christian School has 19 permanent classrooms, a large dining hall, sanitation facilities, sports fields, and staff accommodation on campus.
Beyond supporting students in formal education, the organization has also trained more than 500 young people in tailoring and provided 406 sewing machines to help them start their own businesses. In addition, 33 parents have been trained in basket weaving.
Jean Claude Munyantore
