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Isabelle Akamariza, far left, is the founder of Solid’Africa. Photo: Solid’Africa.

By: David Dusabirane

Many of us spend decades searching for our life purpose. But Isabelle Akamariza is among the lucky few who discovered hers at an early age. Happily married and mother of one, Isabelle envisions a future where she remains at the helm of Solid’Africa, an organization she started in 2011 to provide food, personal products, and financial help to disadvantaged hospital patients.

She admits, however, that the journey to starting her nonprofit organization hasn’t always been easy. But by believing in herself and in her vision, she found a way to make her dream a reality.

She shares with us the importance of keeping your dream alive and giving back to society. (This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.)

Why did you start Solid’Africa? Where did you get the idea?

I got the idea in 2010 when I came back to Rwanda for a two-week holiday from Belgium, where I was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in law. I met a family friend, Mama Zuzu, with whom we prayed. Mama Zuzu told me that a prayer is more meaningful when it is accompanied by actions. She encouraged me to join her work of visiting and feeding sick people at CHUK [University Teaching Hospital of Kigali].

Mama Zuzu has eight children, but she would save something, such as a little porridge or milk, to feed at least one patient every day. This inspired me to do more because there were so many patients who had nothing to eat. My goal was to provide food security to all those patients, and with a few friends, I launched Solid’Africa.

Our growth is a process. When we started in April 2011, we could feed the most vulnerable five people each day. But now we feed 300 hundred people every day.

“I believe that we live for a grander purpose than ourselves,” says Isabelle Akamariza.

What has the foundation accomplished so far?

Apart from providing food security through our program called Gemura, we launched several more programs to cover patients’ needs more holistically. As part of our Kiza program, we buy medicines and pay for specific exams that patients’ communal insurance does not cover.

The Sukura program provides patients with hygienic products, such as toothpaste and soaps. Then we have Gombora, which helps cover 10% of hospital bills for patients who can’t afford to pay. Lastly, we have Menya to raise awareness about issues in our public hospitals and encourage people to find solutions to those challenges.

How many people work for the foundation?

We have around 50 members who work in their free time to run the NGO’s projects. Of these members, six are on the executive committee and the rest work on communication, strategy, and events management, among other things.

In addition, we have around 20 volunteers every week. I should also note that all you need to do to be a permanent member or a volunteer for Solid’Africa is to reach out. We welcome everyone who is willing to be part of our vision.

How many hospitals do you work with?

We mainly work with CHUK, which is the biggest hospital in Rwanda. We did not want to scatter our efforts by working in different hospitals. We knew that whatever worked in the big hospital can subsequently be implemented in small hospitals across the country.

However, we do work with the hospitals in Muhima, Kibagabaga, and Kanombe in emergency cases.

Why is it so important for young professionals to give back to their communities?

I like the way you said “young” professionals because young people have a lot to offer in our communities. For the most part, young people are idealistic and want to be instruments of positive change. Our country has been changed by young people over the past 20 years. I think young professionals are in a position to give back more to their communities than anybody else because they have the energy to change the world.

I also think that giving back is a way of living meaningfully. I believe that we live for a grander purpose than ourselves — a purpose of transforming the lives of people around us. And this comes through love. Where there is love, there is a way to effect change.

What advice would you give to young people looking to start their own foundations?

Young people looking to start their own foundations should believe in themselves and in what they do. By believing in what you do and by being committed to your vision, you inspire others either to model you or to be part of your work.

I should also clarify that people do not need to have a lot of money to start an NGO. They should, however, know how to sell their vision. And this comes through by being committed to and believing in one’s work. For Solid’Africa to grow, I had to believe in its long-term vision and convince different people that they should be part of that vision.

What have been the biggest challenges you have encountered so far? How did you persevere?

My biggest challenge has always been to make Solid’Africa self sustainable. When you want to provide food security, you do not rely on uncertain sources of funding. Sometimes people would tell me that I should rely on the government since it is their responsibility to solve issues in public hospitals. But all social issues require collective efforts from the government and active members of society to be solved. I knew a solution had to come from me. A solution had to come from Solid’Africa itself.

We sponsor ourselves through different projects that we’ve launched. We sell T-shirts, we organize entertaining events, and we own a farm and a good open place (Umuhuza Park) for weddings and parties. All of these projects generate income, which funds our different programs in Solid’Africa. Our annual budget for 2014 amounted to US$75 000, and we raised US$60,000 in Rwanda.

Where do you see Solid’Africa 20 years from now?

I believe that we are on the right track. In the near future, we want to establish a kitchen in every district hospital so that we can provide food security to patients on a grander scale. We are also targeting neighboring countries, such as Burundi and DR Congo, because their hospitals face similar challenges.