HATWJ and Partner Schools

HATW have supported the development of a school garden by helping up-skill teachers through accessing training on sustainable agriculture. In collaboration with Marshal Papworth we support people from our partner project communities to study a 10-week programme at top agricultural university, Harper Adams, in the UK. The school garden provides food for the street children, who receive 2 meals a day, 7 days a week.

Last year we were able to bring Father Emmanuel, headteacher at GS St Paul Muko, over to Jersey along with two other headteachers so that they could learn about schools here. Father Emmanuel was particularly impressed by the inclusion programme and was determined to do something for disabled children in his school when he returned.

Disabled children are usually hidden away, kept at home because there is no provision for them in large classrooms with 60 – 80 children. Father Emmanuel has now registered 84 children and found premises and teachers for them.

Date: Ongoing

In Bugarama, Rwanda, many girls face ongoing challenges to their education due to a lack of access to menstrual hygiene products and safe, private facilities at school. To address this, Hands Around the World Jersey is working closely with nine partner schools to break down barriers to girls’ education and promote dignity, health, and opportunity.

The project supports the creation of Girls’ Hygiene Rooms in each school, providing a safe and private space for girls to manage their menstrual health. These facilities are complemented by the distribution of dignity bags containing essential items such as pads, underwear, soap, and washcloths. School matrons play a key role by offering counselling and support to help girls feel confident and cared for.

Already, the impact has been deeply felt. Schools with hygiene rooms and support services in place have seen reduced absenteeism, improved academic focus, and fewer teenage pregnancies. The first completed hygiene room has even been recognised by local education authorities as a model for future development. By providing both practical support and emotional care, this project is giving girls the tools they need to stay in school, thrive, and build a brighter future.

Jean Damascene, senior teacher at GS St Paul Muko, has come up with a scheme to tackle the root causes of children dropping out of school, namely household poverty, which means families can’t afford basic school materials and uniform.

The focus of the initiative will be on optimizing the use of the families’ available land through sustainable pig farming and backyard gardening. Through his project, selected families will receive pigs and training designed to maximize their land’s potential, teaching effective methods for crop cultivation and pig rearing. This approach will enable them to generate a sustainable income and improve their quality of life using their existing resources, with an emphasis on livestock management and organic gardening techniques.

Date: Ongoing

In Bugarama, many children face the daily struggles of street life—poverty, hunger, and lack of access to education. In response, Muko School, supported by Hands Around the World Jersey, launched a programme to welcome these children into school and provide the food and care they need to thrive.

What began with 150 children has grown to support over 400, each receiving two nutritious meals a day. With consistent access to food, counselling, and a safe learning environment, these young people are finding stability, confidence, and hope for the future.

Meals are cooked daily using locally available ingredients, and to support long-term sustainability, the school is developing its own food garden. Staff are also being trained in sustainable farming practices through the Marshal Papworth programme.

This initiative is transforming lives—nourishing minds and bodies, restoring dignity, and offering a brighter path forward for Rwanda’s most vulnerable children.