Drop Out Prevention Program
At Women Plan Rwanda, we believe that education is a powerful tool for breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering future generations. Our Drop Out Prevention Program is designed to reduce the number of school dropouts particularly among rural girls and vulnerable youth by addressing the root causes that force them out of school.
Why This Program Matters?
In rural Rwanda, many students especially girls drop out of school due to poverty, early pregnancies, domestic responsibilities, lack of sanitary facilities, long travel distances, and limited community support. These barriers disproportionately affect young girls and youth from low-income families, limiting their opportunities for growth, employment, and leadership in the future.
Our Approach
We take a holistic, community-based approach to keep children in school and help them thrive:
- Financial Support: We provide scholarships, school materials, and uniforms to families who cannot afford the cost of education.
- Menstrual Health & Sanitation: We ensure schools are equipped with proper sanitation facilities and menstrual hygiene supplies so that girls can attend regularly and with dignity.
- Mentorship & Counseling: Our trained mentors work closely with students to build confidence, set goals, and navigate challenges both at school and at home.
- Community Awareness Campaigns: We engage parents, local leaders, and schools in dialogue and training sessions to promote the value of education and discourage harmful cultural practices such as early marriage.
- Youth Empowerment Clubs: We establish clubs in schools to promote life skills, peer support, and reproductive health education, creating safe spaces for learning and expression.
- Re-enrollment Programs: For those who have already dropped out, we provide pathways back into the education system or into vocational training.
Our Impact
Through this program, hundreds of students have been supported to stay in school and complete their education. We have seen a measurable decrease in dropout rates in the communities we serve, increased academic performance among participating students, and greater awareness about the importance of education—especially for girls.
DOP CAMPAIGN
Muhanga: Women Plan Rwanda Launches Campaign to Prevent School Dropout Linked to Teenage Pregnancies at GS Vunga
As concerns continue to rise over school dropout, teenage pregnancies, and drug abuse among young people, Women Plan Rwanda organized an “Edutainment School Dropout Prevention Campaign” at GS Vunga aimed at encouraging students to avoid behaviors that could jeopardize their future and interrupt their education.
The awareness campaign held on 8 May 2026 in G’S Vunga School, brought together students, teachers, and school leaders, focusing on discussions around preventing teenage pregnancies, fighting substance abuse, and promoting education as a key foundation for a better future.
Dianah Mbabazi, the Communication and Development Manager for the project, said the initiative seeks to reach as many students as possible with information that can help them make responsible life choices.
“We realized that many children are facing challenges that push some of them out of school or into harmful behaviors.
That is why we continue to engage them so they understand that their future depends on the decisions they make today,” she said.
Mbabazi added that the project has also been supporting vulnerable students by providing school materials and covering school feeding costs, helping many children stay focused on their education despite financial hardships.
Students who attended the sessions said the campaign gave them practical guidance on avoiding peer pressure and harmful influences that can lead to risky behavior.
Uwase Clarisse, a Senior One student, said the discussions helped her better understand the importance of avoiding bad company and behaviors that may result in unplanned pregnancies.
“What I learned from this discussion is that we must avoid bad friends and negative influences, continue focusing on education, and stay away from behaviors that can lead us into bad habits and unplanned pregnancies,” she said.
She also encouraged fellow students who were unable to attend the campaign to remain disciplined and cautious, noting that many harmful influences exist outside school environments.
Another student, Odetta Niyonsenga, said initiatives like this help young people appreciate the value of their future and understand that success begins with making good decisions.
“When we receive this kind of guidance, we better understand that success and a good future depend on avoiding harmful behaviors and prioritizing education,” she noted.
On the side of teachers, Dushimimana Florence, a teacher and girls’ mentor at GS Vunga, said many girls today are increasingly vulnerable to material temptations and manipulation by older men with financial means.
“Many children are no longer satisfied with the living conditions of their families. As a result, older men take advantage of them by offering clothes, school materials, or money, which eventually draws them into harmful behaviors,” she explained.
Dushimimana further warned that drug abuse remains another major threat affecting young people, as substance use often causes students to lose self-control and engage in actions that negatively affect both their education and their future.
She called on parents to play a stronger role in guiding and supporting their children through regular conversations and emotional support.
“Parents should spend more time talking to their children and teaching them to appreciate the life they have. When children are neglected, they easily fall for anything that comes their way,” she said.
The Women Plan Rwanda project has been working with 53 vulnerable students at GS Vunga for over two years, providing them with essential school materials and educational support. However, the awareness sessions were extended to all 1887 students of the school.
Ruhango: Women Plan Rwanda launches Edutainment School Dropout Prevention Campaign at GS Kizibere
In an effort to combat school dropout, teenage pregnancies, and substance abuse among young people, Women Plan Rwanda organized an edutainment-based School Dropout Prevention Campaign at GS Kizibere on 7 May 2026 , aimed at helping students understand the long-term consequences of behaviors that can jeopardize their future.
The organization, which primarily supports women and girls in rural communities through socio-economic empowerment programs, also provides assistance to vulnerable students facing financial hardships. At GS Kizibere in particular, the project currently supports 60 students by providing school materials and covering school feeding costs to help them remain focused on their studies.
Speaking during the campaign, Jean Pierre Rukundo, the Monitoring Officer for Women Plan Rwanda projects, highlighted the harmful effects of drug abuse among young people, warning that substance use can destroy a student’s future and divert them from achieving their goals.
He urged students to stay away from drugs such as marijuana, cigarettes, and other substances commonly abused by youth.
“Students must avoid all forms of drug abuse because anyone who wants to achieve their dreams must first protect their health and prioritize education,” he said.
Rukundo also addressed the issue of teenage pregnancy, emphasizing that children should focus on education and preparing for a better future instead of engaging in behaviors that may limit their opportunities in life.
Several students who attended the awareness session said the discussions had helped them better understand how peer pressure and material temptations can lead students into destructive behaviors that negatively affect their education and future ambitions.
Karabo Nicole, a Senior Three student, said the campaign opened her eyes to the dangers faced by many teenage girls who are lured into early sexual relationships through money and gifts.
“The biggest lesson I learned is to avoid people who distract us from education and push us into bad behaviors. We must focus on studying and building our future,” she said.
Karabo also encouraged fellow students not to be influenced by people who entice them with money or material gifts, but instead to remain committed to their studies and listen to guidance from parents and teachers.
Another student, Ishimwe Jean Claude, said the campaign inspired students to become more proactive in helping and protecting one another.
“We have decided that whenever we see a fellow student at risk of dropping out or being negatively influenced, we will report the issue to school authorities so that help can be provided early,” he noted.
On the side of the school administration, Bakaka Ignas, one of the teachers at GS Kizibere, said family conflicts and poverty remain among the major causes of school dropout and substance abuse among students.
“When you look at the communities we live in, many family-related challenges contribute to children dropping out of school. These discussions are helping students understand the importance of education and staying away from harmful behaviors,” he explained.
He further praised the project for supporting disadvantaged students, especially through the provision of school materials and school meals that enable them to attend classes regularly and study in better conditions.
The Women Plan Rwanda project had already been supporting 60 students at Groupe Scolaire Saint Dominique Savio Kizibere. To ensure that the campaign’s message reaches above 2400 learners at the school, the awareness event brought together students, teachers, and school leaders to educate them on preventing drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, and school dropout.
Join Us
Educate a child. Empower a generation.
With your support, we can expand this life-changing program to reach more vulnerable youth across Rwanda. Together, we can ensure that no child is left behind because of circumstances they cannot control.