“When you educate a girl, you educate a nation”   -  African Proverb

The Maranyundo Initiative was born in 2000, with a meeting of Sister Ann Fox and Senator Aloisea Inyumba. The two were attending a Women Waging Peace Conference held at Harvard University. Sister Ann Fox is the founder of the Paraclete Foundation in South Boston, whose mission is to enrich young lives through education. Senator Inyumba was then serving as the Governor of the Nyamata region of Rwanda.

Senator Inyumba spoke passionately about the importance of educating girls and found an ally in Sister Ann.  They dreamed of a beautiful school for girls in Nyamata, a poor area of Rwanda with limited educational opportunities beyond primary school.  From this dream, The Maranyundo Initiative was born although at the time neither woman knew this would be its name or how it would become a reality.

Senator Inyumba secured the land for the school while Sister Ann began taking groups of Americans interested in international development to Rwanda. Personal relationships and friendships were formed creating a unique partnership based on mutual respect and a shared vision and optimism for a stronger and smarter Rwanda.  Monies were raised, a tree planting ceremony kicked off the construction and beautiful buildings started to appear at the base of Maranyundo Hill. 

Click here to view photos of the construction process

What was once a dream is now a reality. The Maranyundo School opened in February of 2008 with an initial enrollment of 60 girls.  In January, 2010 it accepted its third class and is now at full capacity of 180 students.  It serves as a school of excellence, offering a rigorous program of study to students and a unique, school-based teacher enrichment program to faculty.