Alumna ’12, Librarian at the Akilah Institute

When I started Akilah, I joined the work-study program. I could do some work at Akilah, and they paid my fees. They also provided lunch for us. I used to leave home without food hoping I would eat at Akilah. I’d eat lunch at Akilah, go home and sleep, come in the next day, eat lunch at Akilah, go home and sleep. That was my way of living. My life started to change. I graduated, and I eventually got a job with Akilah as the librarian. I used to pray, “God, I want my sisters to all be educated.” Because if we got an education, our lives would change. My mom did not go to school. She could only dig in the garden to make money, but it was never enough.

Now, my sister Divine has graduated from Akilah too, and we are helping our younger sister with her school fees. I send 100,000 Rwandan francs (US$134) home every two months to build a house for our family. Divine sends money too. We make sure that we live a very simple life so we can save money. I have to budget carefully because Kigali is very expensive.

Ernestine and her sister Divine

I’m about to finish my bachelor’s degree. I am working hard to grow. You know, if you’re a wise person, you can grow from a small opportunity. Small is better than nothing. If you don’t have anything, you’re stuck, but if you have something small, you can plan according to what you have and grow from there.