The dreams of Nufashwa yafasha shine Gatsibo-Ngarama children

The Inspirer writer.

In current journalistic responses to the community, the first aid is advocacy raising through story-telling, but for Jean Paul Bujyacyera things went beyond as his dreams as a career journalist was to set up a charity organization that caters for children.

Bujyacyera, who is a professional journalist for Radio/TV Isango Star in Kigali-Rwanda was also born and raised in Ngarama Sector of Gatsibo District in the Eastern Province of Rwanda and there created an organization dubbed ‘Nufashwa Yafasha’ (NYO), of which he is Founder and Legal Representative.

This brave journalist is also known as Gutermann, German that means ‘good man’, a nickname that was given upon him by some German friends. He currently supports children who are also beneficiaries of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, that caters to about 60 youngsters from the surrounding community there in Ngarama.

Bujyacyera wanted to give back to the community as he stared with the idea imoplementaion to support children’s education.

Mothers of some children at the center were trained to weave baskets and various materials for income generation.

Children there are supported by a small volunteer staff of about four, in charge of teaching them, cooking for them, while another lady is an administrator.

Bujyacera says that the center caters for different categories of beneficiaries, with the Early Childhood Education lot the biggest percentage. These are children in the 3-5 year age category. Other beneficiaries are primary and secondary school students, and the last category of beneficiaries are the parents.

Though, only the Early Childhood lot attends school at the center, while those beneficiaries in primary and secondary are facilitated in their education from different public schools. According to Bujyacera, the pioneer class of beneficiaries is now in Senior 2, in various schools.

In all, the center supports 60 nursery, 50 primary, and 14 secondary school students from around the community of Ngarama sector.

Every once in a week, the women in the crafts club converge at the community center to share craft skills, and also socialize.

Bujyacera noted that crafting together is the only initiative they found better to help the mothers reduce social isolation among this community.

“Crafting together not only reduces social isolation, but can also provide low pressure opportunities for those that experience social anxiety. It also boosts confidence as they learn new skills and ways of expressing themselves.” He said.

The center has a mini book library in one corner, health and educational charts, and a sewing machine that was recently donated by a German volunteer to the center.

Since the arrival of this machine, the center has registered reduced strain on its scarce resources, as school uniforms and cardigans can now be made from within the center.

With additional equipment, the center intends to extend sewing services to the local community and thereby turn a small profit.

Bujyacera is currently pursuing his Masters of Development Studies at Mt. Kenya University, having bagged a Bachelors of Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Rwanda in 2015. He says that the course is significant in avoiding the cycle of poverty, which he wants to address through nurturing youngsters with needed education,

He kicked off his media career with a one-month unpaid internship at Isango Star Radio. Because of his dedication to the job, he was retained on probation for another two years, before eventually signing a contract.

“After one-month internship I worked for about two years without pay, just transport facilitation to and from work. My purpose was not getting a salary at that time. My purpose was growing my career to become a great journalist who is all round. Journalism had always been my dream from childhood.” Bujyacyera said.

His organization’s journey started in 2014 and was a dream since he only wanted to have few children to look after.

“In the beginning I didn’t think of an organization. I was thinking of getting a few children, maybe ten, who I could support personally with the help of a few friends. I was looking at just basic needs like clothing and food. Little did I know we would grow into an organization.

But gradually, I started realizing that it required more resources to keep supporting these children beyond just their food requirements. I realized that basic needs like food and clothing were not enough. What they needed most was education.” He noted.

The center’s main challenge still remains that of finances, with the current irregular donations from Bujyacera’s circle of friends and foreign volunteers not sufficient enough.

With improved funding, he hopes to acquire more land for the center and equip it with more facilities like better classrooms, community spaces for the students and community, outdoor and indoor play areas, storage and food service space, and a first aid clinic, among others.

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