Students with Disabilities Excel in Kigali Public Library’s Writing Competition

By Xaverine Cyiza.

Nine students with disabilities were among the top 36 winners in the Kigali Public Library (KPL) Annual Writing Competition, showcasing their talents and proving that disabilities are no barrier to success.

This inclusive event, launched in 2021, engages students from both public and private primary and secondary schools across Rwanda. The primary aim is to enhance creative writing skills and raise awareness about various societal issues.

This year’s competition took place at Kigali Public Library (KPL) in Kacyiru, Kigali City on May 18, 2024.

Denise Mushimiyimana, a student at the Institute for Blind Children Kibeho in Nyaruguru district, was one of the standout participants.

She won a modern smartphone in the Ordinary Level secondary category for her story about a significant cultural site in Rwanda.

“My story was titled ‘I Returned Home Joyfully.’ It featured a child describing their visit to the Huye Museum and the Royal Palace in Nyanza,” Mushimiyimana explained.

The competition’s theme this year focused on Tourism and Conservation, encouraging students to explore Rwanda’s tangible and intangible attractions as defined by the UNWTO. For instance, primary and ordinary-level students wrote about intangible attractions, while secondary-level students delved into tangible ones.

Topics ranged from imagining a special park with magical animals to describing sustainable tourist attractions that contribute to economic development and environmental conservation.

Jean Paul Seka, who leads a project aimed at empowering children with disabilities at the National Union of Disability Organizations in Rwanda (NUDOR), praised the government’s efforts in promoting inclusive education.

“The awareness campaigns have encouraged people with disabilities to confidently compete alongside others. We are pleased because it shows that the Kigali Public Library has put effort into encouraging everyone, including those with disabilities. It demonstrates that children with disabilities can compete and excel,” Seka said.

Dr. Nelson Mbarushimana,  Director General of Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB), emphasized the importance of such competitions in developing students’ skills.

“Our goal is for children to complete the first three years of primary school being able to read, write, and count. These competitions continue to sharpen the knowledge and skills of Rwandan children, including those with disabilities,” Dr. Mbarushimana said.

He encouraged all schools to participate, noting the success of students with disabilities as an example of their potential.

“You have seen that even those with visual impairments have received awards, which means that having a disability does not prevent you from contributing meaningfully,” he emphasized.

Kigali Public Library, with its vision to create a modern and inspiring environment that fosters learning, literacy, and culture, has been organizing this competition to promote language proficiency in English, Kinyarwanda, and French among Rwandan students.

The initiative aims to improve reading and writing abilities, stimulate imagination and creativity, and complement the Competency-Based Curriculum.

The competition follows a structured process: registration and submission, evaluation, workshops, and interviews, culminating in an awarding ceremony.

Winners are selected based on criteria including application, structure, topic development, language, originality, and presentation.

Prizes include laptops, tablets, smartphones, bicycles, scooters, and more. The announcement of winners results in 12 winners per language and 36 winners in total.

To promote the competition and gather feedback, KPL’s team visits schools across Rwanda’s 30 districts. This outreach ensures that the competition remains relevant and accessible to all students, fostering a culture of literacy and creativity.

The KPL competition serves as a platform to showcase Rwanda’s rich culture and tourism potential, aligning with the Rwanda Development Board’s (RDB) identification of major tourist attractions.

Kigali Public Library Annual Writing Competition not only highlights the talents of students with disabilities but also promotes literacy and creativity among all Rwandan youth. This annual event continues to inspire and empower the next generation of writers and thinkers in Rwanda.

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