Welcome to Diane's Blog
All about Diane
Muraho (hello)! My name is Diane Uwamahirwe. I’m volunteering as a Special Educational Needs coordinator on VSO’s early education project in Rwanda. I’m looking forward to keeping you up to date with how we’re getting on and how your support is making a lasting difference to the lives of young children here.
I’m delighted to be volunteering with VSO and to have the opportunity to share my experiences with you all. I’ve worked in education for several years, supporting children with special educational needs. When I heard about VSO’s early education project here, I knew I wanted to be part of it. This felt like my chance to help every child get the learning and life opportunities they deserve. Thank you for standing with me and helping to make a positive impact in my home country.
Too many children in Rwanda still repeat the first year of primary school because they have had no or little quality pre-primary education. Every day they aren’t building the solid foundations needed to flourish in education, they're trapped deeper in the cycle of poverty. With your support, my colleagues and I are leading a range of training to support teachers to give young children the early education they deserve. Through the use of storytelling, puzzles, role-play and games, we’re helping teachers see how play supports a child’s development, not just academically, but socially and emotionally too. Working alongside other organisations, we’re part of an incredible movement to create long-lasting change.
Diane Uwamahirwe's updates
Meet VSO volunteer, Celestin
Muraho (Hello)! My name’s Diane and I’m a VSO volunteer working to support children with disabilities and special educational needs in my home country of Rwanda. I’m delighted to be taking you forward on your sponsor a volunteer journey. Read on to find out more about me and my role, and the difference your support is making for children and families here.
A brighter future ahead: Meet five-year-old Joshua
Muraho (Hello)! My name’s Diane and I’m a VSO volunteer working to support children with disabilities and special educational needs in my home country of Rwanda. I’m delighted to be taking you forward on your sponsor a volunteer journey. Read on to find out more about me and my role, and the difference your support is making for children and families here.
Meet VSO volunteer, Mary
Muraho (Hello)! My name’s Diane and I’m a VSO volunteer working to support children with disabilities and special educational needs in my home country of Rwanda. I’m delighted to be taking you forward on your sponsor a volunteer journey. Read on to find out more about me and my role, and the difference your support is making for children and families here.
Meet primary school teacher, Olivier
Muraho (Hello)! My name’s Diane and I’m a VSO volunteer working to support children with disabilities and special educational needs in my home country of Rwanda. I’m delighted to be taking you forward on your sponsor a volunteer journey. Read on to find out more about me and my role, and the difference your support is making for children and families here.
Get a closer look at my work in Rwanda
Muraho - hello! As well as sending your update in the post, I’m thrilled to share some photos from behind the scenes of my volunteering in Rwanda. It’s been a really powerful journey so far; during my time here I’ve seen so many children go from shy and reclusive to outgoing and confident. Thanks to the support of people like you, young children won’t be left behind in their education.
Each of the photos below tells a story – not just of my journey – but of our community coming together to spark something in a generation. I really hope you enjoy looking through them!
Hello from Rwanda
Muraho (Hello)! My name’s Diane and I’m a VSO volunteer working to support children with disabilities and special educational needs in my home country of Rwanda. I’m delighted to be taking you forward on your sponsor a volunteer journey. Read on to find out more about me and my role, and the difference your support is making for children and families here.
Want to ask a question?
VSO’s Sponsor a Volunteer team will share your message with the VSO volunteer and get back to you with a response. Your email address will not be used, disclosed or transferred to any VSO personnel, it will be stored securely in accordance with VSOs privacy policy. A sample of messages including display names will be published to the Sponsor a Volunteer homepage each month.
Your latest questions answered
Thank you for your words of encouragement.
I hope you have been enjoying your updates from Rwanda!
Diane
Thank you so much for always taking the time to come and say hello – it’s great to hear your kind words and encouragement, even from thousands of miles away!
It’s been a joy getting to know Joshua and to be able to watch him blossom into a lovely, confident young boy 😊 Teacher Olivier has been fantastic at helping him learn and grow.
Take care and speak soon,
Diane
Thank you for coming to say hi, it’s nice to hear from you!
Work here in Rwanda has kept me very busy but it has been great to know I’ve been a part of the change that’s happening for children in education. It’s been a joy seeing their confidence grow overtime.
Diane
We bring about lasting change not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers to empower communities in some of the world’s poorest regions. You can read more about VSO’s areas of work and discover more about our projects here.
Hear from our volunteers
Our volunteers are working right now around the world to help with education, food and health. Click on someone below to learn more about their work.
Theonas Kalumika
Moni onse! I’m Theonas Kalumika, an education specialist volunteer in Malawi. Before I started volunteering for VSO, I was a primary school teacher for 13 years and spent 18 years as a primary education advisor. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to update you more on how your support is changing the lives of many children.
Raj Karki
Namaste! My name is Raj Karki. I’m volunteering as a Diffusion Advisor on VSO’s Gender-Based Violence Prevention and Response project in Nepal. I’m looking forward to keeping you up to date with how we’re getting on and how your support is making a lasting difference to the lives of women and girls here.