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R E P O R T 2 017
Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to help expand Rwanda’s global network of friends, to encourage foreign direct investment and to create opportunities for Rwandan students to study abroad. The Bridge2Rwanda Scholars Program was launched in 2011 and to date has helped 175 Rwandan and East African students earn international scholarships to study abroad.
Rwanda was recently named by the United Nation’s Human Development Index as “the fastest developing country in the world.”
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Bridge2Rwanda Scholars Program is to build a fellowship of globally educated young leaders in Africa with the capacity to transform their communities. B2R’s Career Development team in Kigali includes B2R scholar graduates, Happiness Uwase (London School of Commerce, 2015) and Nancy Ndekwe (Abilene Christian University, 2016).
C A REER D E V ELO PM ENT
1
Teach leadership, community service and entrepreneurship
2
Provide career counseling and personal assessments to identify Scholars’ gifts, values, interests and ideal career choices
Nancy Ndekwe
3
Build relationships with employers in Rwanda who provide jobs and summer internships
Happiness Uwase
Scholar Vincent Karenzi
ALUM NI HIGHLIGHT
graduated from Michigan State University in 2017 and returned to Rwanda to begin his career as a procurement associate at Rwanda Trading Company. There, Vincent works directly with local coffee farmers and the company’s 76 washing stations.
“I love being outside and working in the field with farmers. There is so much room for development. I would encourage every student to come back home as much as possible - to stay connected. There are many ways to make an impact.”
B2R Scholars are uniquely equipped to be effective change agents and catalysts across all sectors – private, public, and social.
Jackson Karama
Mpinga Kangabe
graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard
graduated
Academy and is now working as a
University and is currently working as
Lieutenant in the Rwandan Defense
Operations Manager at DuHope, a social
Forces. He is excited about the role the
enterprise that creates a safe and holistic
military plays in developing the country.
way for women to exit prostitution while
from
California
Baptist
walking alongside them in faith, hope, Mutesi Mukinisha
love and dignity.
graduated from Grinnell University and is currently working at the University of
Rina Ntagozera
Global Health Equity. With Dr. Paul Farmer
graduated from Haverford University.
and Partners in Health, UGHE is helping
After interning at the Ministry of Foreign
Rwanda become Africa’s central hub for
Affairs for two years, Rina was hired as an
advanced healthcare.
Executive Assistant.
Remy Manzi graduated from UPenn and was hired by Bank of Kigali as an Executive Assistant to the CEO and the Chairman of the bank.
This summer, Bridge2Rwanda arranged over 100 internships across the following sectors:
Rwanda Employer Network
Business
/
Engineering IT Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board
Bralirwa
Earth Systems
Brarudi
Cimerwa
One Acre Fund
Earth Enable
Rwa- Business Group
Africa Improved Foods
Rwanda Stock Exchange
Rwanda Online
Vanessa Business Project
KLab
Calafia
BK TechHouse
Vodafone
Axiom
VISA
Hexacomb
Dalberg
Zola
BAG Innovation
Lake Kivu Monitoring Project
Vanguard
Clinton Development Initiative
NISK Capital
Architecture Group
SOKKAA
FabLab
The Women’s Bakery
CRJE-Hygebat
4 Blooms
Horizon
Marriott Afritech EJD Jewelry Bank of Kigali Access Bank
Health
Public / NGO
East African Ministries
Rwanda Development Board Office of the Government Spokesperson PSF- ICT Chamber
University of Global Health Equity
Africa Leadership University
Project San Francisco
University of Rwanda
Team Heart
Hope Haven
Clinton Health Africa Initiative
Bridge2Rwanda
Zipline
University of Nebraska Lincoln
Dr. Mizerero Goma/ DRC
BAO
Ifaraka Health Institute/ Tanzania
Idea4Africa
Hospital / Mozambique
Edify
L E A D E R S H I P A C A D E MY
Preparing African students to compete, serve, and lead extraordinary lives
13,000
$
investment per scholar leads to an average of
250,000
$
in scholarships and aid
For the first 16 months of the program, the Scholars immerse themselves in B2R’s rigorous Leadership Academy located at the B2R Training Center on the campus of the University of Rwanda - College of Business and Economics in Kigali. The Scholars make a full-time commitment to the Leadership Academy without any guarantee they will be awarded a university scholarship. In addition, they sign a written commitment that if they are awarded an international scholarship they will return to work in Africa after their university graduation. Rather than focus on individual achievement, each new cohort is challenged to work together as a group to ensure that everyone earns a scholarship. The program includes:
• Academic preparation
• Career mentorship
• Leadership development
• Community service
• College counseling
• Personal development
• Entrepreneurship training
• Industry insight visits
After
completing
the
B2R
Leadership
Academy, Fabrice Bigabiro Mpogazi was awarded a scholarship to Tufts University where he hopes to study computer science. Fabrice believes innovation has the potential to solve many problems, improve the quality of living, and combat social injustice. “I want to be among the solution finders of this world. I’ve learned this year that my life has purpose. With B2R I was given a chance and a reason to be ambitious and to dream. That’s also my mission—to give someone else a reason to dream, a reason to do whatever it is to succeed in their life.”
The Demographics of Class VII
Urban
Men
Rural
Women
From outside Rwanda From Rwanda
B2R selects the most promising students from Rwanda and its conflict-torn neighbors – Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan. For these determined and resourceful Scholars, the program offers a rare opportunity for study abroad and a chance to learn from Rwanda what is possible in Africa.
Building a fellowship of globally educated African leaders nationwide
175 scholars
8
countries
29 states
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Alabama Birmingham Southern College (2) Samford College (3) Arizona Arizona State University (4) Arkansas Hendrix College (3) University of Arkansas - Fort Smith (1) California California Baptist University (1) Claremont McKenna College (1) Harvey Mudd College (1) Pomona College (2) Pitzer College (2) University of Redlands (1) Stanford University (1) Westmont College (3)
Colorado U.S. Air Force Academy (1) Connecticut Trinity College (5) U.S. Coast Guard Academy (1) Yale University (3)
Illinois Northwestern University (3) University of Chicago (3) Wheaton College (1) Indiana University of Notre Dame (2)
Wellesley College (2) Wheaton College (2) Williams College (1) Michigan Michigan State University (4)
District of Columbia (DC) Georgetown University (1)
Iowa Grinnell College (1)
Missouri Westminster College (1) Washington University (1)
Florida Full Sail University (1)
Maine Bates College (2)
Nebraska University of Nebraska (1)
Georgia Agnes Scott College (3) Emory University (2) Morehouse College (2)
Massachusetts Babson College (3) Gordon College (1) Harvard University (4) Massachusetts Inst. of Tech. (1) Tufts University (2 )
New Hampshire Dartmouth College (6) New Jersey Princeton University (2)
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42m+
$
scholarships
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68
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schools in the U.S.
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8
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schools outside the U.S.
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New York Columbia University (3) Cornell University (2) Marist College (2) University of Rochester (10) Union College (2) U.S. Military Academy (1) North Carolina Duke University (1) Pennsylvania Bryn Mawr College (1) Bucknell University (1) Haverford College (1) Lafayette College (1) Lehigh University (2) Swarthmore College (1) University of Pennsylvania (6)
Rhode Island Brown University (4)
Virginia University of Richmond (1)
Germany Jacobs University (4)
Tennessee Sewanee: University of the South (1) Vanderbilt University (1)
West Virginia West Virginia University (2)
Ghana Ashesi University (2)
Texas Abilene Christian University (13) LaTourneau University (1) Rice University (1) Texas A&M University (1) Texas Christian University (8)
Lebanon American University (3) Outside the U.S. Canada (British Columbia) Quest University (3)
Utah University of Utah (2)
United Kingdom University of Edinburgh (1) London School of Commerce (2)
Vermont Middlebury College (1)
France Universite de Franche - Comte (1)
United Arab Emirates New York University - Abu Dhabi (1)
returning to Rwanda are finding good jobs across several sectors and increasing responsibilities. Eleven more Scholars graduated in May 2017 and we expect several of them to return this year or * Scholars next. Generally, Scholars still in the U.S. are completing 12-18 month OPT (Optional Practical Training) internships in the U.S.
S T U DY A B R O A D S U P P O R T
Student Support Coordinator U.S.-based counselors schedule monthly calls with the scholars to review their academic performance, social and spiritual life,
To ensure our scholars succeed academically, spiritually, and socially, B2R provides a support network for each scholar studying abroad.
health, financial needs and any other issues that might arise. Host Family Local volunteers offer their personal guidance; emotional, social and spiritual encouragement; and a home away from home for the scholars, particularly during school holidays and breaks when school is not in session. Financial Support B2R helps fund essential school and living expenses that the student and their family can’t afford and which are not provided by their university scholarship or the local host family.
Linda Murphy Student Support Coordinator
After a very successful, 30-year career in education working as
“It’s all about those kids – who they are and what they do and
a teacher, principal, superintendent, and headmaster, Linda can
being able to support them in some small way. The other parts of
confidently say that this is the most purposeful work she has
my life have been successful and purpose-driven, but I’ve never
ever done.
had that pure sense of purpose. The significance of all of this is life-changing.”
H O S T FA M I LY S P O T L I G H T
The blessings we have received from this experience have been more than I ever dreamed possible,” Charlsey said. “We became ‘U.S. mom and dad’ to two individuals that I consider forever my own. There is not a value you can put on the return of the small investment of time and money compared to the blessings that will come your way.” “We are so proud of them and what they are accomplishing and look forward to seeing them flourish and make a positive impact in Rwanda for Christ in the years ahead,” Jeff said.
Jeff and Charlsey Holler Host family to Janvier and Odile at TCU
Joyeuse Senga
Pacifique Rutamu
Samford University
Texas Christian University
She is a Senator for the Student Government Association
Pacifique serves on the Student Development Services
and an active member of the Multicultural Affairs Committee.
committee and recently was admitted to the Neely Accounting
“My favorite experience being a campus leader has been
Program. “Being admitted into the Neely Accounting Program
seeing how much the multicultural committee has been
was a dream come true. I have always wanted to study business
able to facilitate hard conversations about race and cultural
and specialize in something that I needed the most.”
differences with various campus organizations.”
SUM MER INTERNSHIPS
During their four years abroad, summer internships in Africa keep Scholars connected to their families, friends and country and to the good jobs and career opportunities available for them after they graduate.
Bright Ntambara, Abilene Christian University
Marie Odile Ndayishimiye Uwineza, Westmont College
Internship: Bridge2Rwanda
Internship: Zipline International
Jonathan Iyandemye, Harvard University This summer, Jonathan worked as a Data Analyst at RwandaOnline, a tech company with a contract to digitize all government services in Rwanda by 2019. “I felt incredibly blessed to be a part of a team that’s literally making my country an epitome of good technology and government efficiency. RwandaOnline gave me really high hopes about coming back home and having an impact.”
B 2 R A L U M N I A S S O C I AT I O N
The Scholar-led B2R Alumni Association is responsible for building itself into a life-long fellowship of friends, dedicated and capable of supporting each other and transforming their communities. In June, 90 B2R students traveled to the lake-side city of Gisenyi for an annual gathering where they elected new officers and enjoyed a weekend filled with great speakers and fellowship. Stephen Kinzer, author of “A Thousand Hills,� opened the gathering with a discussion about the future of Rwanda. Other speakers included: Pastor Antoine Rutayirsire; Lucy Mbabazi, Country Director for Visa in Rwanda; and Jean Paul, Country Director for the Clinton Development Initiative. Each speaker addressed a variety of topics such as servant leadership, the dangers of entitlement, and living and working in a secular world.
D O NO R SP OTLIGHT
Duane Donner Duane Donner lives in Birmingham and is the Managing
2 016 F I N A N C I A L S
Partner of Founders Investment Banking. He is not only the newest member of the B2R Board of Directors, he is
REVENUE: $2,266,380
also a faithful sponsor and host family for our Scholars in Birmingham. We want to thank Duane for his generous support throughout the years, as well as all of our B2R supporters who invest in these future leaders of Africa. We could not fulfill our mission without your partnership!
Contributions & Grants
81%
In-Kind Contributions
14%
Other
5%
OPERATING EXPENSES
Programming
87%
Administration
11%
Fundraising
2%
SCHOLARS PROGRAM COSTS
Gap-Year
37%
Study Abroad
33%
Career Development
30%
10 Y E A R S O F B 2 R
Bridge2Rwanda was formed in 2007 to help Rwanda accelerate its development. Ten years ago, we could not have imagined that in 2017 the U.N. Human Development Index would name Rwanda the fastest developing country in the world. To continue Rwanda’s extraordinary progress for another 20-30 years, new leadership and professional talent will be needed. That is why B2R has devoted the last several years to building our B2R Scholars Program and its fellowship of globally educated young leaders, committed to serving their countries and to improving the lives of others. B2R was created a decade ago with a vision to “build a bridge to Rwanda and transform lives at both ends”. We have much for which to be thankful. We have been blessed with an extraordinary family of friends – Rwandans and friends of Rwanda – including Scholars, team members, host families, universities, employers, donors, investors and partners. Rwanda has transformed us, and we pray that it will be used to transform the world.
J. Dale Dawson
Andrea Redmond
Fonda Kempton
Founder, Chair & CEO
Vice Chair
Executive Director
This is Rwanda. Expect more. In only five years, by 2022 over 200 B2R Scholars will have graduated from universities abroad and most will be living and working back in Rwanda and elsewhere in Africa. Our prayer is that when they return, the Scholars will remain committed to loving God and one another, to improving the lives of others, and to serving as catalysts for transforming
“Nothing has greater value than human beings endowed with the knowledge and values needed to achieve their full potential.� – Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda
their countries in Africa.
B R I D G E 2 R WA N D A . O R G