The first group of the friars came to Rwanda in 1983. By the bishop they have been given Kivumu. At that time Kivumu was an out-station of Cheza Parish. In that group of the friars (five of them) was Vjeko Curic and former general of the Franciscan order fra Giacomo Bini. They have been working and living with the people of Kivumu and Rwanda in very “simple” and for the people acceptable way.

The School started in 1999 with the first group of 40 students of building and tailoring. Since they had no classrooms, they had to share with the catechumens their classrooms together with the present kitchen as their classrooms. The first director of the School was Friar John Luis Ofm who also ended his term in 2000.

Due to poor living standards, to go to school is not easy and all children who manage to go through primary school are usually not privileged to proceed with the secondary education. In Kivumu we have 3 schools. Thus Friars through well wishers like the benefactors support over 57 children in both primary and secondary schools. However, there are still more children that needs assistance. This support must go on through the whole of their primary and secondary education.

Apart from the normal programmes of the centre, there are days of sports, singing, drama, dancing and discussion groups based on a chosen topic geared towards growth. These are quite important as they help the youths grow psychologically and help them settle down especially after the war.