Intro to the Akilah Institute for Women

I mentioned that this trip would have a bit of a different flavor from the last. On this one, I've luckily stumbled into an opportunity to do some volunteering. The organization I'll be visiting is the Akilah Institute for Women (akilahinstitute.org), a college that trains women to be leaders in the tourism and hospitality sector in Rwanda. It is about three years old, and about to graduate its first class this coming August.

The school itself is a sight to behold, perched on a hillside in the neighborhood of Kibagabaga, a 20 minute drive from the center of Kigali. One main complex contains the three classrooms and teacher and administrative offices. The classrooms are painted Blue, Yellow, and Green - the three colors of the Rwandan flag. Students stay with their cohort, and likewise are the Blue, Yellow, or Green group.

S had met the founder last year at the Kennedy School when she gave a talk. Immediately S was interested, and converted that interest into a two week visit to provide some assistance on the development of the school's leadership curriculum. I have the good fortune to tag along. In addition, I'll be running some Math and IT workshops to help the students improve their skills in those areas.

I was greeted at the school with this awesome poster advertising my services. I adopted the name fully, and am known as Joseph among the students. It is much easier to say, especially for French speakers! After connecting with C, the Math / IT teacher, I learned the areas of focus are ratios and proportions, percentages, and interest rates. Should be a great two weeks of teaching and tutoring - and along the way getting to meet some pretty inspiring women!

We arrived on a unique day. That afternoon, the school was celebrating the engagement of the two co-founders, D and E. The students had prepared a Rwandese lunch (more on that in a separate post!) and a talent show to celebrate the work the founders had done on behalf of the school. The couple was dressed in local garb, then seated at a banquet table, where a variety of dances, songs, and skits were performed. Very cool!