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The organisation operated a kindergarten, scholarship programme, clinic, women’s empowerment group and youth initiatives. It provided education and daily meals to more than 320 children annually, alongside medical care and other forms of support to thousands of community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her experience working with vulnerable children strengthened her belief that every child deserves love, care and opportunities to develop, regardless of their background.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEver since I can remember, I have loved working with children because I see them as pure human beings,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She added that children share similar needs and natural abilities regardless of where they grow up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey laugh the same. They want the same things. They have the same needs: the need for love and care, the passion to learn and the natural curiosity,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Creating spaces where children can thrive<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Mwanga established Tintin Children’s Centre three months after moving to Rwanda. The idea emerged from her personal experience as a mother who struggled to find suitable places where her daughter could spend time outside school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She wanted a space that offered more than conventional entertainment, particularly an environment where children could explore, create and participate in meaningful activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI was looking for something quieter, that could give a child a home experience out of home, with more quality activities,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tintin subsequently developed into a children’s activity centre catering to children aged one to 10, offering activities including baking, swimming, arts, sports, competitions, holiday camps and birthday celebrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The centre has also organised large family events, including a festival that brought together thousands of children and featured entertainers and content creators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mwanga said her understanding of the Rwandan market evolved considerably after establishing the centre, as she realised that some services she initially considered necessary were not necessarily what local families needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her experience also taught her the importance of understanding the community before introducing a business idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After operating Tintin for several years, parents began expressing interest in having a school that followed the same child-centred philosophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This eventually led to the establishment of Petits Artistes in 2025, a bilingual English-French daycare and preschool for children aged one to six.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using art to transform early childhood education<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Petits Artistes, Mwanga has introduced an educational philosophy she developed called the Canvas Approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The approach considers every child a masterpiece in progress, with educators responsible for providing the environment, materials, guidance and support children need to develop their individual abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Under this model, art is not treated as an additional classroom activity but as a central tool for learning and self-expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Children explore different subjects through painting, sculpture, music, drama, movement, nature, gardening, construction and scientific experiments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery child is a masterpiece in progress. We let them create their own canvas, paint their canvas, and the role of the adults is only to give them the tools, the safe environment, the love and the care, to guide them, but not to create it for them,\u201d Mwanga said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She believes children are naturally creative and that education systems should provide more opportunities for them to express their ideas rather than limit learning to memorisation and conventional teaching methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI keep telling my teachers that they are more creative than you. So, when you want to explore something, you let them lead because they know better,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Mwanga, creativity should be an essential part of children’s development because it equips them with the ability to think independently, approach challenges differently and find solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She also believes the early years of childhood are particularly important in establishing the foundation for future learning and personal development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI really want to invest in it and give my best to the kids until they go to primary. I want to build the best foundation for them for the rest of their lives,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Her message to parents who may still be uncertain about the importance of creative education is that creativity extends beyond childhood activities and has lasting benefits in adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCreativity is the key to success in life in everything as adults. Creative thinking is crucial in business, even in managing the family. Any challenge in life, if you have creative thinking, you can solve anything,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond her educational initiatives, Mwanga is developing SATI, an integrated community development initiative in Rwanda that seeks to connect child nutrition, education, agriculture, energy and livelihood opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She hopes to develop the Canvas Approach into a professional educational model that can train educators and be introduced in additional schools in Rwanda, Uganda and eventually other countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Mwanga, her journey has been about bringing together the experiences and knowledge she gained in Israel and Uganda with the family, businesses and community she has built in Rwanda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asked to describe Rwanda in three words, she chose \u201cpeace, light, and friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/11\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-11-06-at-11.29.08-16-1024x683.jpeg\")