Last week, a colleague and I traveled to Nyaruguru district, one of the most remote regions of Rwanda. Our destination: Groupe Scolaire Zirambi, a church-owned, government-aided school established way back in 1977. The 163 km journey from Kigali to Nyaruguru itself felt like a story — long winding roads, rolling green hills, and small villages tucked away in the valleys. By the time we arrived at the school, I already had a deep sense of how far removed this place is from the busy streets of Kigali.
Earlier this year, the school was connected to the internet through a partnership between Airtel Rwanda and UNICEF Rwanda to Reimagine Education by connecting schools to the internet in Rwanda. For many in this community, the idea that their school is now part of the global digital network would have seemed unimaginable just a few years ago. Standing there, in such a rural setting, it felt almost magical to think that this school — so far from the city — was now digitally linked to the rest of the world.
While there, I had the chance to meet and interact with two luminaries of the student population: 20-year-old Emmanuel Iradukunda, the school’s head boy, and 15-year-old Aliane Mukeshimana, who is the head girl.
Emmanuel has an easy-going gait about him and is quick to break into a wide grin when answering my questions. He is in Senior Three, which means he is in the “final” year of his journey at GS Zirambi; he will transfer to another school next year to continue his studies, depending on where his educational journey takes him.
He tells me he wants to one day become a teacher, because for him, nothing beats the feeling of imparting knowledge to another person and helping them grow to realize their full potential.
Interestingly, Aliane, too, tells me she wants to become a teacher. Her mother is a teacher at GS Zirambi, and she very much sees herself following in her footsteps.
As I spent time with Emmanuel and Aliane, I realized something important: having access to the internet is only the beginning. The connection is there, yes, but Emmanuel, Aliane and their fellow students use it only sparingly, because students at GS Zirambi don’t have laptops or tablets. Most teachers have never had the chance to use a computer in their classroom. The internet is mostly used by the head teacher, the deputy, and the accountant, primarily for official tasks.
It was a sobering reminder that connectivity is only the first step toward true digital inclusion. Without devices, digital skills, and reliable electricity, the promise of the internet remains out of reach for many learners. The school still struggles with limited resources, and the quality of education remains below the standard we all hope for.
Despite the obstacles mentioned, visiting GS Zirambi left me inspired. This school, nestled deep in Rwanda’s hills, is now connected to the world. That connection represents possibility. It opens the door to new opportunities for students and teachers — opportunities to learn, to explore, to dream bigger. It is a foundation upon which we can build.
As I made the long trip back, I felt a renewed sense of urgency. Emmanuel and Aliane deserve the same opportunities as any child in Kigali, Nairobi, or New York. They deserve an education that prepares them for the future.
Through our partnership with Airtel Rwanda, 301 schools have already been connected to the internet. In addition, the zero-rating of 13 learning platforms will create new opportunities for learning — not only for young people, but for communities across the country.
This visit reminded me that our work is not just about connecting schools to the internet — it’s about connecting children to opportunity, to possibility, and to their future.
And now, with the internet now available at GS Zirambi, the students at this school are closer to their future. It is up to all of us to make sure they can reach it.
