Rwanda: A particularly special graduation ceremony

Al Qarra - It’s the big day for Rosette and her classmates. After four years of studying, the 118 students of the first-ever class of Agahazo Shalom Youth Village are celebrating their high school graduation.<br /><br />What makes these students special? All orphans, the majority of them lost their parents during the Rwandan genocide in 1994, and see the diplomas they hold in their hands as tickets to a fresh start.<br /><br />Rosette Mushmayimana, graduate: “The meaning of graduating here, I think it’s a good opportunity to reach my goal or to reach where I want to go by finishing my high school and continuing my studies after leaving here.”<br /><br />Founded in 2005 with help from the government, the village provides holistic care for the war’s orphans. The students are placed in sorts of homestays. They benefit from academic classes as well as extracurricular activities.