Mary Powell, Lead Instructor
Akilah team at staff retreat in Gisenyi
Things are getting exciting here at Akilah! We have just returned from our first retreat as a full staff.
Arriving from several different countries and cities, nine of us took a car trip to Gisenyi, a beautiful town in northwestern Rwanda, to get to know each other and make plans for the coming year. Gisenyi is perched at the northern tip of enormous Lake Kivu, nestled against the border between Rwanda and the war-ravaged Eastern Congo. Staying in an extraordinary family-run hotel so close to such a desperate land reminded us of how far Rwanda has come over the past decade and how much Akilah students will be able to contribute to the region after their time with us.
We began our retreat with a team-building exercise derived from the American Blackfoot Indian tribe. “Kanatapi” is one of many team-building and sharing exercises our staff will continue to do throughout the coming year to ensure group cohesion and let the creativity flow.
Over the course of three days, we crafted an Akilah Community Pledge for all staff and students to sign, made plans for our upcoming opening ceremony, and gave teaching demonstrations for each other before heading back to Kigali.
We’ve all jumped right into preparations for our first Foundation Year classes, which begin next week. We are working hard to ensure that our students have an excellent and challenging experience right from Day One.
As classes begin over the coming weeks, keep your eyes peeled for videos following some of our incredible students through their journey at Akilah!