Recipient of US State Department Grant for INEZA Academy Programming

Lat year, our Country Director, Jean Paulin Mutatsineza, visited Washington DC to participate in the Mandela
Washington Fellowship Summit. After learning about the Mandela Washington Fellowship’s Reciprocal Exchange program Jean Paulin began collaborating on a grant application with Isabel Taswell, a graduate student at Bankstreet’s School of Education, to support the establishment of INEZA Academy, a model early childhood development program at REAP’s Community Learning Center and Library in
Musha, Rwanda. We were selected as recipients at the end of 2019.
The grant allowed Isabel to travel to Rwanda and conduct professional development training for REAP staff. Expanding our programming meant that we needed to expand our skillset!
The training covered classroom organization, socio-emotional development, literacy and play-based learning. Additionally, monthly follow-up Skype sessions will allow INEZA Academy staff to share their practical feedback with Isabel as they apply the theory.

Isabel Taswell and jean paulin mutatsineza, Country director