Women and girls are often regarded as harder workers, trustworthy in a culture of corruption and, by default, managers of what money the family may have. Women are often the spiritual leaders in their families. Girls and women who are educated at a higher level will be empowered to make better decisions, achieve higher goals, provide more for their families, and contribute to Rwanda‘s continued recovery and success for generations to come.

How is Butare Girls High School different from other schools?

First, it is designed to prepare girls for university studies, professional careers and business ownership as opposed to more traditional vocations such as hairdressing or basket weaving. Also, it is a boarding school, ensuring that girls who attend are able to focus on their studies without family pressures to help with household work, care for younger siblings or enter early marriage. Finally, the school provides "whole-girl" services that will improve the standard of education, attendance rates, and the quality of life of the students through:

• Technology access including computers, electric lights and audio-visual equipment. Our goal is to have one computer for every five girls.
• Comprehensive health care including physical exams and dental care, sexual and reproductive health instruction and anti-malaria measures to prevent illness and school absence. Modern sanitation facilities and supplies will be provided in hope to reduce monthly school absentee rates that can be common with adolescent girls in Rwanda.
• Teacher quality: New national education standards have shifted the preferred instructional language from French to English. Curriculum will be delivered in English, with training for teachers who need additional English fluency. Teachers‘ accommodation will be of a high standard, specifically with electric light and bathrooms, in order to attract the best teachers.
• Other supports and role modeling such as visual displays and biographies of women who have changed the world. Dormitory mothers will be trained by a professional psychotherapist to support the girls, who may be orphaned or otherwise affected by the genocide. International sponsorships will be sought, and it is hoped mutually beneficial relationships will develop between Rwandan girls and sponsor families via social media.

Why now?

The Butare Girls High School is complimentary to President Kagame‘s "Rwanda Vision 2020", developed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in 2000. The plan includes two important priorities relative to the White Dove Legacy Initiative‘s plan. They are the importance of gender equity and the importance of education:

In order to achieve gender equality and equity, Rwanda will continuously update and adapt its laws on gender. It will support education for all, eradicate all forms of discrimination, fight against poverty and practice a positive discrimination policy in favour of women. Gender will be integrated as a cross-cutting issue in all development policies and strategies.

- Rwanda Vision 2020

Rwanda needs dedicated boarding schools for girls, so that they may achieve their full academic, career and economic potential. WDF and Bishop Nathan Gasatura are ready to start in Butare.