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Participants in the Endline Workshops on children’s and adolescents’ mental wellbeing pose for a group photo at the University of Rwanda-Remera Campus, Kigali.

The University of Rwanda is hosting Endline Workshops from 11 to 14 May 2026 at its Remera Campus in Kigali, bringing together researchers, trainers, and practitioners committed to advancing the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The workshops are part of the project “Promoting Children’s and Adolescents’ Mental Wellbeing in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),” an initiative funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and implemented in partnership with University of Aberdeen and Addis Ababa University. In Rwanda, the project is jointly led by the University of Rwanda - College of Education and the University of Rwanda - College of Medicine and Health Sciences.

The initiative focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a school-based mindfulness intervention designed to improve the mental wellbeing of children and adolescents. Through collaboration among experts in education, health sciences, and applied research, the project seeks to generate evidence-based approaches that respond to the growing need for mental health support among learners.

The workshops were officially opened by Prof. Wenceslas Nzabalirwa, Principal Investigator and Country Lead of the project, who welcomed participants and emphasized the importance of collaboration, commitment, and teamwork throughout the workshop sessions.

In his opening remarks, Prof. Nzabalirwa noted that the workshops bring together trainers and researchers working across different components of the project, creating an opportunity to strengthen coordination and deepen collaboration among participating teams.

He reminded participants that the workshops are part of a broader series of activities under the project, including a Policy Event scheduled for 15 May 2026 at the University of Rwanda Headquarters, as well as the International Conference on Re-shaping Education for a Sustainable Future, which is being organized by the University of Rwanda–College of Education and will take place from 15 to 17 June 2026 at the University of Rwanda-Gikondo Campus.

Prof. Wenceslas Nzabalirwa delivers opening remarks during the Endline Workshops at the University of Rwanda Remera Campus.

He encouraged participants to work closely together in preparing quality presentations, scientific outputs, and recommendations that will contribute meaningfully to both events. He further stressed the importance of maintaining commitment, collaboration, and focus in order to achieve impactful and productive results from the project.

The Endline Workshops have brought together principal investigators, researchers, and practitioners from Rwanda and partner institutions. Designed as interactive working sessions, the workshops provide participants with an opportunity to critically examine research findings and strengthen the scientific rigor of the project outputs.

Throughout the four-day engagement, participants are conducting detailed analyses of qualitative and quantitative data, reviewing health economics evaluations, and engaging in interdisciplinary discussions aimed at refining the project’s analytical framework. The sessions are also supporting the preparation of scientific manuscripts and the consolidation of evidence generated through the intervention.

As mental health continues to emerge as a critical issue affecting learners across the region, the workshops reflect the growing role of universities and research institutions in generating practical, research-informed solutions to societal challenges. By linking research, practice, and policy, the University of Rwanda continues to strengthen its contribution to advancing the wellbeing of children and adolescents in Rwanda and beyond.

Story by

NTIRANDEKURA Schadrac
PRO, UR-College of Education