Congratulations to the new class of Akilah Students!
Students start classes on January 5, 2012. Akilah has accepted a total of 55 new students for the 2012 school year.
Meet some of the new students:
Patience Uwineza
Born in Uganda, Patience, now 22, grew up in Kigali in a family of 6 children. After completing secondary school in Kigali in 2009, Patience found as job as a waitress. She likes the fact that Akilah supports the education of women. She wishes to reach her academic potential in order to be an example in her community as well as to support local women in need.
Nadine Niyitegeka
Nadine, 20, was born and raised in Rwanda. She grew up with her mother, older sister and two younger brothers in Kigali. After completing secondary school in 2010, Nadine found employment at a local grocery store for one year. When asked what she is looking forward to the most, Nadine answered, “to help my family and my nation be out of poverty.” Among her goals in life, Nadine lists changing society and becoming a good leader.
Nadege Munyaburanga Uwaso
Nadege, 23, was born in Kigali, where she lives with her father and brother. She first heard about Akilah though her secondary school and decided to apply. “I applied because I loved everything about Akilah, because it trains girls to excel as wise leaders and I wanted to gain more knowledge about leadership and hospitality management,” she says, discussing her decision. One day she hopes to positively contribute to society and the country as a whole. She wishes to start her own organization with the mission of helping orphans affected by HIV/AIDS. Through Akilah, she hopes to develop the leadership skills necessary to make this dream a reality.
Berthilde Ukurikiyimana
Berthilde, 25, was born in Rwanda into a family of 6 children. She grew up in the Southern Province, where she studied biology and chemistry in secondary school. After completing school in 2006, she found a job at a local grocery store, where she worked for the 4 years that followed. One day, Berthilde hopes to open to her own foundation to help women in Rwanda. “I will teach them how to guide their families, how to put their ideas into practice, how they can be leaders,” she says, discussing her future goals. “I think that Akilah will give me good direction for my idea.”
Vestine Ukwishaka
Vestine, 23, was born and raised in Kigali, Rwanda. She studied Letters and Literature in Secondary school, completing her degree in 2008. Upon completing school, Vestine secured a job at Kicikiro Driving School, where she worked for 2 years. She decided to apply to Akilah after hearing an advertisement on the local radio. She is looking forward to Akilah’s community involvement, stating that she in excited about the opportunity to interact with skilled professionals.
Marie Grace Uwamariya
Marie Grace was born and raised in the Ndera district of Rwanda. After completing secondary school in 2009, she began working at Gardens for Health International. Through Akilah, she hopes to gain valuable skills in hospitality management and leadership. She aspires to not only help her family, but also to help all women in Rwanda.
Darline Mageza
Darlene, 21, was born in Burundi but grew up in Kigali, where she lives with her grandmother and cousins. After completing secondary school in 2010, Darlene began working at a local restaurant. Through Akilah, she hopes to grow into a leader. “I want to see the light of my future by Akilah… to have self-confidence,” she says.
Olive Kayitesi
Originally born in Uganda, Olive now lives in Kigali on her own. She completed secondary school in 2008 and soon after began work in Kabeza. It was her former boss who introduced her to Akilah. One day, she hopes to become a hotel manager. When asked how Akilah will help her achieve this goal, Olive responded by saying, “Akilah will help me develop my personal and academic potential by teaching me about the hospitality and tourism industry so that I will become successful.”
Chantal Umutesi
Originally born in Southern Province, Chantal, now 21, lives in Kigali with her mother and brother. Chantal hopes to improve her hospitality knowledge in order to one day work in either the hotel or restaurant industry. In addition, she hopes to eventually have the means to help orphans in Rwanda. She likes that Akilah is devoted to the advancement of women, saying, “I appreciate that Akilah is promoting women in other enterprises.”
Lilian Benimana
Lilian grew up in Rwanda’s Gasabo district with only her mother. After finishing secondary school in 2009, she pursued her interest in the hospitality industry by taking courses in catering and food conservation at the Vocational Training College in Kigali. Lilian is looking forward to increasing her skills in leadership, customer service, English and computers. She is hopeful that with these skills, she will be able to support herself, since money was always tight in her single parent home. “I believe that my future will be the best because of all the skills I will get here in Akilah… this is a privilege.”
Marianne Ishimwe Nyampundu
Nadine, 20, was born in the Korongi district of Rwanda and raised by only her mother. In secondary school, Marianne studied accounting. After completing school in 2010, she found a job teaching for 3 months in Ruragwe Primary School. She decided to apply to Akilah after hearing about the school from a friend. “My goals are to develop my country, my family, my friends and to increase my knowledge,” she says, discussing how Akilah will make a difference in her life. “Akilah will give me the highest knowledge.”
Ernestine Mukundiyukuei
Ernestine, 22, was born and raised in the Gasabo district of Rwanda by only her mother. After completing secondary school in 2009, she found a job working at a secondary school for one year. She decided to apply to Akilah after learning about the school’s dedication to leadership and hospitality, both subjects in which Ernestine is interested.
Aimee Noella Akayezu
Aimee, 21, was born in the Kamonyi district of Rwanda, where she still lives with her sister. After completing secondary school in 2009, she remained in the southern province where she worked for a year. Through Akilah, she hopes to gain the skills necessary to develop into an exemplary leader. She is most excited about joining the business community. One day, she hopes to work in the hospitality industry and dreams of eventually making it to America.
Josiane Gumunyibuke
Josiane, 21, grew up in the Northern Province with only her mother and sister, where she completed secondary school in 2010. She first discovered Akilah through a television advertisement and deiced to apply, “mainly to develop the country and myself as a woman.” She hopes to develop as a woman in all realms of life. She excited to learn how to care for others through Akilah. “I want help people by giving them care in order to get peace and change my future in a positive way,” she said.
Julian Kankunda
Julian, 27, was born in Uganda but grew up in Kigali with her mother and 7 siblings. She studied Humanities at the Lycee de Kigali. After hearing about Akilah through a friend, she decided to apply since she supported Akilah’s mission of advancing women in Rwanda. Julian likes that Akilah “helps women excel in academics and their well being in their communities.” She is confident that through Akilah, she will become a “leader of tomorrow.”
Marie Chantal Mukamuhire
Marie Chantal, 23, was born and raised in the Southern Province of Rwanda. She grew up in a single parent home with her mother and siblings. After hearing about Akilah on the radio, she decided to apply in order to develop the skills needed to make a positive impact in Rwanda. “I am most looking forward to developing my country in order to give a good service,” she says, discussing what she exited about at Akilah, “I want to prepare my future life and develop my family and my country.” She is confident that Akilah will equip her with the skills to do just that.
"1994 will forever remain imprinted in my memory. We need to educate our new generation about what happened even as we forge ahead with nation building. Yes, I must say that it is difficult, but somehow one must gather the strength to carry on with the mission I seek for a better life ahead."