Alice Umawera's story:

Alice, who is 22, is the second oldest in her family of six children. Originally from Rwanda’s Western Province, Alice now lives in Kimironko with her extended family. She is currently pursuing a diploma in Hospitality Management at The Akilah Institute for Women in Kigali, Rwanda. She will soon complete the first year of the two-year program.

Before coming to Akilah, it was extremely hard for Alice to attend school. Her family was unable to obtain jobs, though they did own a small plot of land, which they used to grow food. Her secondary schooling was paid for by her uncle, yet paying these fees on time always proved to be a struggle. “It was really hard to get school fees on time,” she said. After secondary school, Alice did not have the means to continue her education. “I did not have hope to go to university.” Without money, pursuing her education seemed impossible.

Education was not the only issue Alice faced growing up. “It was very hard to get what you wanted as a child. It was not easy to satisfy your needs,” she says of growing up in Rwanda. With four sisters and a brother, Alice found herself having to share basic necessities. “It was hard to buy clothes and shoes, especially with all the children. It was hard. We had to share.”

Now, Alice is nearly two months into her internship at one of Kigali’s top restaurants, Heaven. She says she is greatly enjoying it so far. She recognizes it as an invaluable experience to her own professional aspirations. Alice hopes to one day start her own business, centered in customer care. Alice understands the importance of hands-on learning, but eventually wishes to start her very own restaurant. To do this, she says she is prepared to work in restaurants and hotels until she saves up enough money to launch her business. “I want to provide excellent service and be a professional in the industry,” she says, while discussing her future dreams. With her education at Akilah, she is confident that she can do exactly that. Alice knows that she can take the concepts she has learned in the classroom and apply them to her professional life.

Her favorite class is Leadership for precisely this reason; she feels it offers her skills that she will employ in her own business. “To own a business, you need knowledge on how to lead,” she said, talking about the importance of the course. Alice believes that the Leadership course is teaching her how to express herself, how to become a leader and how to “overcome the challenges of it.”

But Leadership is not the only thing Alice loves about Akilah. “Akilah means a lot to me. Without Akilah, I wouldn’t be who I am now,” she said, reflecting on her time at Akilah. Alice believes that Akilah has given her the confidence to express herself, no matter how public the setting, “I can go everywhere and express my ideas. I can stand in front of others and talk. I can be an ambassador for Akilah everywhere I go.” In addition, she is fond of Akilah’s approachable staff, stating that she always feels comfortable at school. “Akilah is like a family.”