Mrs. Rosette Murigande has served as the headmistress at the Wellspring Academy since its founding in 2007.  Over the past three years she has seen the school grow to 350 children in K-6 and 26 staff members.  Wellspring’s Executive Director, Richard Taylor, recently sat down with her to ask about some of her memories.

What are some of the highlights from the past three years?

At first when we started we wondered if we would have any students.  There were children here from the beginning and classes were full.  Many parents said this was what they had been waiting for as we shared the vision for the school.  Some parents who thought they would wait and see if it turned out to be a good school could not get their children in.

The school was operationally sustainable from the beginning.  We have had challenges finding qualified staff as many qualified Rwandan teachers died or fled during the genocide.  We are praising God that most of the teachers we have selected have stayed and are putting into practice what they are learning.  Our teachers are really motivated and like what they are doing.  Children are learning to think for themselves and how to work together in groups.

We have been able to place Christian values at the heart of our education and we see children who are changed in their character.  Some parents brought children who were very difficult and we have seen them changing.  We work with parents to discuss issues.  For example, we had two children in Primary 5 come from another school where there were 60 children per class and they were regularly beaten by teachers.  Both misbehaved and their schooling was suffering.

At first, they broke the classroom rules, hit other children, and disobeyed.  My assistant Jemimah and I called the parents, and worked together to come up with plan.  It was tough.  We told them that if they succeed in their knowledge and skills, but failed in their character, they would not pass.  The first year they had to repeat.  The second year we found ways to motivate them and work with their teachers.  Now both are succeeding.

We have a lot to look forward to as we work to start the secondary school in 2011.  Children are becoming teenagers.  A foundation has been formed, we have established a school culture and adopted an approach.