“Today’s world requires a different kind of leader, a critical thinker acting with kindness and compassion, who is able to see new ways of facing persistent problems and find innovative approaches to handling new ones.”
— Deo Niyizonkiza, Founder and CEO of Village Health Works
Kigutu International Academy
Cultivating Critical Thinkers and Ethical Leaders
The Kigutu International Academy (KIA) is a secondary boarding school educating a new generation of problem-solvers,
change-makers and entrepreneurial leaders.
A Transformational
Education in a
Unique Setting
KIA opened its doors in October 2020 to a cross-section of promising girls and boys from across Burundi who demonstrated strong academic performance and a track record of leadership in their communities.
The Academy overlooks Lake Tanganyika in the lush mountains of southwestern Burundi. It is located on the beautiful campus of Village Health Works in the village of Kigutu.
Grow Together -
Solve Problems -
Learn to Lead
KIA is a nurturing and vibrant place that reflects the school’s values of service, perseverance and excellence. Students gain the skills and competencies needed to lead in a complex and changing world: teamwork, communication, critical thinking, entrepreneurship and leadership, along with core subject knowledge.
KIA places a special focus on math, science and the use of technology. Instead of rote classroom learning, KIA uses the Village Health Works campus and surrounding community for powerful, real-world applications for learning.
While KIA’s curriculum is innovative, it is also mapped to Burundi’s national curriculum standards. Students gain the subject matter knowledge needed to pass the Burundian national exam and its’ four-year program prepares students to lead locally and compete with the best in the world, providing pathways to universities across the globe.
KIA - an Initiative of Village Health Works
Kigutu International Academy is an initiative of Village Health Works (VHW), an international NGO and leading force in global health equity. VHW has a proven track record of success in partnering with like-minded institutions to improve outcomes in health, education and food security. We believe that quality health care and an education based on critical thinking are inextricably linked, and key drivers of human development.
Learn More…
This video shares more background information on KIA and VHW and documents the school’s launch in October 2020.
Contact Us
Questions? Get in touch with us!
The Kigutu International Academy (KIA) is a grade 10-13 boarding school that is educating a new generation of problem-solvers, change-makers and entrepreneurial leaders for Burundi and beyond.
Village Health Works’ mission is to provide quality, compassionate health care in a dignified environment while also addressing the root causes of illness, poverty, violence, and neglect. Find out more about the rest of the work that Village Health Works does at www.villagehealthworks.org.