Letters from Rwanda
December 2nd, 2010 Posted by adminBetty, a 2010 PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS graduate, co-owns Solidarity Academy School, a secondary private school in Rwanda. Mentored by Dr. Freda Deskin, Founder of ASTEC Charter School, Betty has been paying forward the education and training she received from our program and was kind enough to share it with us!
Good morning Terry,
I am always humbled by the way you update us and continue empowering us as we struggle to empower others! By the way, did you know that most business women in Rwanda aren’t very conversant with computers and cannot buy them because they’re so expensive? But, with the Institute, every woman has been made computer literate and can exploit a lot of business with a computer. Once again,
I’m so happy to get the chance to write to you to tell you how I’m paying it forward since I completed your PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS program! My first assignment was to educate illiterate mothers about safe family planning, as well as help them understand that it is vital to their lives, as well as their families. By doing one-on-one coaching sessions with them, I have managed to convince them and delegate them in educating others on the topic as well! I can honestly tell you that when I came back to my country from the United States with an assignment of paying it forward, I have much more zeal!
Since returning to my home country, I have also formed a partnership with two of my friends, mobilizing women to make baskets and other art crafts. We now export the goods to New York! This is increasing job opportunities for illiterate women in Rwanda, and this type of job is not so taxing on them, as the women do it while seated in the shade.
I also connected some other women to many contacts in New York so that they can also solicit the market, hence increasing jobs in art crafts and generating revenue for themselves! It’s a little too early to access the results yet, but most mothers with students at my school are illiterate, yet they’re now involved in such type of business.
I will continue informing you about my pay it forward achievements, as it is a very long process. Terry, you will continue to remain our hero as ”we educate and empower women” across the globe.
Blessings,
Betty
