Applications are now open for the Iteme Rwanda Program – Cohort 2026. The four-month program is designed to prepare refugee and vulnerable host community students for a successful transition from secondary education to tertiary education through academic preparation, English language improvement, technology training, and university application support.

The Iteme Program is implemented by Kepler in collaboration with scholarship providers, universities, admissions offices, and humanitarian partners. Through these partnerships, Iteme connects talented but underserved youth with higher education opportunities in Rwanda and around the world by providing guidance throughout the scholarship and university application process.

SCHOLARSHIP BENEFITS

Participants selected for the Iteme Program will benefit from:

·       Four months of academic and personal development training.

·       English language improvement.

·       Basic digital and technology skills training.

·       Soft skills and professional development.

·       CV and essay writing support.

·       Mathematics and intensive reading and writing sessions.

·       Leadership, gender equality, and youth empowerment training.

·       Career and higher education guidance.

·       University visits, webinars, and information sessions.

·       One-on-one academic and career advising.

·       Scholarship search and application support.

·       Opportunities to connect with universities and scholarship providers in Rwanda and internationally.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Refugee Applicants

Applicants must:

·       Have completed secondary/high school (Rwanda National Examination or an equivalent high school diploma from another country).

·       Provide valid refugee documentation, such as a Refugee ID, Proof of Registration (PoR), or Asylum Seeker Certificate.

·       Be residing in or near one of the participating refugee camp locations.

Host Community Applicants (Rwandans)

Applicants must:

·       Have completed secondary school and possess an S6 A-Level Certificate.

·       Provide a valid National ID.

·       Come from vulnerable communities located within the program's host community areas.

Priority Applicants

The program especially encourages applications from:

·       Students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

·       Refugees.

·       Young women.

·       Youth living with disabilities.

·       Final-year secondary school students.

·       Recent secondary school graduates.

·       Students who completed secondary education but have not yet accessed tertiary education.

AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

The Iteme Program focuses on preparing students for higher education through:

·       English language development.

·       Basic technology and digital literacy.

·       Soft skills and professional competencies.

·       University and scholarship application preparation.

·       Career guidance and tertiary education exploration.

Applicants may choose one of the following Iteme learning sites:

·       Kigali - Kinyinya 

·       Mahama Refugee camp

·       Nyabiheke Refugee camp

·       Kiziba Refugee camp

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Applicants must prepare and upload the following documents:

·       S5 Academic Results.

·       S6 Academic Results.

·       High School Diploma (NESA Certificate or equivalent).

·       Refugee ID, PoR, or Asylum Seeker Certificate (for refugee applicants).

·       National ID (for host community applicants).

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

Open the application link at the bottom and fill out the application form.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

During the four-month program, students will participate in:

·       Group discussions and collaborative learning.

·       Individual advisory sessions.

·       Intensive reading and writing workshops.

·       Independent study.

·       University visits and webinars.

·       College and scholarship application support.

Iteme also collaborates directly with universities and scholarship organizations to identify qualified students, share scholarship opportunities, and connect participants with admissions teams and local partners.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Apply before August 5, 2026