Bishop Samuel Kayinamura, the Free Methodist Bishop of Rwanda, recently traveled thousands of miles to meet the students of Northwood Elementary School in Hilton and spend time at Pearce Memorial Church in Chili. The church has a partnership with the Nzige Preschool located on a hilltop in southeastern Rwanda, Africa.
Northwood music teacher Kristin Coon, with two other area teachers, traveled to Rwanda in February to better understand the school’s curriculum and develop relationships with the teachers before more teachers visit to provide training.
During her trip, Coon met “Bishop Samuel,” as he is widely known. “The Bishop is a very well educated man and is considered a dignitary in Rwanda,” said Coon.
Bishop Samuel enjoyed lunch with administrators and staff, and presentations by student groups that included singing Rwandan songs. He also shared stories with a group of sixth graders of how “The Power of One” has changed lives in Africa and abroad.
The book by Bryce Courtenay is about how one teacher can lift a child out of an impossible environment and allow him or her to have an education and to change his or her life.
As part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, Northwood sixth graders create and present a Power of One project themselves at the end of the school year. The projects involve in-depth inquiry, exploring multiple perspectives on an issue that is close to their hearts and taking authentic action to make a difference in the world.
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