A second school in Rwanda, funded by parent company SHD
Now with a secondary and technical school tier, the recent project offers learning opportunities for a further 1700 children.
In 2022, ArtiCAD’s parent company, SHD, opened a school for 1,650 children in Bweramwura – following their significant contribution to support the construction of the ‘Andernach School’ in Rwanda in 2018. The completion of this second school project marks a huge milestone! The opening ceremony for the school, which provides learning opportunities for an additional 1,700 children, including education up to year 12 and preparation for technical careers or university study, occurred on 16th February 2024.
In the southern Rwandan town of Nyumba, not far from neighbouring Burundi, five new classrooms have been built and, thanks to another generous donation from SHD, a new common room for the teaching staff. Coordinated by the Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP, which was established in 2010, more than 700 schools have already been built in 45 countries around the world in recent years, including 100 in Rhineland-Palatinate’s partner country Rwanda.
The SHD Group’s shareholders decided to support another project of this kind at the end of 2022, partly due to the moving reports from the first school opening two years ago. Following the initial private commitment of former SHD board members Stefan Hahne and Hans Pfrommer, this project has received broad support from the company’s shareholders and employees.
3-tier school system
In addition to the primary school, for children between 6 and 14 years old, this recent initiative includes a secondary school accommodating students up to Year 12. Furthermore, a new tier termed as a ‘technical school’, has been introduced to equip young adults with skills for technical professions and to ready them for university studies.
Stefan Hahne and Hans Pfrommer travelled to Rwanda again to hand over the school in person at a ceremony attended by local politicians. “Just like two years ago, we saw an incredible number of happy faces on the children. The school management and teaching staff were also delighted with the improved conditions and new learning opportunities.”
Reiner Meutsch, the founder of the Fly & Help Foundation, expressed his thanks in a personal message: “Thank you very much for continuing your commitment to the children in Rwanda and in doing so, creating the basis for a better life through education.”
