Living in Musanze, Noordman felt inspired in 2020 to make a lasting impact on the community. That year, he founded Susa Gardens, an eco-friendly hotel in the Muhoza sector of Northern Rwanda. The hotel, unique for growing its own food, marked the start of Noordman's vision for creating positive change.
But Susa Gardens was only the beginning. Noordman soon launched a non-governmental organization to support vulnerable children, particularly those who had dropped out of school.
Musanze, as a 2020/2021 Senate report highlighted, ranked among the top six districts in Rwanda with high dropout rates. Seeing children out of school and on the streets moved Noordman deeply.
When he opened Susa Gardens, Noordman had started sponsoring a few children's education.
Over the next three years, he expanded his mission by founding the Back to School (BTS) nonprofit organization. BTS's mission is clear: to help children return to school and support those from low-income families. Today, BTS aids 164 children, many of whom had previously dropped out of school.
BTS's support goes beyond paying school fees; the organization provides children with school supplies, uniforms, and daily meals, while their parents receive assistance through income-generating projects to help improve their financial stability.
'When children have meals and supplies, they can focus on learning without anxiety. Many of our students excel academically, with several topping their primary school exams this year,' explains Jean de Dieu Twizerimana, who co-founded BTS with Noordman.
The organization's work involves regular academic monitoring. 'Each term, we check their grades, visit their schools weekly, and help resolve any issues with the parents,' Twizerimana added.
A hotel with a purpose
Beyond serving as an eco-friendly hotel, Susa Gardens channels its revenue into supporting BTS.
'The revenue from Susa Gardens helps us support the children, though it's not enough for everyone who needs help. There are children who pass exams but cannot afford to attend boarding schools, hence continuing studies under the Nine Years Basic Education program,' noted Twizerimana.
The founders aim to expand their efforts into other districts to reduce Rwanda's dropout rates.
According to the Ministry of Education, Rwanda's primary school dropout rate was 9.5% in 2019/20, decreasing to 7.1% in 2020/21. Yet, the dropout rate remains a pressing issue.
Gédéon Ntamugabumwe, a father of seven in Muhoza, is one of the parents BTS has supported. After his wife's passing in January 2023, he struggled to provide for his children alone. BTS's support, especially for his sixth-grade child, relieved some of his burdens.
'When children are helped, their parents are helped too. Now, instead of paying Frw10,000 for school supplies, I can use that money to support other kids.'
Parents like Ntamugabumwe are also organized into savings groups, where they are encouraged to save within their means and receive guidance on small businesses. 'If I start selling eggs, it becomes easier to have money for monthly expenses. Even if it's small, it helps you buy seeds or farm supplies,' Ntamugabumwe shared.
Twizerimana emphasized that they continue to seek additional sponsors to expand their work so that more children can return to school and build brighter futures.
IGIHE
