In the quiet hills of Gakenke District in Rwanda’s Northern Province, a movement is changing the lives of young girls. It’s giving them confidence, knowledge, and the courage to speak out. For ten-year-old Nindenkawe Kelia Brenda, the LIFT Programme has been life-changing.
At the heart of this programme is the project NDINDA NIGE (“Protect Me to Learn”), which encourages children to see education not just as learning in the classroom but as an opportunity to grow in confidence, health, and self-expression.
Kelia’s Transformation Through the NDINDA NIGE Project
Once shy and hesitant to speak up in class or even among friends, 10-year-old Kelia is now standing tall, speaking with confidence, guiding her peers, and embracing her right to education. The turning point? Her involvement in a school health club, where she and many others are learning about health, protection, and the power of their own voices.
“Before joining the club, I didn’t know much about child protection or sexual and reproductive health,” says Kelia. “Now I have learned a lot, and I can speak confidently with my peers and even give them life advice.”
These school-based health clubs are more than just extracurricular activities; they are safe, vibrant spaces where girls are empowered to learn, grow, and rise. Through games like YAhealth, which engageingly teach critical life lessons, students like Kelia are gaining essential knowledge and developing confidence that spills into every area of their lives.
Kelia’s teacher, Fortune Mukakanyana, has witnessed her transformation firsthand.
“Before she joined the club, Kelia was extremely shy and afraid to speak in public. It was hard for her to understand topics like child protection. Now, she participates actively and encourages others to do the same,” she explains.
These clubs are more than extracurricular activities. They are part of a wider effort to ensure that girls’ education in Rwanda is strengthened with life skills, health awareness, and confidence-building.
A Mother’s Pride
Kelia’s growth has also been noticed at home. Her mother, Triphine Nyiranizeyimana, is proud of the young girl her daughter is becoming.
“She reads Kinyarwanda fluently now, and recently at church, she stood in front of the congregation to read the Word of God,” says Triphine. “When I asked if she was nervous, she said, ‘No, Mom! I read confidently.’”
Kelia’s story is a powerful example of what’s possible when young girls are given the tools and space to thrive. It’s also a reminder that true education goes beyond books. It includes health awareness, emotional support, and life skills that equip children for the real world.
The Bigger Picture: NDINDA NIGE’s Lasting Impact
For Nibarebereho Vincent, the Deputy Director of the school, the changes brought by the health clubs go beyond individual transformation. They are reshaping learning across the school.
He explains:
“Many students like Kelia have changed in their learning. Some who used to score low marks are now improving. Others who once skipped school no longer miss classes because of what they gain in the club.”
He adds that the effect has gone beyond attendance. “Four children who had dropped out have even returned to school thanks to the influence of this club.”
With alarming dropout rates in primary schools, especially among girls, the LIFT Programme through NDINDA NIGE is helping reverse the trend. By addressing challenges like low self-esteem, lack of knowledge about reproductive health, and unsafe learning environments, the project is fostering behavior change that leads to long-term educational success.
As Kelia puts it:
“I would tell parents who don’t send their children to school that they should—so we can learn together, not just school subjects, but also about life skills and our rights.”
This is more than a story of one girl. It’s a story of transformation, of community commitment, and of a generation being equipped to rewrite their future—with strength, confidence, and purpose.
At Community Health Boosters (CHB), we believe stories like Kelia’s show the power of empowering young girls. Our work in child protection, sexual and reproductive health education, and school health clubs in Rwanda is about more than awareness. It is about transformation.
When girls rise, entire communities rise with them. And when children are given safe spaces to learn, they are not only protected but also equipped to build a stronger future for themselves and their families.