Humble Beginnings
Oleander School opened its doors in January 2015 with just six children from the local village. Juliana’s journey to create Oleander wasn’t easy. She began with limited financial resources, working as a primary school teacher and counselor, where she saw firsthand the trauma many children endured.
She shares, “My decision to open a school was fueled by a deep passion to make a positive impact in my community, particularly for low-income families…As a Christian, I dreamed of nurturing a generation grounded in Christian values, where every child can find hope for a bright future and grow to become compassionate, responsible citizens.”
Yet her experiences continued to shape her vision for the school as it grew: to create a nurturing educational environment that would address both academic needs and each child’s emotional and spiritual growth.
She saw that many children, especially those from low-income families, required a space where they could feel safe, loved, and supported, and she prayed she could provide that space. In 2017, Oleander School partnered with Edify, gaining access to vital resources supporting its mission. Through Edify’s support, the school secured a loan to transition from a rented space to its building. This shift was monumental, providing stability for the school and a lasting space where they could better serve the community.
The Key Partnership
The partnership also introduced Oleander to several impactful training programs. With the help of Edify’s trainings on Biblical Integration and EdTech, the school expanded its capacity to offer high-quality, holistic education. Students learned core subjects while developing a foundation in biblical values that they carried into their homes and communities, answering Juliana’s prayer. The school has continued to grow and improve, including adding EdTech resources like coding and robotics that help students develop practical skills for the modern world. Meanwhile, QuickBooks training has strengthened its financial management, helping Oleander operate sustainably. As the school flourishes in partnership with Edify, Juliana finds space to dream, expanding her vision to add classrooms, a library, and a dining hall to better serve her students and staff.
A Lasting Impact
Today, Oleander serves over 528 students. Juliana dreams of even greater things for her nation, knowing that each of her 528 students represents new hope for Rwanda’s future. She shares her heart, “We hope that our students develop active or practical learning, having quality education with Christian character, the school developing the child as a unique human being and total person, every child develops talents and potentials capable of transforming not only for his own or his interest but for the whole community as well.”
Find out more about our work improving education in Rwanda here.
