Project Launch:

The town of Gakenke is the capital of the district of Gakenke, the northern mountainous region of Rwanda in the heart of the Nemba valley. The community houses the district authority offices, a district hospital, three elementary schools and two high schools serving a population of 30,000. The children in this area, similar to many around Rwanda, don't have access to many structured stimulating activities. The children entertain themselves by making their own toys out of discarded materials such as old bike tires and pieces of wood. The Peace Corps Volunteer working with the local authority developed a community resource center that now houses a public library, a computer lab and an art center. With support World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program in 2010, Ubukorikori Buhorah, or Arts for Life, provide local children of all ages with the space and resources to express themselves in a positive environment. The resource center along with the arts program provides a much-needed space for children and others to engage in positive activities through the arts.