Education Benefits 

There are few experiences as inspiring as young adults full of confidence and vision for their productive place in the world.  I experienced exactly that when I spent time with our three Master’s students during my Rwanda trip.  Simon is already a Foundation Scholar.  I am asking the Foundation to accept Emmanuel and Clementine as Foundation Scholars.

Emmanuel came 30 hours by bus, through the vast savannas of Tanzania, from his University in Dar Es Salam where he studies his chosen specialty Ob/Gyn.  A double orphan from 2 years of age, he thinks of Rwanda Rising as his family of origin. “Without Rwanda Rising I would be a village laborer or maybe a tailor but instead, last year I was Deputy Director of a 350-bed hospital, treating a hundred patients a week. My dream now is to serve expecting mothers.”

During my visit, Emmanuel joined our leader team as we visited our students in several boarding schools.  After each of our students spoke about their hopes to become nurses, teachers, counselors, he shared his story – so like many of theirs – of hopeless poverty and loneliness until he found his own identity in boarding school with the security of a promised 3 years of schooling, three meals, his own bed, lights to study under, clean water and friends.

“You too are half way to your dream” he told them.  “Study hard and do not doubt yourself.  You have the same promise I had and I believe you will achieve your goal, just as I have.”

The entire group, including me, was captured in that dream-space of his confidence and encouragement.