Thanks to the Mastercard Foundation, Jeanne, Divine and hundreds of other young female scholarship recipients have kept their higher education dreams alive.

Divine Mutimukeye is pursuing her diploma in Hospitality and Tourism Management at Akilah, Rwanda’s preeminent Institute for women’s leadership and career development at Davis College. It has not been an easy journey for her. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, Divine’s family situation, her pathway to education, was fraught with challenges. The first born of five children, her parents separated due to a family conflict, leaving Divine and her siblings with no means to support themselves.

“My sister dropped out of school, and it’s hard for us to take care of our basic needs. We can’t afford to go to the hospital when one of us is sick without asking for help from our neighbors,” said Divine.

Determined to change her family narrative, Divine chose to enroll at Akilah because of its unique focus on empowering women. Her education and experiences here have made her more open-minded and confident.

“Everything I was expecting from Akilah, they are really providing. They provided me with leadership skills, public speaking skills, etc… Now I can stand in front of people and speak. I can also control my emotions, which was my greatest weakness before joining Akilah,” extolled Divine.

The pandemic threatened to derail Divine’s progress alongside other students and graduates. Schools across Rwanda have been forced to close repeatedly to contain the spread of COVID-19, and businesses have been operating at less than full capacity for more than a year. As a result, parents and guardians have lost jobs and income. Required student internships in the private sector are less available. Recent college graduates are now entering a dramatically different job market.

Support from the Mastercard Foundation could not have come at a more opportune time for Divine and many other students. The Mastercard Foundation’s COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program has enabled Davis College and Akilah to effectively respond to the pandemic and minimize the disruption in students’ education.

“When I received this scholarship from the Mastercard Foundation, I was surprised and started crying in class because I wasn’t expecting it… I really appreciate you for making me hope that I still have a chance to live again. Surely, when it comes to you, I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude, but really thank you and may God bless you so much,” shared Divine.

Divine’s gratitude is echoed by Jeanne Uwizeyimana, a student in Akilah’s Business Management and Entrepreneurship Class of 2021 and a Mastercard Foundation scholarship recipient.

“Receiving this scholarship was a heavenly blessing, if I may say,” said Jeanne.

At first Jeanne didn’t believe that it was true. Her family no longer had the income to pay her school fees due to pandemic-related economic losses and Jeanne was worried she might have to forgo her dream of higher education.

“So, thinking that I was about to drop out of a school as excellent as Akilah, which equips students with soft skills, confidence, professionalism, market-related skills, not forgetting the leadership skills they provide and, on top of that, empower young women like me to successfully reach their career goals and make a difference in their community was a hard pill to swallow,” explained Jeanne.

Thanks to the Mastercard Foundation, Jeanne, Divine and hundreds of other young female scholarship recipients have kept their higher education dreams alive. This past June, Akilah graduated more than 400 young women in a virtual ceremony. Pandemic notwithstanding, all of them are on a path to a better future for themselves and their families.

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About the Mastercard Foundation

The Mastercard Foundation works with visionary organizations to enable young people in Africa and in Indigenous communities in Canada to access dignified and fulfilling work. It is one of the largest, private foundations in the world with a mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion to create an inclusive and equitable world. Mastercard created the Foundation in 2006 as an independent organization with its Board of Directors and management.

For more information on the Foundation, please visit www.mastercardfdn.org.

About the Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program

The Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program has two main goals. First, to deliver emergency support for health workers, first responders, and students. Second, to strengthen the diverse institutions that are the first line of defense against the social and economic aftermath of this disease. These include universities, financial service providers, businesses, technology start-ups, incubators, government agencies, youth organizations, and non-governmental organizations. Click here for more on the Mastercard Foundation COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Program or follow the Foundation on Twitter.

Creating Hope and Empowerment Through Education