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. Olga Pamela is a wonderful example of the young women in our program. 

Pamela is the eldest of six children. She is blessed to have both parents. Her father works as a cashier at the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency. Unfortunately, his job is far from their home, so he only comes home a few times a year to minimize expenses. In addition, his salary is not enough to support all of the needs of their family. So, life has been challenging. Pamela grew up in a very supportive community called Kacyiru. This is where her mother had grown up, so there was a lot of extended family to provide love and encouragement. Later, her family moved to Kanombe, close to the airport. She and her siblings loved to watch the planes landing and taking off.

Pamela attends the Huye Campus of the University of Rwanda, where she is studying General Medicine and Surgery. Her dream is to become an excellent pediatrician who provides the best care for all her patients. She sees the need to make significant improvement in Rwanda’s pediatric care, and she’s eager to be part of that improvement. She is passionate about alleviating pain, suffering, and illness in the lives of Rwandan children, as well as doing everything possible to nurture health in the lives of those children.

In addition to her studies. Pamela is a member of a Medical Students Forum that does some fundraising to help street children with school fees, clothing, books, and bags so they can go to school. She also participants in MEDSAR, another association for medical students. They attend sporting events and screen people’s blood, check blood pressure, and test blood sugar levels.

Earlier this summer, Pamela was chosen to represent her university at the Ashesi University Scholars Pan-African Conference convening in Accra, Ghana the week of July 6. This gathering brought together outstanding scholars to exchange ideas, develop entrepreneurial competencies, and strengthen personal leadership skills. In Olga’s words, “This was a convening of scholars where we came together and learnt more about ethical and entrepreneurial skills in action. We had wonderful sessions on personal branding and creating good relationships. We also worked on projects and pitched our solutions.” Her group tackled a pressing agricultural issue: farmers living near water sources, but are prohibited from cultivating their land. They designed a safe, affordable irrigation system for small-scale farmers, and during the final pitching session, their project was awarded second runner-up. Pamela’s participation not only showcased her problem-solving skills and teamwork but also positioned her as a strong ambassador for the University of Rwanda and our program.

Links:

• These Numbers Have Faces Website