Kigali International Community School Begins

With Kigali’s rapid development an increasing number of the international community and returning Diaspora have found Kigali to be a pleasant home in East-Central Africa. As their numbers increased some discovered the need to initiate an English-speaking international school. In October 2005, a few expatriate families in Kigali, Rwanda, joined together to discuss the possibility of creating an international school. From this discussion, the dream of Kigali International Community School (KICS) began.

The dream was to offer excellent education using an American curriculum and certified American teachers with a Christian philosophy. It was hoped that not only would the school be able to serve families already living in Kigali, but it would also help attract new expatriate families to provide aid, development, and investment to Rwanda. The founders of the school desired for KICS to be an inclusive school for people from many backgrounds and belief systems.

Kigali International Community School opened its doors on September 14, 2006, in a small home in the neighborhood of Kacyiru. It began with 25 students in 5 classrooms. Growth was the only option that KICS had.

During the April 2007 school holidays, KICS moved into its new location in the Caisse Sociale 2020 Vision Gaculiro Estate. The new location provided room for rapid growth with 25 classrooms, 10 offices, and access to Christ’s Church in Rwanda Hall across the street. The school sits in the middle of a 300 home estate created to model the hopes for Rwanda’s 2020 Vision. KICS began operating from its new location on 7 May 2007. At this point, the student enrollment almost doubled to 45 students.

KICS operates on a September to July school calendar similar to the American educational system. When the new school year began in September 2007 enrollment increased to 75 students from 20 nationalities. Approximately one-third of the student enrollment is in Rwanda.
The current mix of students provides a wonderful melting pot of languages, cultures, and backgrounds. The families at KICS represent those from Christian missions, Non-government organizations, embassies, and the business community. Many families have found KICS to be a safe place to land in Rwanda with a supportive community willing to thoroughly engage in Rwanda’s development.

KICS now is lead by Head Master Brian Dolinger. KICS has 6 full-time American teachers with the rest of the staff needs being filled by part-time expatriates and full-time teachers from Rwanda and Kenya. The school offers a lab with 20 computers and a large library. Elective courses are offered in art, music, and physical education. Extra-curricula activities include student government, drama, and football (soccer.)

In order to meet the needs of the international community in Kigali KICS enrolls students from Pre-School to Secondary. The school day begins at 8:00 and ends at 3:00.

KICS recently received registration from Rwanda’s Ministry of Education. Currently, it is pursuing accreditation from the Association of Christian Schools International and also Middle States Accrediting Agency in the United States.

For those desiring to view KICS the reception is open each day from 8:00 to 12:00 for tours. In order to find KICS drive on the Nyarutarama Road to the Gaculiro Estate. Turn onto Palmer Nord Road and KICS will be found in the middle of the Estate.

For further information contact the KICS Headmaster, Brian Dolinger at the following contacts:

Kigali International Community School
B.P. 6612
Kigali, Rwanda
Phone: + 250—03-053-057
E-mail: dolingerbc@yahoo.com
www.kicsrwanda.org