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By Alphonsine Anderson, Founder, Rising Above the Storms
I know what it’s like to be gifted, determined and still go to bed hungry. I earned a full scholarship, yet wondered where my next meal or pair of shoes would come from...
As a student in Rwanda, I worked relentlessly and earned my place in top schools. But growing up without parents, even with tuition fully covered, I struggled to survive. I often went without meals. I borrowed soap and toothpaste from classmates. I slept on a thin mattress—or none at all. I timed my visits around lunchtime, hoping to be offered a bite.
No scholarship covers hunger and no test score erases shame. ..
This is the part of education we rarely speak about—the invisible burdens students carry from the dormitory to the classroom. And in Rwanda, many secondary and university students must live far from home. They are required to bring with them all the basics needed for dormitory life or off-campus housing: a mattress to sleep on, bedding, a bucket for bathing and laundry, and hygiene kits with soap, toothpaste, sanitary pads, etc. These aren’t luxuries—they are lifelines.
What helped me persevere were the smallest acts of kindness: a few Rwandan francs, a shared meal, a safe place to rest…
That’s why I founded Rising Above the Storms, so our students would never have to choose between education and dignity. At our Center, meals aren’t a reward. They are a right. No child is ever asked if they deserve to eat. And while we proudly provide tuition and academic supplies, most of the youth we serve—especially those from the most vulnerable families—still need essentials to stay in school:
These aren’t extras, they are fundamentals…
- 🛏 A mattress for their dormitory bed
- 🪣 A bucket to wash with
- 🧼 Hygiene supplies no one should have to go without
- 🍛 Room and board support for college students, which government scholarships do not cover
This is the difference between staying confident or dropping out…
It’s the difference between being seen with dignity—or struggling in shame. Each year, as Rwanda’s academic year begins (September–July), Rising Above the Storms launches our Annual Student Essentials Campaign—a focused effort to bridge the gap between tuition and total wellbeing. This is your invitation to stand in that gap with us.
- 🎒 Give more than a chance—give dignity
- 🧼 Provide a hygiene kit
- 🛏 Buy a mattress
- 🍲 Support room and board for a student
Your one-time gift, monthly donation, or sponsorship pledge helps ensure students don’t just stay in school—they rise with hope, pride, and the power to dream.