‘I didn’t let my limitations challenge me. I challenged my limitations.’
How Jeannine Mukabashimye Overcame All Odds to Graduate from Davis |Akilah as Valedictorian of the Class of 2019
Written by Davis | Akilah President Karen Sherman
Jeannine Mukabashimye is one of Akilah’s older graduates at 34 years old. With intense brown eyes and a winning smile, Jeannie has had to overcome a number of obstacles to be where she is today. “When I was in primary school, I had a big desire to study. I said to myself that I need to get a PhD,” she said, wearing a dark suit with bright pink trim. Jeannine was an exceptional student, up to senior three. And then she got sick. Massive headaches and bloody noses kept her from class, which lead to disappointing grades and, ultimately, poor national exam results. She was devastated, but knew that, whatever else happened, she wanted to continue her studies.
Jeannine Mukabashimye
After secondary school, however, her parents, village farmers in the Ruhango district in the southern province, could no longer afford to pay her school fees. She took on a variety of different jobs to make ends meet, casual work mostly, to support herself and her four younger siblings while saving money to pay for college. Jeannine applied to join the Akilah campus at Davis College in 2014 and was thrilled to be accepted, but in the end could not afford the tuition. She went back to work.
Jeannine became a cleaner and a messenger for a local organization and met another woman there, an Akilah graduate, who inspired her to try again. In 2017 she reapplied to Akilah and was again accepted. By that time she had managed to save enough money from her casual work to make the initial tuition payment. Her family was unable to help.
“I studied hospitality management at Akilah because I love customer service,” said Jeannine. Still, it was hard for her. She ran out of money in the second trimester of year one. A number of her classmates rallied and contributed money. “They helped me to pay my fees. I have not paid them back. It’s really a community here, true love.” She was about to stop school again in the second year for the same reason when another person stepped in to help with the fees. They gave her clothes and sometimes, because she was hungry, food. “Hunger never stopped me from getting my assignments in on time,” she said.
Akilah’s work-study program helped Jeannine to earn some much needed cash, and church members also contributed to her education. In the end, she did so well in school that she was selected to be the Valedictorian for the Class of 2019 at Akilah’s graduation, which took place this week.
Davis | Akilah’s Class of 2019 with CEO Elizabeth Dearborn Hughes
“Thank you, god,” she said when asked about this honor. “It was a long journey, but I tried to do my best. I was very encouraged. This is a success. From the bottom of my heart, I really do appreciate.”
Jeannine completed her required three-month internship at a local savings and credit association (SACCO) in Kigali, in the customer care department. She is currently looking for a job but hopes her studies will not end at Akilah. “When I think about Akilah, it’s a beautiful place. They have love,” she said.
“In my heart I am ready to take advantage of any opportunities I will get.”
During her speech at the graduation ceremony, Jeannine wowed the audience of over a thousand with her words of inspiration:
“I didn’t let my limitations challenge me. I challenged my limitations,” she said.
(L-R) Davis College Chief Academic Officer Dr. Cristi Ford, Akilah President Karen Sherman, Davis College Rwanda President Aline Kabanda, UN Women Representative in Rwanda Fatou Lo, Davis | Akilah CEO & Co-Founder Elizabeth Dearborn Hughes
Karen Sherman is the President of Akilah Institute and the author of Brick by Brick: Building Hope and Opportunity for Women Survivors Everywhere, to be published in January, 2020.