Two Akilah Students are making the journey from Kigali, Rwanda to the United States for the first time. Come join us in your city and meet these remarkable young women and learn more about the work of the Akilah Institute for Women.
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For information about the November 17th event at the Akilah campus in Kigali, please contact Lisa Martilotta at Lisa@AkilahInstitute.org.
Meet the jet setters
We are very pleased to announce that Allen and Noella are representing Akilah on the Metropolitan Safari tour throughout the United States this autumn to meet supporters and share their experiences.
Noella Abijuru, 26 years old, is a survivor of the 1994 genocide. After Hutu neighbors killed her father, her family went into hiding for several months, safeguarded by a sympathetic Hutu. Noella and her family later returned to their community and found the path to the future was through reconciliation. Overcoming incredible adversity, she studied primary school in the Southern Province and attended Mukingi secondary school. She was honored to be selected by MTV Africa to interview President Kagame and, after receiving a scholarship from an Akilah donor, to travel to Hong Kong for an internship as part of her studies. “Since I have joined Akilah, my life has totally changed in a very positive way. I have started to have dreams for my future. In 10 years, my goal is to own and operate my own hotel.”
Allen Kazarwa, 20 years old, was born in Uganda but was orphaned at an early age when her family returned to Rwanda in 1994. Allen diligently studied at FAWE Girls’ primary school and Kiziguro secondary school, where she excelled at physics, math, and chemistry. Since enrolling at Akilah, Allen has become the secretary of her political youth group in Kigali and is one of many Akilah students employed in the emerging hospitality industry in Rwanda. “I have no siblings or parents, but I have hope for my future. I want to become an independent woman and start my own business. Akilah is giving me the skills to reach my goals.”
