PRAYER FOR CANDIDATES IN THE NATIONAL COMPETITION IS A TRADITION

At the end of each year, the Uwiragiye Foundation , which initiated Penn Blind School , an inclusive school with students living with visual impairments, has been organizing, since 2022, a prayer in favor of the candidates of the national competition at the end of the basic cycle.

Mrs. Sylvie Uwiragiye , founder of this school, takes this opportunity to pray for all the students who are preparing to take the competitive exam, with the aim of encouraging them to overcome fear.

According to this « mother » of the blind, it has been observed that students fail this national test, not because they are weak in class, but rather, because of fear.

This year 2024-2025, she once again took this usual opportunity to pray for the 17 candidates, one of whom lives with a visual impairment, in order to place them in God’s hands, so that they successfully pass this test scheduled for May 26 to 28, 2025.

Sylvie Uwiragiye , accompanied by her husband François, the main donor of the foundation, through his building materials manufacturing company, and with some men of God, arrived at the foundation around ten o’clock in the morning to share prayer with all the children of the foundation, including the 17 candidates for the national competition for the ninth grade, which gives access to post-fundamental education.

Various religious dances and songs were played. The luminary speech of Dr. Victor Barantota , coordinator of the foundation, was centered on welcoming guests to prayer, a sign of support for the event. Then, Mrs. Sylvie Uwiragiye, head of this institution for the school reintegration of children living with visual impairments, followed by greetings to the public by the main donor. The children of the foundation are used to nickname him « daddy foundation. »

As usual, his speeches were only words of encouragement: « You always behave well. Last year, our candidates did well, all succeeded. Today, we have also come to pray for you, so that you may honor yourselves, and also honor our foundation. »

After the Word of God preached by Pastor Emery, it was time for the actual prayer for these children. Before a crowd of participants, and surrounded by men of God, the 17 candidates, kneeling, received the blessing. In a crystal-clear voice, Papa Fondation Uwiragiye prayed for them, followed by the other pastors present.

Penn Blind School is part of the provincial education department of Kabezi commune, in Bujumbura province. Since its students were allowed to take the national competition, it has occupied the top positions in the ranking, with a success rate of 100% during the first participation.

For this year 2025 and for the first time, five students from the social section are preparing to take the state exam, giving access to university education.

It is recalled that the Uwiragiye Foundation is an organization whose objective is to provide educational support to children living with visual impairments. It was founded by Mrs. Sylvie Uwiragiye , in response to the government’s call to support its inclusive education program.

The program stipulates that all schools in the country, whether public or private, must accept any student, if they want to, regardless of their circumstances.

Penn Blind School has taken the lead in implementing this program, where more than 100 sighted students attend classes on an equal footing with blind students.