Reintegrates Over 10,000 Children Who Had Dropped Out

The Gisagara District administration has announced that 10,003 children who had dropped out of school have been successfully reintegrated into the education system, thanks to targeted interventions that include sports and recreational activities aimed at keeping children connected to school.

Over the past ten years, Gisagara District recorded 10,583 school dropouts. However, through coordinated efforts involving local authorities and partners, 94 percent of these children have returned to school.

Sports and Recreation Used to Keep Children in School

District officials explained that the initiative involved identifying children who had left school, understanding the reasons behind their dropout, and providing long-term solutions to help them stay in class.

One key approach was introducing children to sports and entertainment groups, which helped them remain close to school and avoid distractions. Through these activities, children also gained positive values such as love for education, discipline, and self-confidence.

NGO Highlights Impact of Blending Education With Sports

Jean Dushime, the Deputy Executive Director of FMI Ubumuntu, a local non-governmental organization partnering with the district, said combining education with sports and entertainment has proven highly effective.

“Most of the children we brought back to school were between 12 and 14 years old. Many had started doing small jobs such as guarding rice fields or fetching water for restaurants in exchange for very little pay,” Dushime said.

He explained that simply returning a child to school without addressing the factors that caused them to drop out is not sustainable.

“That is why we introduced weekend and holiday programs that involve sports and cultural activities. Some children play football and receive balls, while others join dance groups where they enjoy wearing traditional attire. These activities make school attractive and enjoyable,” he added.

More Than 1,380 Children Retained Through Sports Programs

Dushime further noted that in the past three years, over 1,380 children from seven sectors of Gisagara District have been returned to school and successfully retained through sports-based initiatives.

He said these activities help children feel happy, relaxed, and motivated, allowing them to see school as a welcoming environment rather than a burden.

Former Dropout Shares Success Story

Mukeshimana Pascasie, a student from Higiro Cell in Nyanza Sector, is one of the beneficiaries of the program. She dropped out of school while in Senior Two but later returned after encouragement from community mobilizers.

She is now in Senior Five, studying Biology and Chemistry, while also playing football in a local youth academy.

“I am proud that I continued my education and became the only one among my four siblings to reach secondary school,” she said.
“My dream is to become a medical doctor. I also enjoy playing football and participating in matches outside the district, something I never imagined in the past.”

District Pledges Continued Support

The Deputy Mayor of Gisagara District in charge of Social Affairs, Dusabe Dénise, told IGIHE that the district will continue strengthening the program through partnerships with various stakeholders.

“We appreciate innovative approaches that promote school attendance. We also focus on educating parents, because they have the primary responsibility of raising their children. Government and partners cannot succeed without parental commitment,” she said.

She added that integrating sports helps children discover their talents, which could become future sources of income if properly nurtured.

According to the district, strong collaboration among stakeholders played a key role in ensuring that 94.5 percent of children who had dropped out between 2014 and 2025 returned to school.