Monique Schmidt – Program Director
Most of our students have no reference points for the world of hospitality. As orphans, many of them have never had the opportunity to go to restaurants or hotels. This makes teaching hospitality challenging, yet extremely fun and invigorating. Two weeks ago, one instructor gave our students the assignment to visit the Serena, one of the nicest hotels in Kigali. Last week in class, when we asked how the visit to the Serena went, we discovered that our students had run into several obstacles with the assignment. Many of them lacked the money to take a moto taxi or bus to the Serena. The ones who did make it to the Serena, seeing the glitz, glamour, and modernity, became too shy to actually go inside and look around.
Valentine and Nadine
In five weeks, we’ve made great strides building confidence within our students in the classroom. Our young women, who arrived at Akilah scared and traumatized, now give speeches and act in skits. They’ve overcome cultural barriers and learned how to shake hands confidently while making eye contact. In Leadership class they’ve worked on destroying negative thoughts about themselves. Classrooms have become places which entwine laughter and learning. It’s heartwarming to witness the Akilah staff craft an environment which fosters confidence. However, last week showed us our next challenge: ensuring our students maintain their confidence once they leave the safe environment of Akilah and maneuver through the “real” world.
In an email a friend sent me, she said that in a jungle, once the overhead canopy is cleared, the trees underneath soak up the sunshine and shoot up. At Akilah, I want to make sure that our students get all the sunshine they want.
