FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Click on a question below to see its answer:
How should I pray for my sponsored student?
Africa New Life has identified the most timely and pressing prayer requests for the students in our sponsorship program. You can download the prayer guide below to help you come alongside your sponsored student and their family through prayer.
Click here to download and print the new 12-Month Prayer Guide for Sponsors.
Are you legitimate and accountable?
Yes, Africa New Life Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisation in the U.S. and a registered charity in the UK. We ensure careful use of all funds to benefit students, families, and communities in Rwanda, and we are committed to integrity, financial accountability, and transparency. In 2010, Africa New Life Ministries International (U.S.) became a proud member of ECFA, the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, which accredits U.S. organisations based on financial factors including financial oversight, compliance with laws, transparency, gift communication, and more, and we have achieved Gold status with Candid.org/Guidestar.
What does my sponsored student receive through my sponsorship?
Your sponsorship is changing the life of a student in Rwanda. Because of your support, the student you sponsor will receive a consistent education, a school uniform and materials, and medical assistance from a community nurse. In addition, students in our program attend monthly Center Days where they enjoy a meal, play games, hear the gospel, and write letters to their sponsors. Sponsored students also attend a Christian camp in their region each year.
How does my sponsored student’s family and community benefit from Africa New Life’s partnership?
Africa New Life’s sponsorship programme benefits sponsored students, their families, and their communities. Families receive school fee assistance, scholastic materials, and medical assistance for their child who is sponsored through our program. In addition, parents/guardians have access to free health and education talks given by Africa New Life community nurses. Local churches are planted in the communities in which Africa New Life operates, existing to serve community members in a variety of necessary ways and to share the gospel.
Do sponsorship donations go directly to my sponsored student and their family?
Your sponsored student directly benefits from your sponsorship. However, we do not directly distribute money to the student or their families because there is no guarantee that the money would be spent on the student’s education. Instead, your sponsorship donations are placed into a community pool from which school fees are paid directly to the school for all sponsored students from that community. From this pool, your sponsored student also receives a school uniform, school supplies, medical assistance from a community nurse, and the opportunity to special events and activities. Sponsored students know their sponsors by name and write at least one letter to them each year.
Is my sponsored student real, or just representative of a student in need?
You are sponsoring a real student, and they appreciate your sponsorship of their education!
Can I correspond with my sponsored student?
We absolutely encourage you to write to your sponsored student! You can expect to receive an annual letter from your sponsored student at the end of every summer. You are welcome to write up to four times a year, and you will receive a reply letter each time. For guidance in communicating with your sponsored student, please review our writing page.
When will my sponsored student write letters?
Sponsored students write letters at Center Days, which take place once a month in each community. You can expect to receive an annual update letter from your sponsored student at the end of every summer. If you write to your sponsored student more, you will hear from them more often. You are welcome to write up to four times a year, and you will receive reply letters each time!
Can I connect with my sponsored student via email or social media?
Students are not allowed to communicate with their sponsors outside of letter writing through Africa New Life. Please do not connect with your sponsored student or their relatives through phone, email, or social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. This helps us protect both sponsors and students from inappropriate or confusing situations. You can read our full Communication Policy for Sponsors and Students here.
Can I order gifts online for my sponsored student?
As we transition your sponsorship from the RSVP Trust to Africa New Life Ministries UK, we cannot at this time facilitate the ordering of online gifts for your sponsored student. But we expect to offer this option soon! In the meantime, we encourage you to send letters to your sponsored student or to make a donation above and beyond your sponsorship amount if you wish to continue the transformational work in Rwanda.
When is the academic year in Rwanda?
The academic year in Rwanda begins in the fall and ends mid-summer. Rwandan schools follow the trimester system, with a 2-3 week break in between each term and a longer break in the summer, at the end of one academic year and before the beginning of the next.
Most universities begin their academic year in September.
When does my sponsored student age out of the program?
We desire for every student in our programme to complete secondary school regardless of their age. Students finish the program upon successful completion of upper secondary school (12th grade), or the vocational equivalent, and our Dream Leadership Academy.
When will my sponsored student complete their education?
Students in Rwanda must pass each grade/year level before being promoted to the next. In Rwanda, there are six levels in primary school, Primary 1 through Primary 6. At the end of Primary 6, students take national exams to test out of primary school. Students who pass the Primary 6 national exams are promoted to secondary school.
There are six levels in secondary school, Senior 1 through Senior 6. Students will take national exams at the end of Senior 3 to test into Senior 4 (similar to O-Levels). Students who do not pass these exams are invited to either repeat Senior 3 or enter into a secondary vocational training program.
At the end of Senior 6, students will take their final national exams (similar to A-Levels) and will graduate from secondary school if they pass. If they do not pass their exams, they are encouraged to repeat Senior 6. The Senior 6 national exam results also determine students’ eligibility for post-secondary education (university or post-secondary vocational training programs).
Upon secondary school completion, Africa New Life sponsored students begin attending our Dream Leadership Academy during the gap period between completing coursework and the students’ next steps (which are dependent on national exam scores). The Dream Leadership Academy provides students with valuable Christian discipleship and entrepreneurship training to help them be confident leaders and witnesses for Christ as they move into the next season of their lives.
What do I need to know about names in Rwanda?
Names in Rwanda are more fluid than in the UK or U.S. While we generally share a last name with our family members, Rwandans traditionally do not. The first name listed is typically a Kinyarwanda name, and the second name listed is typically an Anglo or Francophone name. Sponsored students may answer to either name. You’ll often hear Africa New Life staff refer to students using the second name listed since that is usually easier for sponsors to pronounce. Next time you write a letter to your sponsored student, you’re welcome to ask which name they prefer for you to address them by and if their name has a special meaning.