Empower women in Africa through higher education!

These Numbers Have Faces believes strongly women are the secret weapon to fighting poverty. We work hard to make sure that at least half of the students in our University Leadership Program are women. Currently, 57% of our students are female. These young women are poised to lead their communities and countries to a new era of peace and prosperity. Through access to a university education, Leadership Development Workshops, and our women's mentorship program, we empower Africa's brightest young women to cultivate thriving communities. We also recognize that, if we are working to empower strong female leaders in a culture where gender roles remain very traditional, we must also work with the young men to learn how to work well with and alongside strong, empowered women. Acqueline is a wonderful example of the young women in our program. 

Acqueline is the youngest of four children. She has two brothers and one sister. She lost her father when she was thirteen. She believes that everything happens for a reason, which helps her to be always optimistic and to stay strong. She’s passionate about wanting the best of her family, her community, and the world at large.  Acqueline was born and raised in Rwanda’s Northern province. Like other people in her community, her family’s basic needs are supported through domestic animal farming and crop cultivation. Despite their financial difficulties, she and her two brothers were able to complete secondary school. But Acqueline is the only one in her family to attend university. She works hard so she can help her whole family have a better future. She says she won’t let the trust they put in her go in vain. By observing the gaps in Rwanda’s healthcare system, she dreams of becoming a doctor, particularly a dental surgeon, to contribute to filling these gaps.  She’s now studying for her Bachelor’s of Dental Surgery at the University of Rwanda. As an advocate who believes in the abilities of people and the power of education, Acqueline encourages youth to love education as it’s the key to success.  In a recent Leadership Development Workshop, we explored the question, “How can you make sure the pain of your past doesn’t determine your future?” Acqueline said: “I learned that where you come from is not what determines your destiny, so I’ve got to work for the future that I am looking for.”

Recently, Acqueline represented the University of Rwanda at Wells Mountain Initiative’s 2023 Dream Big conference that took place in Nairobi, Kenya August 18-21. This conference invites a very select group of 250 participants. She served as one of the panelists in one of the presentations. The goal of this annual event is to develop a network of global leaders committed to transformational change within their communities. We are so proud of Acqueline and so thankful for this leadership development opportunity for her! Congratulations, Acqueline!

We are also excited to share that all of our students, including Acqueline and the other young women in our University Leadership Program, are currently identifying their Community Impact Projects for this current academic year. These Community Impact Projects are a key element of our success. These projects require our students to take what they are learning in their classrooms and what they are learning in our Leadership Development Workshops and then apply it to real-life needs within their communities. We ask all of our students to identify, plan, and then devote at least 50 hours each academic year completing a Community Impact Project that will make a transformational difference in their communities. Last year, our 70 students impacted in significant ways the lives of almost 10,000 people! And over the past 5 years – even with a two-year pause because of COVID, our students have impacted significantly the lives of almost 30,000 people!

Here are just five examples of last year’s projects: 1. Teaching female secondary students the importance of social justice through debates designed to encourage public speaking and critical thinking skills. 2. Teaching computer skills to young girls. 3. Teaching reproductive health to female secondary students to reduce the risk of early pregnancy and dropping out of school. 4. Working with vulnerable families to improve their nutrition through kitchen gardens. 5. Teaching female secondary students how to build an excellent career profile, including an effective CV, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile, as well as teaching effective interviewing skills.