By: Akilah CEO & Co-Founder Elizabeth Dearborn Hughes

At the entrance to the Cody Fowler Davis library with my daughters Lorraine and Tamsyn, who generally refuse to cooperate for important photo-ops!

My family was devastated when my father, Cody Fowler Davis, passed away unexpectedly last year from a heart attack.

The Akilah Institute wouldn’t exist without my dad’s enthusiastic support of our vision from the very beginning.

I was 23 when my husband, Dave, and I created the idea for Akilah. Many friends and advisors told us that we were crazy and that two young, inexperienced foreigners had no business starting a women’s college in Rwanda.

My father’s reaction was the complete opposite. He thought it was the greatest idea ever, and my parents helped us set up the nonprofit in the U.S., donated startup funds, organized fundraising events, and provided free office space for our small development team in Tampa, Florida.

As the father of four girls, Cody was deeply passionate about education for young women. Despite some formidable challenges in the early days of Akilah’s creation, his commitment never wavered.

My father, Cody Fowler Davis, at Akilah in 2015.

Cody was so inspired by the Akilah students. He bragged about the alumnae and their new careers and startups. He was incredibly proud of the team who works so hard to create an inspiring and nurturing environment for young women.

Sadly, he didn’t get to see our new campus in downtown Kigali, but we are honoring his legacy by naming the library after him.

Every time students gather in the library for studying or a campus club, I hope they’ll think of him and remember that our work honors his legacy of infinite support and generosity.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the opening of the library and helped to fill it with computers and books. We deeply appreciate your support in telling his story.

Check back soon for a plaque in the library with your name on it!

It’s not too late if you still want to contribute to the Cody Fowler Davis library and computer lab. Donate here.

Celebrating the opening of the Cody Fowler Davis Library with faculty and students.