What do Julius Nyerere, Helen Keller, and John Lennon all have in common? On the surface perhaps not much, but at ASYV, each of these individuals is the namesake of one of our Village families, a late hero identified for the legacy they left in life and the core values they embodied.
Choosing a hero to be a family’s namesake isn’t an easy process.
Read MoreLast week, ASYV's own Managing Director, Shiri Sandler sat down with i24 News for an interview about the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Shiri speaks about the Village's roots in an Israeli model, its application to Rwanda's history and context, and our impact on more than 1,500 young people since the Village opened its doors to Rwanda's orphaned and vulnerable youth in 2008.
Read MoreEvery Monday and Wednesday, our students gather for a morning assembly before classes begin. On January 27th, ASYV students and educators gathered together to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day for the first time.
Read MoreAs students near the end of their time at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, they begin their next chapter strengthened by the support of our community and the lessons they learned about themselves along the way. They discover the power they have to not only change their own stories, but to write new stories that give us hope for the future and imagine a better world.
Julia’s is one of many stories of hope.
Read MoreAt ASYV, young people learn that there’s much more to their stories than the challenges that defined their earliest chapters. Through educational and extracurricular activities, students uncover unique passions, interests, and skills that open up new pathways in life.
For Alice, Flambeau, and many others, a new chapter of learning begins at ASYV, full of self-discovery and new possibilities for the future. Read more about Alice and Flambeau here.
Read MoreOn October 17, 2019, ASYV celebrated the graduated of its eighth class of students, the Isonga grade. Fabrice Mpozenzi served as the Isonga grade’s class representative and student speaker. Below is a transcript of Fabrice’s inspiring speech.
Read MoreFeeding over 500 hungry teenagers three meals a day is a difficult task. This is only possible because of the ASYV farm and kitchen. The journey that food takes to make it to the tables in the ASYV dining hall is remarkable.
Read MoreEzekel (Class of 2022) didn’t know how deeply he loved music before he sat in front of a piano. Growing up in Rwanda’s Northern Province, Ezekel couldn’t afford to play music at home, and his school didn’t have the resources to provide a musical education. That changed when Ezekel arrived at Agahozo-Shalom.
At ASYV, we believe that a student with a passion is a student more engaged with life. Enrichment programs in athletics and the arts, like volleyball and videography, give our students the opportunity to try something new and to learn about themselves.
For Ezekel, this journey began with the piano; he started slowly, learning keys and chords, and then he began devoting weekend time to practicing, outside of class. Ezekel had found something exciting, and he was soon ready to share that discovery with the Village. Read more at the link below.
Read MoreThe ASYV Champions League is the Village’s most competitive sporting event unparalleled in its ability to bestow prestige on a family or student.
The Champions League, an interfamily competition in basketball, volleyball and football (soccer), takes place each year from May through July. The competition is a big deal. Families game out strategies and organize practice days in advance. Mamas, Cousins, and Big Siblings coach and encourage their team. This year’s theme is “We Can Do it Better,” introducing the idea that we can always improve ourselves and our community. It also emphasizes that although we are competing against each other, we are still a family and one person’s success is a success for us all.
Read MoreFrom the minute they step on campus, our young women are encouraged and taught to become confident leaders in their community.
This month, our female empowerment clubs lead several initiatives to lift ASYV's female voices, including a girls' speech competition and public speaking workshop, a girls' business plan competition, a visit with local girls to discuss challenges facing women in Rwanda, and a field trip to Kigali to explore female-run businesses.
In celebration of the powerful young women of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, we are highlighting three of our female leaders. ASYV is thrilled to celebrate young women like Mary, Deborah, and Hyguette this and every month of the year.
Read MoreOur newest grade, previously called Enrichment Year, has a new name!
Read MoreThere is so much to love about visiting Rwanda and the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Check out Information Technology Fellow Kevin Horst’s musings on a few of the many joys that have made his first few months in Rwanda so special.
Read MoreEver wondered what it’s like to be a student at ASYV?
Read MoreIt’s hard to believe we are already three weeks into our 2019 Academic year. It has been a busy few weeks at the Village!
Read MoreAfter graduation, our students depart the Village gates - but our Village family always remains connected.
From studying together, to forming a business together, to getting married, ASYV alumni carry their Village bonds with them always.
Read about a few of our alumni and how they’ve remained deeply connected with their ASYV family.
Read MoreLearn more about Issa Sikubwabo, ASYV’s Director of Operations & Procurement in our one-on-one interview.
Read MoreOn Saturday, September 29th, the Go Far Soccer Team, a new initiative of the ASYV alumni association, came together for Umuganda (community service) in Musanze, Rwanda. Our graduates visited the Muhabura Integrated Polytechnic College, where they joined the Institute’s students in various acts of community service. Projects included bush-clearing and garbage pick-up. Eager to pay their learning forward, our graduates also took this opportunity to discuss Agahozo-Shalom’s commitment to community service as part of our core values.
Read MoreAt Agahozo-Shalom, we center our work on the Jewish value of tikkun halev, repairing the heart. Last month, tikkun halev took on new meaning for one of our kids, Fils.
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