Dear Friends,

2025 has been a year when hope took root in the lives of children and families across Nyanza, Rusheshe, and Jarama. Thanks to your generosity, Flourish Rwanda continued to be a place where children are educated, families are encouraged, and entire communities are strengthened in Christ. Below is a short, heartfelt, donor-ready summary of what you helped make possible this year.

Your Support Kept 100 Children in School
Every sponsored child stayed in school this year — with their tuition fully paid, their school meals covered, and their school materials provided. Teachers consistently describe Flourish Rwanda children as “well-behaved, hardworking, and respectful.” Behind those words is your impact: stability, dignity, and a chance at a better future.

Saturday “Center Day” Became a Weekly Lifeline
Every Saturday, children walked into a place full of worship, joy, learning, and friendship. Center Day provided Bible teaching and worship, small-group discipleship, academic help, games, fellowship, and lunch shared together. It became the “safe place” many children look forward to all week. One child recently said, “Center Day is where I feel loved and close to God.”

Families Were Strengthened, Encouraged & Restored
Your support allowed us to walk closely with parents who faced difficult situations. One family in Nyanza that had experienced years of domestic conflict found healing after Flourish Rwanda stepped in with counseling, prayer, and follow-up. Their testimony of renewed peace shows how deeply your giving touches homes and restores lives.

Parents Became Leaders in Their Communities
One of the strongest signs of growth in 2025 was the rise of active parent committees. Parents met monthly for prayer and encouragement, planned community gatherings, followed up on their children’s education, prepared songs, dances, and poems for the upcoming U.S. Insight Trip, and strengthened the savings group in Rusheshe and the farming effort in Jarama. Strong parents mean stronger families — and stronger families mean thriving children.

Backpacks of hope from our U.S. partners
In early September, we were honored to welcome seven visitors from the United States: Flourish Rwanda Board members Rick Hibbert and Rob McAdam, along with five members of First Presbyterian Church of River Forest, Illinois.
Our guests arrived bearing a meaningful gift — 100 backpacks for students in the three communities we serve. These backpacks were lovingly donated by children who participated in the church’s summer Bible Camp, turning their generosity into a tangible expression of care and encouragement for our students.

Walking With Families Through Crisis: A Story of Compassion
2025 brought moments that called for deep compassion and immediate action. In Jarama, Abdul Karim and his wife — both parents of one of our sponsored children — were diagnosed with cancer during the same season. The news shook their family and their community. Because of your generosity, Flourish Rwanda stepped in with prayer, emotional support, regular home visits, and direct financial assistance to help them navigate urgent medical needs. We gathered around them as a family, reminding them that they were not alone. This is the heart of Flourish Rwanda: presence, compassion, and practical help when life is hardest.

Strong Communication, Transparency & Stewardship
Flourish Rwanda strengthened donor and community engagement through quarterly newsletters, a special video featuring the FR vision and future, regular updates from staff, and continued accountability and stewardship of every gift. Behind the scenes, our team worked through planning meetings, field visits, and Insight Trip preparations — ensuring that impact remained deep, consistent, and transparent.

December 2025: A Month of Joy & Celebration
As the year comes to a close, Flourish Rwanda is preparing for Christmas Baskets 2025 — a special expression of care, dignity, and joy for the families we serve. Parents have looked forward to the return of this tradition, and with your support, each family will receive a meaningful basket that brings hope and encouragement during the festive season. This will be our primary end-of-year celebration, and your generosity is making it possible.

Challenges That Shaped Our Priorities
Parents raised concerns this year about secondary students becoming more difficult to guide — a reminder of the pressures many young people face today. This highlighted the growing need for parental support, deeper counseling, and intentional family engagement. Parents also shared the challenge of caring for the other siblings of our supported children, particularly in Nyanza and Rusheshe communities, revealing the need to equip families with practical, income-generating trades to strengthen household stability. Together, these realities underscored key priorities that will shape our focus for 2026.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR HEARTS TO YOURS
Because of your generosity, children had meals and dignity in school. Families experienced peace, healing, and encouragement. Parents discovered leadership and community. Vulnerable households received support during crisis. Communities felt the love of Christ in practical, life-changing ways. We thank God for you, we pray for you, and we honor you for standing with us.

Together, we are raising support.
Together, we are changing lives.
Together, we are helping families FLOURISH.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your friends at Flourish Rwanda.