Jonathan Kleiman – Media and Marketing
Last month, three members of the Business Council for Peace spoke to Akilah students about what it takes to succeed as a business woman. Here’s what they said.
Archive for the ‘Rwanda’ Category
Monday, July 19, 2010
Business Council for Peace
Monday, July 12, 2010
Africa United
Monique Schmidt – Program Director
The World Cup has just ended, and so nights in Kigali will become quiet again. In Africa, a big theme of the event focused on unity: Africa United. It wasn’t just one country on a solo quest hoping to win, the whole continent had sights set on victory, anyone’s victory. When Nigeria played, everyone cheered for Nigeria. When Ghana played, everyone cheered for Ghana. The show of unity and support uplifted the entire community. Africa backed Africa. With each win, all of Africa celebrated together, and when Ghana, the last African team, lost, all of Africa cried.
However, the World Cup wasn’t the only event that showcased the community and unity which can be found in some areas of Africa. At Akilah, we have gone through an extensive process to select 2 students who will travel to the United States in October to represent Akilah. With such a big reward at stake, one might think that the students would become catty or cut-throat. Amazingly, we saw none of those behaviors. Instead we saw students preparing together, supporting each other, working together. Before the final interviews, they sat in a group encouraging each other.
When we announced the finalists, the room erupted in cheers; even the ones who had not been chosen hugged the winners. We saw no signs of animosity. There seemed to be genuine happiness that at least two had received an incredible opportunity. It was seen as a win for the community, not a loss for the individual.
Both the World Cup and the selection process for the Akilah representatives remind me of the fact that I work in a very unique environment. Instead of a strict focus on individual achievement, our students still embrace community success, with the belief that those who succeed now will not forget to help others succeed in the future.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Naming the Akilah Classrooms
Irene Kagoya, Leadership & Ethics Instructor
The art of naming is not easy- even deciding a name for your own child can be quite challenging. Choosing a name is almost like deciding a destiny for that thing or person.
Last week the Akilah students were tasked with choosing names for our three classrooms. Students started by listing names of the most influential women in the world, and then we voted on the top three. This involved a lot of discussion and debate, because they couldn’t choose just any influential woman- they had to choose women who inspire them, and who they can relate to.
At the end of the day, we named our three classrooms after Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Rwandan First Lady Jeanette Kagame because the Akilah students look up to them as role models.
Students applauded and smiled when their classroom name was announced. Our guest speaker that afternoon started her presentation with a slide and picture of Oprah Winfrey (just a coincidence!) and the students immediately cheered. They already feel a true sense of identification and connection with these strong women.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
“Hotel Akilah” and the Human Rights Tree
Melissa Cushman, Guest Speaker from Colombia Teachers College
Akilah students and their Human Rights Tree
During the first activity of our week-long unit on human rights, I realized the young women of Akilah are definitely not afraid to use their voices to confront the challenges in their communities.
The students were given the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to read as homework before class and we were now going around the room introducing ourselves and reading each human right out-load. This was the first time that most of them had ever heard of the concept of human rights, however, they were all very aware of the social injustices that are a reality in their world. After we went through all 30 universal human rights, I asked them if they had any questions about the terms used in the declaration or about the rights themselves.
Students debate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
One student raised her hand and said, “I don’t understand human right number 26…the part where it says, …you should be able to train for whatever job you would like, or continue your studies as far as you wish…” I asked her what about this right she didn’t understand and she replied, “I don’t think everyone gets to go to school for as long as they want.” I told her she was exactly right—that most people in the world are not able to pursue their education as far as they would like and that this is an example of a human rights violation.
In order to help the students understand the importance of human rights and how it is up to each of us to demand that they are protected, during the next class I led them in an activity I call “The Banana Tree of Human Rights.” The tree consisted of roots, a long trunk, branches and leaves, and bananas. I started the activity by explaining how each part of the tree had a special role to play in its growth and purpose.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Minding Her Manors
Mary Powell – Lead Instructor
We have all been gearing up for an exciting summer on campus, but didn’t realize that this summer would be a time for our students to begin to blossom outside of Akilah, too!
Last month, four of our students were offered positions at The Manor, a boutique hotel that has just opened in Kigali.
On her first day at work last week, Anita, one of our best students, was promoted from the Housekeeping department directly to Reception.
Anita is now the face of the Manor – an enormous responsibility and a source of pride for every member of our Akilah family. Anita spent last weekend using the skills she’s gaining here to welcome The Manor’s first guests.
Akilah staff are not the only ones watching Anita’s career bloom, however. In the last few days, Anita has inspired over ten other students to step out of their comfort zones and enter Kigali’s job market. Our Program Director, Monique, has written letters of recommendation to a variety of companies around the city. Some students have applied to work in Customer Service at a top telephone and internet provider, some have applied for training at Rwanda’s premier coffee shop, and some have sought to become Anita’s colleagues at The Manor.
As Akilah’s hospitality instructor, the last two weeks have given me a renewed pride in my students. In only half a year we have built a richly supportive environment in which students are learning new skills as they develop confidence and inspire each other to go out and create a place for themselves in the new Rwanda.
In March, students wrote poems about their dreams for the Dream Flag Project. Here is what Anita had to say. I think she is well on her way.
I am the Dreamer.
I dream so wide.
I dream I am a sunrise in the sky.
I dream I am a tall tree in the forest.
I dream I am a leader, somewhere, somehow.
This is all about my dreams.
I dream I’ll hold the hands of those who are weak.
I dream I am a peacemaker in my society.
I dream so big.
I dream I’ll be the moonlight in my nation.
I dream I’ll rise up like a new flower.
I dream so big.
I dream one day I will speak to the world.
I dream I’ll be one of the inheritants of the Kingdom of God.
I am the Dreamer.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Leadership & Presentations – The Critique (PART II)
Jonathan Kleiman – Instructor
Several weeks ago, each student delivered a speech about her vision for the future to practice speaking before an audience. The following week, the students watched and critiqued their speeches. Here’s what happened.