A Joyful Learning Journey Begins—Rwanda leads the Way

Teachers studying together in the Fun Learning Café of the Fun Learning Campus in Kigali, Rwanda.

In early 2025, Kigali became home to the first-ever comprehensive and full version of the Fun Learning Campus (FLC)—a unique teacher training hub transforming early childhood teacher education through joyful, play-based learning. Supported by the Business Partnership Program of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, the Campus offers a new model of continuous professional development that is accessible, practical, and rooted in the Fun Learning Approach.

What Is the Fun Learning Campus?

The Fun Learning Campus is more than a training center—it’s a living ecosystem of learning, consisting of three interconnected parts:

1. The Fun Learning Café – A vibrant community space where caregivers come together to learn, reflect, and share ideas over a cup of coffee.

2. The Fun Learning Class – A model classroom where caregivers practice real-world skills and observe play-based learning in action.

3. The Online Campus – A digital platform that connects Kigali to a global learning community, linking educators from Rwanda to peers in 9+ countries.

   
   

Together, these three core elements create a powerful hybrid learning experience supporting both personal growth and professional excellence.

From Vision to Reality: Imanzi School Leads the Way

We are especially grateful to Bernard Muramira and the Imanzi School and Kindergarten, who have fearlessly jumped on the Campus bandwagon. As our first local partner, the Imanzi Team believed in the Fun Learning Campus vision from the beginning and opened their doors to create a space where caregivers can learn, practice, and grow.

As Lynka, one participant on the very first Kigali-site Fun Learning Educator Course put it:

"Being part of this course has helped me to grow both personally and professionally. I’ve learned how powerful, joyful play-based learning can be for children, and I want to support others by sharing what I’ve learned."

Support from Policy and Academia

The success of the Fun Learning Campus is also thanks to the collaboration with key partners:

• MINEDUC and NCDA – We are proud to work alongside Rwanda’s Ministry of Education and the National Child Development Agency to align with national goals for early childhood development.

• Catholic University of Rwanda and University of Rwanda – Our academic partners supporting research, mentoring, and long-term capacity building for educators.

  
  

Learning Through Joy

Our first group of Fun Learning Educators is more than halfway through their 6-month hybrid course, and their shared insights speak volumes:

"Learning is fun when you choose what and how you learn."

"It helps me in my daily work—I let children play freely under guidance, I talk with children instead of punishing them, and I now see mistakes as part of life and learning." Immaculate, teacher

"Fun Learning helps me build strong bonds with kids."

"When children associate you with joy and curiosity, they feel safe and connected." Lynka, teacher

What’s Next?

The Kigali Campus is just the beginning. We aim to train hundreds of caregivers across Rwanda, creating a scalable model for early childhood educator upskilling. As we expand, we remain committed to one simple truth: 

Learning is most powerful when it is fun.