How Our Kids Learned to Lead This Summer
At the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV), we work to help each student discover their passions and talents, then develop the skills they need to turn those interests into thriving careers. At the end of each school year, our Career Resources Center pairs interested students with summer opportunities that will help them get hands-on professional experience, learn about new cultures, and/or deepen their academic expertise.
We sat down with four students to discuss their summer activities. Nina argued her way through iDebate Rwanda’s Dreamers Academy; Rongine brought his love of science to his internship at a robotics camp founded by ASYV graduate Kenedy Habimana; Yvette helped foster children's love of reading as an intern at Bookmobile Rwanda; and Eric broadened his world view at the Yale Young African Scholars Residential Leadership Summit in Kenya.
“At the iDebate summer academy, I learned that debate is not only about winning arguments, but also about listening, questioning, and proposing solutions responsibly. Before coming to ASYV, I never imagined I would get opportunities like this. My mentors, educators, and peers in the Village always encourage me to try, even when I doubt myself. They’ve helped me to value education, to express myself clearly, and to believe that my voice matters. After I graduate, I want to contribute to Rwanda’s development as a scientist and leader.” – Ikuze Keza Brise Nina, ASYV Class of 2026
“As an intern at robotics camp, I worked with children ages seven to 15, helping them understand coding, robotics assembly, and 3D printing. ASYV taught me many skills that prepared me for this position, but two stand out: a solid work ethic and robotics expertise, which I learned in the Science Center. Before ASYV, I lacked confidence. Now, I believe with the right mindset, anything is possible. The skills I learned this summer will help me reach my future goal of studying artificial intelligence and supporting young learners after. – Muragijimana Rongine, ASYV Class of 2027
“I dream of becoming a writer. ASYV has provided a supportive environment where I can explore my talent and take on challenges like storytelling and public speaking. My favorite part of my internship at Bookmobile Rwanda was writing stories for kids. We also got to read books on the radio so children from any part of the country can enjoy the stories. Being part of this work to encourage literacy has inspired me to think bigger. I now see myself not only as a student, but as someone who can contribute to my country and help others learn and grow.” – Uwase Yvette, ASYV Class of 2026
“A message I will take away from the Yale Young African Scholars Summit is, ‘fall in love with the problem, not your solution.’ The CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation said that during a seminar about how to have impact. But I think I learned the most from my fellow Summit participants, who came from so many places. I started to appreciate how everyone’s world is so different, but also intertwined. ASYV was everything in terms of accessing this opportunity. Their holistic curriculum prepared me and taught me to tell my own story.” – Eric Dufitimana, ASYV Class of 2027
What Leadership Means to Me
Muhwezi George and his ASYV sister Nasabato Sandra during the Isomo Academy.
Each summer, we welcome top scholars from secondary schools across Rwanda to the Village for the Isomo Academy, a two-month college preparatory program run by Bridge2Rwanda. This year, seven ASYV students joined the group of 160 scholars for this intensive program focused on English language, critical thinking, community service, and more. In addition to hosting these students, we are partnering with Isomo on our new Ikaze Refugee Impact Scholarship (IRIS) program. IRIS will help high-achieving refugee students thrive in leading Rwandan secondary schools. Together, ASYV and Isomo are providing these students with scholarships and both academic and psychosocial support throughout their secondary school journeys. This week, we will welcome the inaugural group of IRIS students to the Village to prepare them for the start of school.
But first, as the Isomo college prep program wrapped up, we sat down with Muhwezi George, ASYV Class of 2027, to discuss what he learned this summer and his plans for the future.
How has your experience at Isomo built on what you’ve learned at ASYV?
Before coming to ASYV, I thought I had to do everything on my own, without anyone's help. I felt alone. At ASYV, I learned I’m not alone and that when you aren’t alone, you can make better decisions. I never expected that I would stand before an assembly and lead 511 students or discuss what policies we should implement in the school. ASYV has really contributed to my confidence. I’ve learned to be a leader, and I am fascinated by leadership.
This summer, I’ve gotten to continue learning about leadership. The goal of Isomo is to make sure you’re capable of competing with someone from Germany and countries like that to get into university. We are taking nine courses. In one, we’ve been reading the book Animal Farm, and analyzing it through the idea of leadership skills.
What does being a leader mean to you?
Being a leader is about learning to think not just for yourself, but for your community. What I’ve learned about leadership at ASYV and Isomo will change what I see when I go back to my home community. Before, I used to see problems in my society and just ignore them. I would think, “Oh, the owner will deal with that, the leaders will deal with that.” Now, I will walk around and observe what's not going well, and I'll have the confidence to approach the right person and talk about how we might address those problems. Because we, the kids, are the future of Rwanda.
Do you know what you want to do after graduating from ASYV?
The fact that none of my relatives reached college or even finished secondary school pushes me. It motivates me to love education. I think I will study until I get my Ph.D., but I don’t know yet what I want to study. I am interested in physics and cosmology. I am interested in the law. I am interested in leadership. I find it challenging to choose one. Maybe I should take them all at once.