Empowering communities through early childhood education

Happy Hearts is a social enterprise in Rwanda focused on providing quality early childhood education through its NGO Happy Hearts For All. We believe that every child deserves access to excellent education, regardless of their background. Our preschools offer not just education, but also comprehensive family support and mentorship for staff. We're committed to empowering communities through a holistic approach to education and support.

The Problem

75%

of children between the ages of 3 and 6 don’t have a chance to attend preschool, daycare or early learning programs.

1%

of children under 3 have access
to ECD services.

38%

Without basic childhood development services, including proper nutrition, nearly 800,000 children (38%) are stunted, preventing them from reaching their full potential.

Our Holistic Approach

Through effective partnerships, Happy Hearts either redesigns or founds preschools and in-home education centers across Rwanda.

Play-based learning:

We advocate for Learning through Play, increase awareness among the community and parents about the benefits of play-based learning outcomes, and empower teachers & school leaders to implement the national curriculum in a playful way.

Healthcare and Hygiene:

We financially support access to the national healthcare system for disadvantaged families, and train communities about sanitation and healthy habits.

Connecting communities:

We believe in cross-cultural learning and exchanges. Our learners & families from urban and rural communities are invited to participate in joint events to create bonds, raise awareness and connect skills.

Nutritional support:

Nobody can learn with an empty stomach. We strengthen in-school feeding programs, organize cooking demonstration for healthy practices and encourage families & schools to start their own kitchen gardens.

Home-Based Facilities:

We bring school to families geographically excluded from it. We transform rooms in local houses to create child-friendly learning centers at the heart of the community.

Inclusivity:

Stigma is still a reality, particularly in rural communities. We create personalized support for families having children with special needs, inviting them to join early childhood centers and training them on how to support their development.

Capacity building:

We provide teachers with mentoring programs. Our experienced mentors train, skill and guide educators to deliver the best playful education with locally available resources.

Increasing livelihoods:

Too many caregivers are yet to be added on the government payrolls and can’t sustain themselves with parents' contributions. We provide them with financial support and create income generating opportunities for the community.

Infrastructure and facilities:

We renovate, improve or build from scratch all the necessary infrastructure to offer a safe, healthy and engaging environment for all of our learners.

Our Impact

We serve rural communities in the Gasabo District through 4 Early Childhood Development Centers and 8 home-based centers; and the urban Kigali community with 6 affordable preschools.

90% of the teaching staff at Happy Hearts are women under 35 years old, two of the most vulnerable and economically disadvantaged demographic populations.

Since 2015, Happy Hearts has impacted the lives of more than 2,000 students, ages 0-6, as well as roughly 13,000 indirect beneficiaries, including students’ family members, community members, and our staff.

  • over 2000 learners supported, 13.000 community members

  • 120,000 meals given per year

  • over 100 teachers trained

  • 20 pupil to teacher ratio

  • 100% of families have access to national healthcare

  • 12 rural centers equipped and renovated

Gallery

Testimonies

  • “Happy Hearts has been a blessing for my family. They feed my children, provide school uniforms, and give us health insurance. Now, when we get sick, we can get the care we need.”

    Prosper N.

  • “Ever since Happy Hearts came to our village, everything changed for the better. Our children love going to school now, and the teachers are excited to teach.”

    Anastasie M.

  • “Before Happy Hearts, I never had any training in Early Childhood Development. Now, I get mentored every month and feel much more confident in my teaching. With their support, I was even able to go back to university.”

    Teacher Zelda