Crowdfunding Launched to Promote School Health Checkups in Rwanda

Children receiving medical examinations

AMDA (NPO), an organization dedicated to humanitarian activities worldwide with the motto "We will go anywhere if there is a life to save," (Headquarters: Okayama City, Director: Hirofumi Sato) has launched a crowdfunding campaign on the site "READYFOR" to promote and establish school health checkups in Rwanda. The fundraising period is from June 12, 2026 (Fri) to July 27, 2026 (Mon), with a target amount of 700,000 yen.

URL: https://readyfor.jp/projects/171459

AMDA's 10-Year Journey with Rwanda

In Rwanda, children often attend school without realizing they have health issues due to insufficient opportunities for medical checkups. Overlooking physical discomfort or developmental challenges can lead to impacts on learning and increased absenteeism. School health checkups are a crucial mechanism for early detection of children's health problems and connecting them with appropriate support. However, if this system is not adequately established, it affects children's opportunities to learn and their future potential.

Since 2015, AMDA has been working to promote school health checkups in Rwanda in collaboration with the NPO "Rwanda Education Support Association" (Headquarters: Fukushima City, Representative: Mari-Louise Eienru). From 2016 to 2019, medical professionals were dispatched from Japan to Rwanda, conducting school health checkups for over 3,000 children in total. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel from Japan was suspended. However, in 2024, local doctors took the lead in resuming school health checkups, and currently, approximately 1,000 children receive checkups annually.

Towards "Establishing" School Health Checkups

The fact that a system is being established where local doctors can continue school health checkups independently is a significant achievement of our past efforts.

On the other hand, various challenges remain to establish school health checkups as a part of Rwanda's medical and educational system, including standardizing examination methods, improving recording procedures, and establishing data management systems.

Therefore, this September, we are planning to dispatch Japanese experts to Rwanda. They will observe the school health checkups conducted by Rwandan doctors and discuss examination methods, record formats, and data management. Through workshops and discussions with health officials, we will work towards building a sustainable system for school health checkups.

The Aspirations of Doctors Supporting School Health Checkups

Currently, doctors from Kibirizi District Hospital are conducting school health checkups, fitting them in between their regular duties. Since the resumption in 2024, there have been requests from them to have their checkups observed and to receive direct advice from Japanese experts. Although immediate visits were not possible, they have been holding online meetings from early mornings before their shifts, despite the 7-hour time difference with Japan, to discuss how to improve school health checkups.

Their dedication clearly conveys a strong desire to "take root school health checkups in Rwanda."

Aiming for a "Society Where School Health Checkups Take Root"

AMDA, together with Rwandan medical professionals, will evolve school health checkups from an "activity of implementation" to a "system rooted in society."

We kindly request your support for this project towards realizing a society where children can learn because they are healthy, and their future possibilities can be expanded.

[Crowdfunding Overview]

Project Name: "Healthy to Learn." School Health Checkups for All Children in Rwanda

Period: June 12, 2026 - July 27, 2026

Target Amount: 700,000 yen

Use of Funds: Travel expenses for Japanese experts, local activity costs, workshop expenses, etc.

*This project is supported by the Reijiro Hattori Africa Fund. This crowdfunding campaign is to raise funds for a portion of the costs not covered by the grant.

About AMDA (NPO)

AMDA (NPO) is an "NPO" certified by Okayama City that provides humanitarian aid focused on health and medical care to people suffering from war, disasters, and poverty worldwide.

Since its establishment in 1984, AMDA has implemented projects in 67 countries. Emergency relief activities have been conducted in 62 countries on 259 occasions (as of March 2026). In times of conflict or disaster, AMDA not only provides emergency medical aid to victims but also engages in reconstruction support. The organization also continues long-term activities such as maternal and child health in India and endoscopic technology transfer in Mongolia and Nepal.

[Organization Overview]

Organization Name: AMDA (NPO)

Organization Address: 3-31-1 Ifuku-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, 700-0013

Director: Hirofumi Sato

Business Activities: An international medical volunteer organization providing health, medical, and reconstruction support domestically and internationally to people facing difficulties in life due to disasters, conflicts, poverty, etc.

Established: 1984

HP: https://amda.or.jp