By Matthew Matola | Development Associate
On October 11th, the 128 members of ASYV’s Class of 2018 marked their graduation from the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. A celebration of our students and their many accomplishments, graduation gave our kids a chance to reflect on all that they have learned and all that they hope to achieve. With congratulatory speeches delivered by Jean-Claude Nkulikiyimfura, ASYV’s Executive Director, and such notable guests as Patience Mutesi, Country Director for Trademark East Africa, it was a day for our kids to cherish their family at Agahozo-Shalom before taking a step out into a brighter future for themselves and Rwanda.
Our Class of 2018 took the name Imena, the Kinyarwanda word for “bravery,” and we believe that they have earned that name. Our graduates have overcome profound loss and pervasive poverty in pursuit of a better life for themselves and their communities. They have faced tragedy and decided to challenge it, working to acquire the skills and resilience that they will need to have a transformative impact on their country. The 128 graduates of our Class of 2018 are driven, talented, and ready to join their 730 older brothers and sisters in making a meaningful difference, with plans to start their own businesses, attend university, and so much more.
One graduate, in particular, demonstrated her bravery during the event itself. Standing up before an assembled audience of community leaders and international guests, Bella Honorine delivered the Class of 2018’s valedictory speech. She spoke to her fellow graduates, reminding them that, “we came as hopeless children with no dreams to move us forward into the future,” before asking them to “think how far we have come individually and as a class.” She inspired them, describing her brothers and sisters at ASYV as “powerful and intellectual individuals who do honor to this earth,” and she called on them to “heal the world and help others discover new gifts that they never knew they had.” As someone who has traveled their path first hand, Bella Honorine spoke to our students’ lived experience. Where once her future was uncertain, with school fees endangering her education, ASYV gave Bella Honorine the opportunity to thrive. With experience as Miss Core Values of Imena Grade, as a speech competition and debate team winner, and as a minister of education on ASYV’s student government, Bella Honorine took full advantage of everything ASYV had to offer her. Now, with a dream of studying politics and economics in university, Bella Honorine sets the stage for our Class of 2018’s future success.
Following Bella Honorine’s speech, our graduation ceremony concluded with a special performance by ASYV’s Isheja dance troupe and a spectacular show at Village Time. Led by our Class of 2018, Village Time invited each of our graduates to share their talents, celebrating their ASYV family in song and dance. We hope you enjoyed this brief look into our Class of 2018’s graduation ceremony. If you would like to experience our graduates’ sense of transformation, we invite you to follow the link below to watch our “ASYV Transforms 2018” video, which features a poem performed at graduation and interviews with Class of 2018 graduates Ruth and Cyprien, who share what they feel ASYV gave them and how they hope to pay it forward. Thanks to your support, our Class of 2018 has achieved great things, graduating from the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village with the aptitudes and values they will need to lead fulfilling lives as Rwanda’s next generation. From all of us at Agahozo-Shalom, murakoze cyane (thank you very much)!
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