Valens Nzeyimana, 36, from Rukira Cell, Huye Sector of Huye District did not attend formal school. He had given up on his dream of becoming a driver because he did not know how to read traffic regulations.

The father of four did not acquire an education having lost his parents at a tender age.

After going through several challenges, Nzeyimana resolved to return to school. His dream was to be fulfilled when USAID EJO Heza adult literacy programme was extended to Huye.

Resuming school years later, Nzeyimana is now a graduate of adult literacy programme who can boast of reading, writing and counting skills, which he says have changed his life.

"After acquiring the skills, I enrolled in a driving school. I acquired driving licence and the school later hired me to teach there. Now I earn about Rwf300,000 per month, including salary and other benefits,” said Nzeyimana.

Emeriene Kangabe, 69, another resident, said she missed a chance to attend formal school because her grandmother kept her home to do [domestic] chores instead.

She said she could not read. "My children asked me, as they read (books), why I was not able to read. I found it hard to explain,” she said.

"But I am now able to read, though my eyes have problems reading small letters due to advanced age. I joined cooperative saving scheme, where I can count and know whether I’m making loss or not.”

Kangabe added that she now teaches her grandchildren how to read, write and count.

The course

Nzeyimana and Kangabe were speaking on Thursday in Huye District during the graduation ceremony for 150 adult literacy learners after a six-month adult course.

The six-month adult literacy course was conducted through USAID’s Ejo Heza, a $13 million five-year programme, launched in 2012.

A total of 37,992 learners from the Southern and Western provinces have benefited from the programme.

Speaking during the graduation ceremony, the US Ambassador to Rwanda, Erica J. Barks-Ruggles, said the programme graduates represented some of the 38,000 Rwandans who have gained literacy, since the project launch.

"These graduates can now really read medication instructions, news and information from newspapers, they access government services (online) as they can read,” she said.

"They are able to contribute to their families in a better way; they won’t be cheated because they got business skills and they can help their children learn better in school.”

Amb. Barks-Ruggles said EJo Heza programme has integrated a holistic approach toward development where it teaches beneficiaries business skills, creating saving groups, helping people to create cooperatives, start their successful businesses, learning how to save money and how they can collectively work together to achieve that.

The envoy said people who have acquired skills can teach others in line with government sustainable development programme.

The US government, Amb. Barks-Ruggles added, will continue to fund various development projects in Rwanda. 

"We will continue partnering in many other sustainable projects,” she said.

John Ames, the USAID Ejo Heza programme chief of party, said the adult literacy project has been one of the pillars to achieve the programme’s goal to improve people’s livelihoods in Rwanda by equipping them with various skills and providing them opportunities for self-development.

Information from the fourth Integrated Household Living Conditions (EICV4) indicates that literacy among Rwandans stands at 77.8 per cent.

Southern Province governor Alphonse Munyantwali said the literacy and numeracy programme means giving all Rwandans access to welfare and development opportunities. 

"It is a foundation for the beneficiaries to develop,” the governor said.

Munyantwali said the government prioritises inclusive development, where all Rwandan children have opportunity to access twelve years basic education.

But for adults the adult literacy programme offers them opportunity to get knowledge that can help them on a daily basis, he said.

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