In recent years, Rwanda has welcomed a growing Sudanese community—businesspeople, professionals, and families who chose the country for its stability and opportunities. While the ongoing conflict in Sudan accelerated this movement, most arrivals came as investors and active members of the African diaspora seeking continuity, safety, and a fresh start. Among their priorities was ensuring that their children’s education remained uninterrupted. It is within this context that the Al-Azizia Academic Training Center emerged—a pioneering institution built to preserve learning, identity, and hope.
Established by the Al-Azizia International Foundation for Private Education, the center officially opened in September 2025 after receiving approval from Rwandan authorities. It delivers a comprehensive Sudanese curriculum aligned with international standards, supporting learners from primary through secondary levels.
“Our vision is to create an educational landmark in a stimulating and innovative environment,” says Aziza Ragab Saieed Awaden, the founder of Al-Azizia International Foundation for Private Education. “We aim to graduate a generation of leaders capable of competing globally, despite the challenges they have faced.”
Aziza Ragab Saieed Awaden, the founder of Al-Azizia International Foundation for Private Education.
The center was founded not for commercial gain but out of a deep sense of social and professional responsibility. A group of Sudanese shareholders—educators and community members—joined efforts in what they describe as a humanitarian duty: ensuring that Sudanese children in Rwanda maintain continuity in their education and connection to their cultural and academic heritage.
A Lifeline of Stability and Belonging – Rwanda as a Second Home
As Sudanese families settled in Rwanda, some enrolled their children in local schools, while others sought continuity through the Sudanese system. Recognizing this need, the Al-Azizia team built the center on three pillars: inclusion, psychosocial support, and social responsibility.
The school became a space where children could learn in a familiar curriculum while receiving emotional care to help them navigate the stress of relocation. Extracurricular programs—cultural exchanges, sports, competitions, and heritage exhibitions—serve as bridges of understanding between Sudanese and Rwandan communities.
“It’s more than academics,” Madam Aziza notes. “These activities foster friendship, tolerance, and mutual respect.”
The decision to establish the school in Rwanda reflects the country’s reputation for stability, safety, and its welcoming environment for immigrants, investors, and skilled professionals. For many Sudanese families, Kigali has become a reliable base to rebuild their lives, careers, and businesses.
The founders express deep gratitude: “Rwanda is the jewel of Africa. It opened its arms to us, offering our families safety and a true second home.”
The Rwanda Development Board, Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided full cooperation during the establishment process, ensuring smooth approvals and support for students taking the Sudanese curriculum. Community leaders in Kimironko, where the center is located, also warmly embraced the initiative.
Overcoming Financial and Emotional Hurdles
Launching a school from scratch came with significant challenges—financial, logistical, and emotional.
Finding a building spacious enough for 12 required classrooms proved difficult, given limited resources. Textbooks needed to be printed or imported, seats and whiteboards purchased, and teachers—many of whom were also displaced—needed stable salaries.
Transporting educational materials from abroad was costly until Badr Airlines stepped in to support in shipping freely, providing a crucial lifeline.
But the emotional challenges were equally profound. Teachers were coping with their own displacement while managing classrooms filled with students processing disruption and uncertainty.
“Education alone is not enough,” the team emphasizes. “We must also restore a sense of belonging, hope, and emotional stability.”
Staff Members
The center’s story is part of a larger African narrative—one of unity, resilience, and shared responsibility. Rwanda has become a melting pot of African communities, a place where solidarity is lived daily.
“We discovered a loving and hospitable Rwanda,” the founder says. “Here, we are building a spirit of African cooperation—a bond between our peoples.”
Al-Azizia is only at the beginning of its journey. Plans include opening branches in other neighborhoods as the Sudanese population grows, strengthening language programs, and partnering with Rwandan civil society organizations. These initiatives aim to enrich education through Arabic, English, French, and Kinyarwanda learning programs, along with broader cultural activities.
The long-term dream is clear: to nurture a generation equipped to rebuild Sudan—confident, educated, resilient, and rooted in values of peace and solidarity.
“We are planting seeds of hope,” the founders say. “A generation is being prepared from Rwanda—our second home—to one day contribute to a better Sudan.”
