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Maranyundo Initiative

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Maranyundo Initiative

The Maranyundo Initiative supports the Maranyundo Girls School & other educational programs in Rwanda They are a family. Rich and poor they are the same.

The Maranyundo Initiative founded and supports the Maranyundo Girls School in Naymata Rwanda, helping MGS to accept over half its students from economically vulnerable families, to support teacher salaries and enrichment, and to build and maintain the buildings. The School provides 450 middle and high school girls with a first rate National curriculum, taught by dedicated degree-qualified teacher

s and harbored in a vibrant and safe residential community in which to learn. The School opened in 2008 and in 2011 the school ranked first in the National Exams. This is a remarkable achievement for a school dedicated to providing opportunity to the economically vulnerable and is testimony to the hard work and commitment of these young girls and their teachers. An independent school open to students of all faiths, Maranyundo is now owned and run by the Benebikira Sisters, a Rwandan order of Roman Catholic nuns, highly respected for their commitment to academic excellence and their unwavering compassion and heroism during the genocide. The Maranyundo Girls School has high standards, believing that all students, no matter their personal background, can achieve at the highest level. And the Maranyundo Girls School is dedicated to educating the whole person by creating a community of girls supporting and teaching and learning together no matter what their background or abilities. The Sisters foster the building of that community with responsibilities for the campus, the classroom and themselves.

09/03/2026

Meet Board Members Lisa Tellekson and Lydie Uwantege.

Lisa Tellekson, Board Chair, worked with the founding group of women and dedicated volunteers to raise the funds needed to build the Maranyundo Girls School in 2005. After years of supporting Maranyundo, Lisa joined the Board in 2020 and became Board Chair in 2023. Lisa’s daughters are also Maranyundo supporters and her daughter Willa ran in the Falmouth Road Race this past August to raise funds for Maranyundo. Lisa works as the Foundation Administrator for Theodore Edson Parker Foundation in Lowell.

Lydie Uwantege has over a decade of experience across infrastructure and operations. A Civil Engineer by training, she currently leads operations at Delta Developers–Fortico Group, spanning oversight of projects and compliance, governance and institutional relations. She joined the Board in 2025, contributing to its governance, partnerships and growth, alongside a strong commitment to girls’ education and community empowerment. Beyond her professional work, Lydie is a poet and author of A Melody in Words, reflecting her longstanding passion for writing and creative expression.

09/02/2026

In our series, Get to Know Our Board Members, we're excited to introduce the incredible people whose passion helps make Maranyundo's mission possible.

Melissa Carr, Vice Chair and Education Chair, having spent a month teaching at the Maranyundo Girls School in 2016 and living and learning there with her family, Melissa joined the Maranyundo Board in 2018 and became Vice and Education Chair in 2022. She is a long-time educator with prior experience leading an international NGO that conducted cultural and educational exchange programs in countries of the former Soviet Union. Melissa has been teaching social studies courses in world history and international issues and coaching track and field at Concord-Carlisle High School for 20+ years.

Annie Weiss, PhD, Development Chair, first visited the Maranyundo School in 2013 and joined the Maranyundo Board in 2023. She is a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience. She currently sees patients in her private practice.

08/27/2026

Congratulations to the incredible Maranyundo Girls School Class of 2026!

Their hard work, dedication, and achievements are truly inspiring. As they step into their next chapters, may their futures be filled with opportunity, purpose, and continued success.

Here’s to all they will accomplish and the lasting impact they will make!

08/25/2026

The countdown is on! We’re just six weeks away from the Maranyundo Fall Gala on Saturday, October 3rd!

Take a look back at some special moments from last year’s Gala as we count down to this year’s celebration.

Become a Gala sponsor and join us for an exclusive VIP Meet & Greet Cocktail Hour from 5–6 PM with MGS alumnae and Head of School, Sister Laetitia Musanabaganwa (pictured on the left in the first photo).

We can’t wait to celebrate with you! Tickets and sponsorship information are available through the link in our bio.

08/20/2026

We’re excited to announce that Susan Wornick, former WCVB-TV news anchor and investigative consumer reporter, will be the MC for the Maranyundo Fall Gala!

We’re honored to welcome Susan as we come together to celebrate an evening of vision, impact, and opportunity on Saturday, October 3rd. We look forward to gathering with you for a memorable night in support of Maranyundo Girls School

Tickets and sponsorship information is linked in our bio.

08/18/2026

Last Sunday, Joshua Schumacher and Willa Tellekson-Flash took on the Falmouth Road Race in support of the Maranyundo Initiative!

It was an unforgettable day on a beautiful course that began in Woods Hole and finished near Falmouth Heights Beach. We are so grateful to Joshua and Willa for running for Maranyundo and helping support education and opportunity for girls in Rwanda. Congratulations!

There’s still time to support their fundraising efforts! Visit the link in our bio to donate through their pages.

08/13/2026

Kinyarwanda is more than Rwanda’s national language — it is the language of everyday life, spoken by nearly 99% of Rwandans and deeply woven into the country’s culture, history, and shared identity.

At Maranyundo Girls School, students celebrate the beauty and importance of Kinyarwanda while also learning English and French — languages that expand opportunities and connect them with the world. By honoring their heritage and building cross-cultural communication skills, Maranyundo girls are becoming leaders who can bridge communities locally and globally.

Because language does more than help us speak — it carries stories, strengthens connections, and helps us understand one another.

08/11/2026

This month we’re celebrating Umuganura, Rwanda's National Day of Thanks—a time to reflect on the blessings of the harvest, honor the community, and express gratitude for the people who help us grow.

At Maranyundo Girls School, we are grateful for our students, dedicated teachers, generous supporters, and partners who make it possible for young women to learn, lead, and thrive. Together, we are cultivating knowledge, opportunity, and a brighter future for the next generation.

Who are you grateful for?

08/06/2026

Every mile makes a difference!

Next Sunday August 16th, Joshua Schumacher and Willa Tellekson-Flash are taking on the Falmouth Road Race to help create life-changing opportunities for girls in Rwanda.

Each runner is raising at least $1,500 to support the Maranyundo Initiative, providing scholarships for students at Maranyundo Girls School and strengthening education through the Maranyundo Training and Learning Center. Together, they're helping empower the next generation of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

Help Joshua and Willa reach the finish line — by supporting their pages through the link in our bio.

08/04/2026

Did you know that 58.7% of girls in Rwanda's upper secondary schools choose STEM fields? At Maranyundo, students are building on this momentum every day through robotics, engineering, coding, makerspace projects, and hands-on scientific learning that prepares them to solve real-world challenges.

By investing in girls' education, we're helping shape the next generation of scientists, engineers, and changemakers.

Address

14 Alberta Terrace, Unit 1
Cambridge, MA
02140

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://linktr.ee/maranyundoinitiative

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