I believe that there is always a single most important life-charging experience each person undergoes in his or her life. There is always a tremendous trigger that serves as a turning point for a better and enlightened life in the history of each mankind.
My gap year at Bridge2Rwanda Scholars Program is that kind of transformative experience which serves as a pivot for my new life of service to others. If there is any one thing I could forever be thankful and grateful for, then it is my grooming at B2R. I can't believe that I could learn a lot of life fundamental principles- from servant leadership to cultural transition- in less than one year!
At Bridge2Rwanda, I learned that the essence of true leadership is in the word "service" which we were clearly taught to embody through community service- another important pillar of B2R. B2R is a holistic program that trains and prepares its scholars and empowers them for a life of service in the real world. It adds value to the fellowship of servant leaders and makes them ready for the transformation of their generation.
With the knowledge and skills I gained during my gap year at B2R, I have founded a youth-based transformative nonprofit organization which I called LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE, with a vision of "transforming our youth's mindset to build the right skillset and toolset to boost the productivity of our next generations." Inspired by B2R's philosophy of leadership, our mission is "to train young leaders to think and create awareness in elderly people to enhance servant leadership in our society."
Looking back at my experience at B2R, I can exclaim with the words of the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon of the Ancient Israel: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Many programs do great and noble things, but Bridge2Rwanda Scholars Program excels them all in the sphere of grooming and training young leaders to transform our society!
I was privileged to serve at Bridge2Rwanda (B2R) for 3 years in the capacity of a career advisor. B2R's success in building a fellowship of young leaders committed to one another and to advancing the African continent is truly remarkable. These young people are already transforming institutions where they work both through summer internship and/or full time jobs for those who graduated and returned home to join the workforce. I am proud to say that my current company has hired a B2R Scholar, and we are happy to see the impact she has done in our team in just her first three months in the organization.
As a student who passed through Bridge2Rwanda to be able to attend college, I believe that words cannot express in full what the non-profit organization does. When they took me in, I literally could not write a simple essay or even have a full conversation in English. I came from not being able to afford an education in my home country to attending a top 20 university in the US. My story is similar to that of 257 scholars, and I hope that this number will keep growing as time passes. God bless Bridge2Rwanda!
We initially learned of Bridge2Rwanda as the result of a visit to Rwanda in 2012. We were fascinated by the joy and intelligence of the young people we met. After seeking information on the education programs we were introduced to B2R.
We were afforded the opportunity to meet the leadership and Dale Dawson and have been fortunate enough to assist two scholars attending California universities.
Our lives have been enriched by the opportunity to spend time with these two amazing scholars.
The quality of the students and their ability to excel in their pursuit of an education to take back to their home countries will, without question, make a difference in those countries. These scholars are the future leaders of Africa.
When I first learned about Bridge2Rwanda through my friend Cheryl ( B2R Student Support Coordinator ), I went online and read as much as I could about the organization. I was impressed and inspired to say the least. Shortly after, I applied for a job as a Student Support Coordinator because as a retired clinical school counselor, I wanted to be a part of an organization that was truly unique and definitely changing the lives of young people. After travellng to Rwanda and meeting the staff and students that I would be working with for the next four years, I was even more inspired and committed. The scholars that I know and have grown to love are living proof that an organization that is founded on the principles of ethical leadership , service and fellowship can make a difference in not only their country, but in the lives of their fellow classmates , host families, friends and teachers .
Bridge2Rwanda has provided a way for our family to connect with a young man in Rwanda who was orphaned by the last war. We have so enjoyed being able to make him part of our family through not only financial support but letters and emails. He is a delightful person that we are thankful to know and help. At our age we are not able to travel that far away but through B2R we stay in touch and have fallen in love with this young man. We appreciate B2R for given us this opportunity.
I had the incredible opportunity to work with this organization last year and traveled with their team to Rwanda in 2017. This organization is not only helping inspire young men and women to pursue their education abroad but to bring what they learn back to their own country. By doing so, B2R is building a network of educated and talented young professionals who are giving back to their communities, stimulating their country's economy, and setting an example for future generations in Rwanda.
Bridge 2 Rwanda is a truly amazing organization! We have been blessed to have been a host family to a young man from Rwanda for the past 2 years and it has truly changed our lives! Through this organization, these scholars get opportunities that they would not otherwise have and this leads to positive change in their lives, the lives of their families, as well as their country. I'm confident in saying that when you donate to Bridge 2 Rwanda, your money truly goes to help these young men and women to live up to their full potential. Without our help, the odds are very much stacked against these kids to get out of their current situation of extreme poverty. Bridge 2 Rwanda gives them the opportunity that they need to shine!
B2R is doing remarkable work in East Africa! Their scholars are bright, well-spoken, polite young men and women, and it is a pleasure to watch the impact they're having around the world. B2R's staff and support team are thorough, caring, and devoted to their mission.
Bridge2Rwanda helped me transition from the notion that leadership is about pushing people to work to the one where the leader also gets on the ground and work with the people he is leading even most of all the times doing more than what others are doing. In the whole gap year, I was able to also earn a full scholarship to one of the elite US colleges all because of the guidance and support of Bridge2Rwanda. What is amazing is that I was not the only person to have this amazing opportunity, but more than 200 students from Rwanda, DRC, Burundi, South Sudan, and Liberia have also had the same experience.
I have followed the development of B2R over the years and have been impressed by their impact. As a Rwandan, It makes me immensely happy to see an organization like B2R helping us build a generation of skilled and compassionate leaders. Students who went through the program and graduated from overseas universities return home to work in various industries. This organization gives me hope for our country.