Monique Schmidt, Program Director
My first 2 months here have been a flurry of activity, trying to soak up as much about Akilah and Rwanda as possible, trying to learn about our girls and what they have been through, trying to connect the different realities I see emerge. During my first weeks here, I visited the genocide memorials. I saw the blood on the walls, saw the grenade holes in the wall, saw all the pictures of girls who didn’t make it.
Then I talked to our girls. In over 75 interviews, I became overwhelmed by how often I got the same response, “I’m an orphan” ”I’m head of household.” “I’ve been head of household for many years.” Then I asked, “So, why Akilah?” And again, most often I got the same response. “I want to help my country” “I want to help my country. Rwanda needs educated women to grow.” It makes me wonder how many of the American students I have taught previously have listed “helping their country” as the reason they want to get an education.
Finally, after the interviews and the exam, I handed out the acceptance letters, and the stoic, reserved faces erupted into smiles and laughter. Akilah is ready to begin! And I started thinking about what it really means to open a school for young orphaned women. Lives are about to be changed: theirs…and mine. We begin a journey into growth and success, and hopefully, friendship and laughter.
Joy Businge, Operations Manager; Monique, Program Director; Elizabeth, CEO.
Monique, you continue to inspire me from a distance. Please send me an email when you get a chance. Thinking of you often! Marlena