My husband recently took a trip to Rwanda where he volunteered, advised, and taught business and entrepreneurship classes at the Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology.
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Education has always been a passion of his, and so it was no surprise to me, after years of supporting the Rwanda Girls Initiative, that he would want to travel to Rwanda to see their amazing school and meet these incredible girls.
“The Rwanda Girls Initiative (RGI) was founded in 2009 by Shalisan “Shal” Foster and Suzanne “Soozi” Sinegal McGill, with the vision of providing an education to whom it is not easily accessible.”
– RGI’s website
They chose Rwanda because it was full of hope after a horrific genocide in 1994. As a landlocked country in central Africa, Rwanda is now setting an example for economic growth and stability to surrounding countries. And what better way to influence economic growth than through education? Girls in Rwanda have limited access to secondary school due to family responsibilities, support, and safety, and only about 8% of girls who can attend school graduate. And so the Rwanda Girls Initiative was born, and the Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology welcomed their first class of 90 girls in 2011.
Every ivy league school in the United States has a student from Gashora.
My husband described his trip as inspirational. He said the students were incredibly impressive, smart, determined, and brave. I can’t imagine leaving my village to travel to a boarding school, studying away from my family, graduating, and then leaving my country for college so far away.
The goal is to educate these girls so they can be leaders in their communities. Some will return to Rwanda and start local businesses, teach, provide medical care, and continue to change central Africa for the better.
If you are inspired to support this amazing effort, please visit the Rwanda Girls Initiative for more information! You can donate, sponsor a student, and make a difference.
And remember your little ones are watching… even though my children did not go to Rwanda, they learned a lot from Daddy’s trip. From pictures, videos, and cool presents upon his return, my kids realized there is more to the world than our little neighborhood. And they saw their daddy making a difference in that world!
