December « 2009 « The Akilah Institute for Women

Archive for December, 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

A New Home for the Holidays

Irene and Salama, Welcome!

These two young women are part of the inaugural class that begins their studies on February 1 at Akilah.

For the Akilah team, 2010 represents the beginning of a vision long in the making. A vision that has been developed and supported by individuals around the world.

To Irene and Salama, 2010 is the beginning of a new future.

A future of hope and opportunity built on education.

Monique Schmidt, the Akilah Program Director, writes from Kigali:

“Why is it important to educate women?” I asked.

“Because otherwise we can do nothing,” Irene said.

“We feel poorly about ourselves without education,” added Salama. “And it is hard to find food. Life is hard without a job.”

Salama, 23, head of her household since age 16 when her mother died of AIDS, lost her father in the genocide when she was 8. Irene, now 20, lost both her parents to AIDS when she was 6. Both young women seek a bright future through an education at Akilah.

I met them through a group of young orphans who meet once a week to give each other support and foster hope. Irene and Salama joined the group in 2003. Both of them now hold leadership positions in the organization. Irene is Vice President while Salama is treasurer.

This orphan community has given Irene and Salama motivation, encouragement, and a network, but both of these bright, articulate women are now stuck. Without the money to pay school fees, they told me, they have no options. They must stay at home and do nothing. They see wasted lives looming in front of them.

Irene dreams of becoming a manager while Salama’s drive pushes her towards owning her own business; so no one can keep her paycheck. However, they both know that to accomplish these goals, they need a good education. Leadership training and market relevant skills.

Irene and Salama have been selected to join the inaugural class of students at Akilah. During the upcoming year, they will take a full course load in classes such as: Leadership and Ethics; Computer Skills; Public Speaking; Health and Nutrition; Hospitality, and others. Learn more about the curriculum of the Foundation Year Program at Akilah.

Watch a new video about Akilah and join the international team that has come together to make this vision a reality.

Make a donation before December 31 and your contribution will be DOUBLED

Posted in Elizabeth D Davis, Rwanda | 2 Comments »

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Co-founder Dave Hughes in Kigali

It’s hard to believe that it has been over a year since Elizabeth and I first went out to the Akilah campus in Bugesera. The mayor of the district first suggested the idea that Akilah could renovate this old government school. At first it seemed too good to be true. Elizabeth and I walked the site for the first time, stunned by its potential and overflowing with excitement and ideas for how we could transform this into a campus full of students.

I am now living in Hong Kong, while Elizabeth has been managing all the day to day operations on the ground in Rwanda. Volunteers in the US have been organizing fundraising events and helping with operations there. It feels like our team is spread around the globe, but we make it work! I just spent 2 weeks in Rwanda. We have tons of work to do since we are starting classes in February!

The first year of Akilah classes will be held in the capital of Kigali while we renovate the Bugesera campus. The classrooms are actually being constructed right now, but will be finished before the end of the year. They are on the site of another organization called REACH.
REACH is run by a close friend of ours, Philbert Kalisa, and a member of the Akilah Advisory Council. Elizabeth first met him years ago because his family is living in Florida so that his children can attend school there. Philbert is a Rwandan pastor and REACH works with genocide survivors around the country.

Examining the construction of the Akilah classrooms in Kibagabaga with Joseph and Philbert from REACH

The REACH compound is located in Kibagabaga, a neighborhood of Kigali. We are close to MTN Center and Kimironko Market, and right next to the Kibagabaga Hospital. Once construction is finished, there will be three large classrooms and three offices. The classrooms have huge windows that look out over the Kibagabaga valley. Akilah students will enjoy beautiful views as they study and work.

The Akilah classrooms and the stunning view of the Kibagabaga valley

My time in Kigali wasn’t enough because our team had so much work to get done. A few of the things I worked on while there:

Several new people have joined our team over the last few months. Interviewing potential candidates was fun but challenging.
Met with a USAID funded project to discuss the possibility of getting support for the Foundation Year classes.
Elizabeth met with UNIFEM to discuss potential partnerships.
Got to catch up with other members of our advisory board and long time friends of Akilah, including Dr. Prince Bosco, Jesse Hawkes, Muhire Enock, and others.
Talked to experts at Electrogaz, the public utilities company, to gather information about connecting the Akilah campus to the grid. There is no electricity out there right now! So either Electrogaz will help us do the necessary installation or we will have to depend on solar. Both are very expensive.
In addition to working on Akilah stuff, I also met with the Minister of Sport, Joseph Habineza, about my project to bring a Rwandan rugby team to Hong Kong in March 2010 to play in a tournament there. Learn more at www.rwandarugby.org

Dinner with Elizabeth and Philbert Kalisa of REACH. (Nice hat Philbert!)

With Muhire Enock, Akilah Program Assistant, at the campus in Bugesera

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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Architecture for Humanity and Pannotia

The Washington D.C. Chapter of Architecture for Humanity first came to Rwanda in November 2008. They spent several weeks at the Akilah campus in Bugesera, taking measurements and photos and exploring every piece of the site. They headed back to DC to begin designing our first phase of renovation and construction. The DC chapter consists of architects from all different fields and specialties in DC. They meet once a week to work on the Akilah design. A year later, they have created a wealth of drawings and images that will be handed over to a Rwandan architect, who will then take the drawings to the construction phase.

We recently began working with another organization, Pannotia, to be involved in this process. Jill Costello and Daphne Petri, the Pannotia partners, have been working on construction and eduation projects for many years in Rwanda. Jill and Daphne will oversee the rest of the design and construction work for the renovation and construction of the Akilah campus. They will work closely with the AfH team and the Rwandan architect.

I was in Washington D.C. the second week of October and we had a wonderful dinner with the Architecture for Humanity team. My family came in from Tampa to meet the architects who have spent a year dedicating all their free time and energy to Akilah. We were joined by Laura Heaton, one of our board members, and Tait Sye, a long time Akilah supporter and advisor. It was a very special night for me to be surrounded by the individuals who have passionately believed in Akilah since the very beginning. All of our planning and brainstorming is now coming to life!

-Elizabeth D. Davis

Elizabeth Davis, Michelle Bove, Shurid Rahman, Laura Heaton, Vrunda Vaghela, Joe Fuentes, Tait Sye

Davis/Holton family in DC to meet the Architecture for Humanity team

Posted in Architecture for Humanity, Elizabeth D Davis, U.S. office | 1 Comment »

Monday, December 7, 2009

Now Accepting Applications for the Foundation Year Program

***The Akilah Institute for Women is now accepting applications for
our first year of students.****

Applications are due December 23, 2009. Please apply today- or help us build our first class of intellectually motivated young women by spreading the word to potential students.

Download the Foundation Year Application.

Highlights of The Akilah Institute Foundation Year

• Intensive one-year program provides a critical foundation in English language studies, communication, computer skills, and critical thinking.

• The Foundation Year is designed to prepare students to begin an Akilah Diploma in 2011. (Beginning in January 2011, Akilah will offer two-year diploma programs at our campus in Bugesera).

• You can complete the Foundation Year and then use the Akilah career center to assist with job placement. OR you can then apply to one of the Diploma Programs that will be offered at our campus in Bugesera district beginning in 2011. (Foundation Year graduates are given priority in the selection process for the 2011 Diploma.)

• The “Introduction to Hospitality” course gives students a broad overview of the hospitality industry. Graduates will develop solid skills and an understanding of a rapidly developing sector in the Rwandan economy.

• Curriculum includes: Introduction to Hospitality, Customer Care, Intensive English, Health/Nutrition, Computer Skills, Public Speaking, and more.

• International faculty and curriculum.

• Guest speakers and experts from the hospitality industry and field trips to hotels and restaurants around the country.

• Special seminars about leadership, art, technology, and media.

• Graduates receive a certificate upon completion of the Foundation Year.

• The Foundation Year program begins on February 1, 2010.

• The program runs until the beginning of December 2010. Students must commit to completing the course in its entirety. Foundation Year students meet five days a week, from 8:30 am-5 pm. Lunch will be served every day on campus.

• This is a very rigorous academic and training course developed for young women who are passionate about becoming leaders and entrepreneurs in the hospitality industry.

Contact info@AkilahInstitute.org with any questions.

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