“He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes,” Psalm 37:6-7 (NIV).
In the year 1994, over one million Rwandans were slaughtered in one of the most horrific events in world history—all within just 100 days. Neighbor turned on neighbor, friend turned on friend, and the harmony Rwanda once knew turned to chaos as millions suffered indescribable loss. Such hostility and bloodshed wouldn’t be an easy recovery for this war-torn nation, and for many, shattering grief enveloped everyday life.
Hope Shines Through
Yet, as the dust settled, a ray of light entered the darkness. The new Rwandan Government adopted a different constitution and underwent policy changes. They created programs to empower women and increase economic growth and stability. New jobs formed, families reunited, and more light shone on the previously darkened nation with each step toward peace.
For Fred Buyinza, whose family fled to Uganda during the genocide, this shift meant returning home to Rwanda. Fred opens up about his return home at a young age, “After such a tragedy, the Rwandan people were looking for a new identity, my family included. We returned home to Rwanda in 1995 to reestablish our identity as Rwandans, looking ahead to a brighter future. I remember asking myself, ‘What can someone do to have a generation free from genocide? What can someone do to disciple a nation?’”
This question remained in Fred’s heart as he grew up in his faith. In his family’s village, Fred saw healing firsthand. A new peace began to replace the disorder that once clouded the community, yet Fred knew there was even more he could do.
God’s Answer
God directed him to work in the educational system. Fred knew he could be a change-maker in his community, and God answered his lingering question of how he would bring hope to his nation: Christ-centered education. It wasn’t until 2007 that God’s direction became Fred’s reality when he opened Fruits of Hope Academy.
Fred shares, “I started this school in the local church office with 24 preschool students and less than 200 dollars to my name. The next year, God grew the enrollment from 24 students to 60 students. And the next year, we grew to 160 students. The motto we live by in our school is ‘Trained to serve.’ It has been that way since day one. We teach students everything they need to know about math, reading, writing, and coding—all while integrating a biblical worldview into each of our lessons. Our students are outperforming the government schools while also gaining the knowledge of Christ.”
Fruits of Hope partnered with Edify in 2015 after attending a Sustainable Business Practices and Biblical Integration training. The past nine years of partnership have proved transformational for both the school and Fred. Alongside implementing QuickBooks, which has radically improved business operations and fee collection, Fred has found other like-minded school leaders seeking to “build a community that is changing our country together,” as he shared.
Fred continues, “Edify’s EdTech program has also helped us develop a new generation of learners. Our students are not just learning how to use apps on a computer but also how to build them. With Edify’s EdTech training, we are preparing our students to flourish in the modern age.”
Fruits of Hope has also used multiple loans from Edify’s lending partners to improve and expand facilities at an expedited rate to keep up with the school’s growth. “If not for the opportunity given to me through Edify’s lending partners, we would not have been able to continue expanding our reach,” he comments.
Today, Fred’s school is 16 years old, and as we look back at its humble beginnings, we see God’s faithfulness and favor as Fruits of Hope shines bright.
Fred concludes, “God is at work in Rwanda, creating new hope for its people. I am beyond blessed to be a part of the work He is doing in this country by providing a place of hope for my students and my community. I hope for God-fearing leaders who serve people as they serve the Lord — leaders who teach and love their people and see through the eyes of Christ.”
