As IFAK Don Bosco Kimihurura School celebrated the feast of John Bosco and its 62nd anniversary of providing education in Rwanda on Saturday, January 7, 2026, Cleophas Barore, Director General of the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), reflected on his educational journey in this school and the values he says became pillars of both his life and professional career.
Cleophas Barore studied at IFAK Don Bosco Kimihurura from 1985 to 1991, where he received knowledge and moral education that, according to him, have never left him and which he still considers a unique legacy.
He said:
“On this 62nd anniversary, it is a joy to be together with the school’s leadership, teachers, and alumni, thanking God and also acknowledging the priest through whom God worked—Don Bosco—by instilling in him a heart that loved young people and cared for children’s well-being, especially those from underprivileged families.”.
He particularly recalled a unique tradition at IFAK Don Bosco, where students were given a daily word of wisdom, known as “le mot du soir”. While this tradition has now also become “le mot du matin” to include day scholars, “le mot du soir” still continues for the boarding students
He said:
“That daily word was something you could never forget. Knowing that this tradition continues—that students are still given words of wisdom and advice every day—is something every former IFAK student deeply misses.”
Barore noted that a day like this, when he meets former classmates, is an opportunity to remember the history and moments that shaped their school life, even though many things have changed in today’s education system.
He said:
“When you see those you studied with, those you found there and those you left behind, it becomes a beautiful moment of remembrance. Many things have changed, but some things remain unchanged and continue to define IFAK’s history and the era we experienced.”
He also spoke about the Salesian approach to education, which is based on closeness to children, where educators shared daily life with students.
He said:
“We played football with priests and brothers. There was a strong sense of fraternity, and they reminded us that even if we did not continue on the path of religious life, at the very least we should become citizens who are useful to the country.”
Among the values he says he gained from IFAK are humility, discipline, and a commitment to lifelong learning. He added that even the punishments students received were intended to build them, as punishment was used as a form of teaching.
He said:
“If you were late, the punishment was to read a book and later present a summary of it. You were punished, but you left having gained knowledge. It was a form of corrective discipline.”
He believes that today’s IFAK students are fortunate, as the school continues to uphold Don Bosco’s vision of educating a well-rounded person who contributes to both the Church and the nation.
He said:
“We heard a priest say: we are still pursuing Don Bosco’s dream. I think that if you pay attention and follow carefully, no child can leave IFAK with an empty mind.”
He encouraged today’s students to understand that dreams require hard work, good conduct, and perseverance—especially for those who aspire to reach the level of people they consider role models.
“Today’s world shows you where people have reached, but not the path they took to get there. If you want to be like someone you admire, you must first understand what it required of them. It requires hard work, higher standards of behavior, patience, and consistency. Knowledge without good values is meaningless.”
Cleophas Barore is the Director General of the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA), a position he assumed in 2023. As he has often stated in various interviews, he began his journalism career on January 5, 1995, working at ORINFOR. He became widely known through programs such as “Makuru ki mu binyamakuru?” and other shows on Radio Rwanda and Rwanda Television. Barore also served as Chairperson of the Rwanda Media Commission (RMC) from December 2016 until November 29, 2024.
