DON’T LET SOMEONE ELSE WRITE YOUR STORY FOR YOU. YOUR FUTURE IS IN YOUR HANDS!
- Valerie, Komera Scholar
SCHOLAR SPOTLIGHT
LIVINE
At Komera, change happens
IN YOUNG WOMEN,
IN MOTHERS,
IN FAMILIES,
and IN OUR COMMUNITY.
Transformational change happens when we walk in solidarity with our partners and create a world that is equitable for all.
This is the story of the transformation of a young woman named Livine and her pathway to power.
Livine grew up in a loving home with dreams of her future. Her mother raised Livine and her two brothers on her own, a single mom who took care of the children, cooked, cleaned – and also worked, as she needed income to support her family. Her mother sold beans and grain at the local market, transporting huge bags to and from her stand to earn just enough to keep the family going.
As in most families in rural Rwanda, Livine’s two brothers went to school, but when money was tight, it was the girl, Livine, who would not have the same chance as her brothers. Her mother badly wanted to educate her only girl, and wanted a better life for Livine.
When Livine applied to become a Komera scholar, and was awarded a scholarship, the whole family celebrated!
Livine was given an opportunity to pursue her dreams! As part of the Komera family, Livine’s mother was invited to join the Komera Guardian Cooperative and receive business development training and seed funding to grow her business.
Livine advocated to Komera staff that she must attend a special boarding school, as she was a gifted child and scored well on her exams. She received a full scholarship to Groupe Scolaire Officiel, and completed her Senior 3-6 with flying colors.
Upon graduating from Secondary School, Livine entered the Komera Post Secondary Transition Program, eager to learn business skills to support her mother’s small business. While in the program, Livine got a job working part time at nearby hospital. She attended courses all day, worked after school and studied at night. Komera scholars receive a stipend for transport to and from the program office, to take a bus or local transportation.
When Livine received her certificate from the Post Secondary Transition Program, her mother was by her side at the special graduation ceremony, always her #1 advocate!
While Livine had been away at school, her mother became sick, making it even more challenging for her to carry her bags of beans and grain to the market. With savings from her hard work over the past year, she bought her mother a bicycle! Now her mom could do her business with ease, and she quickly became a profitable seller at the market.
Hardship hit the family again when rainfall and soil erosion badly damaged their home, making it unlivable, and putting the family of 4 out on the street. Livine used her new-found voice and confidence to advocate for help. Neighbors donated land, and Livine put in her own savings, sweat and tears, and worked brick by brick to build her mother a new home.
Inspired by her daughter’s determination, Livine’s mother is now taking on a leadership role on the Komera Council of the Guardian Cooperative to support parents and guardians of scholars who are starting their own small ventures.
SHE IS ABLE TO GIVE BACK WHAT SHE HAS LEARNED AND INSPIRE OTHERS WITH HER SUCCESS.
In 2016 Livine’s hard work and studying paid off when she received a scholarship for the prestigious Akilah Institute, one of the top colleges in Rwanda, where she is now studying business.
Beginning with a simple scholarship to high school, Livine has changed the future for herself, her family, and her community.
We can’t wait to cheer Livine on at her college graduation, with her mother there by her side.
EDUCATION
Komera provides comprehensive scholarships to local secondary boarding schools for young women eager and willing to go to school but who do not have the financial means to do so.
"KOMERA IS A FORCE IN THE COMMUNITY! WE INVEST IN THE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG WOMEN. WE PROVIDE HOLISTIC SUPPORT. KOMERA IS DEVELOPING THE FUTURE FEMALE LEADERS OF RWANDA!"
- Dativah Bideri, Komera Country Director
KOMERA EDUCATION FRAMEWORK
PRIMARY SCHOOL
Komera’s Young Leaders Program was designed to reach primary school-aged youth, both boys and girls. Our team of social workers and educators travel to local primary schools to provide leadership trainings; intensive sessions with students that encompass lessons on:
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Annually, Komera selects between 20-30 young women to join the Komera Scholar Program with a full scholarship to a local Secondary School, starting at Senior 4 through graduation of Senior 6: 3 years.
POST-SECONDARY TRANSITION PROGRAM (PSTP)
The PSTP trains young women fresh out of high school on lessons that will prepare them for their next step; be it university, getting a great job, or starting their own business.
In Rwanda, students graduate from Secondary School in December, and have a waiting period of 8-9 months before starting at University.
Coursework includes ICT computer training, English language, finance and business. Komera has begun a partnership with a vocational training school, Workforce Development Association (WDA), in Rwanda to supplement our training by providing specific courses in hospitality and tourism. Providing young women a total of 9 months of additional training aside from their secondary education degree has led to optimum outcomes for our scholars.
POST-SECONDARY TRANSITION PROGRAM COURSEWORK:
UNIVERSITY
Komera started a University Fund in 2016 to provide scholarships to outstanding students who performed well on their national exams upon graduation of Secondary School.
Scholars are eligible to apply for a university scholarship having completed the PSTP and having been accepted into a Rwandan University.
Not all of our students excel in traditional school environments, and therefore we create a pathway for students to get a job or start a business in lieu of continuing their education in University.
Komera's FIRST University graduate, Scovia, from the University of Rwanda!
COMMUNITY
Sexual reproductive health and rights, gender- based violence and leadership topics are essential to the growth of a young woman.
With many of our students coming from challenging home environments without access to resources, Komera has stepped up to provide these crucial interventions to supplement secondary school education. Many of our students have experienced trauma in their life, both physical and emotional, and Komera is dedicated to providing students with a web of support to help them become their best, brightest and strongest selves.
LEADERSHIP AND MENTORSHIP
Komera’s Leadership Summits and Mentorship Programs are the core of our work in developing self-confident young leaders.
We strategically developed this system of holistic support, based on a decade of experience working with adolescent girls, to provide them with all of the tools they need to succeed.
Komera hosts 3 Leadership Summits for scholars during their school break periods in April, August and December.
The leadership curriculum differs at each summit based on the scholars’ needs and the objectives of the team at the time.
We also invite external speakers who share with the girls about reproductive health. These summits have proven to greatly impact our young women and prepare them for their future. During the summits, students get to know each other, share their life journey, vision and goals and experience, they also have fun, sports and talents shows.
KOMERA PARENT AND GUARDIAN COOPERATIVE
We currently have 93 parents in 12 different businesses in the Komera Parent and Guardian Cooperatives.
We are impressed with the dedication of our parents and guardians - we have had a 90% attendance rate for cooperative members to all of the trainings and meetings, even trekking far distances by foot in through rain and bad weather to gather together for meetings. We are proud of their commitment to the success of their businesses!
The small groups meet weekly to save money and receive trainings from the Komera committee member assigned to the group. This has improved their saving culture and commitment to the cooperative.
PARENT SUCCESS FEATURE:
IMMACULATE
A happier widow is Nyirakadeli Immaculate. She is a Komera parent who has gone through a journey of success after her family joined Komera. Immaculate belongs in Mbarara Komera parent saving group in Gacaca Village, Rwinkwavu sector. This Komera Cooperative group works together to buy crops, beans and maize and resell at the local market. Immaculate has 5 children- making it a large family to support of 6 people, herself inclusive.
After the death of her husband, Immaculate lost all the hope of living with her family because all the support and income for the family was based on the husband. She did not know how her daughter Mutoniwase Anisie would proceed her secondary studies. Fortunately, Komera came in and supported her child.
As a mother of a Komera Scholar, she was invited to join the Parent Cooperative Group where she learned a lot through parents trainings.
Before joining the Komera Cooperative, she was living a desperate life with no hope of working, providing for her family or joining the community. Her house was old and in a bad state of repair. and she could not manage the upkeep of the home to keep her children safe and healthy.
It was after Komera parent trainings, that she learned how to work in a group, learned saving skills and you can’t believe how her life changed completely. Through savings, she managed to take the two young brothers to Anisie to school and one elder brother to a vocational driving school in Rwamagana, where he managed to get a driving permit. With this permit, he is now able to get a good job. Immaculate is so happy that all of her children will be educated and now have new opportunities.
Immaculate also managed to renovate their home for the family to live in. With new windows and doors and improved conditions, the family health has improved.
With business skills learned in cooperative training, Immaculate saved and purchased a small plot of land. She then resold this land – doubling the price and making a large profit! With this and her savings from the crop business, she built a commercial house.
The commercial house has 3 stalls for businesses and shops, and Immaculate will rent out 2 of the spaces to local business owners, and then operate her business of selling crops out of the 3rd stall. Now that she is a property owner, she will collect income from renting out the spaces and also from her produce business.
Today, Immaculate and her children are living a very happy life and the community has seen the impact that Komera has had on this family!
TEACH HER SHE CAN RUN THE WORLD!
Sport is deeply ingrained in our work at Komera, not only to promote excellence but to promote female participation and play.
Komera’s founder, a former professional athlete, was living and working in Rwanda when she saw an opportunity to encourage girls by running with her.
A few brave girls began running and the inspiration came to use sport as a tool to increase confidence and also an access point to provide scholarships for young women.
Komera implements sport programs at primary and secondary schools for both boys and girls to come together on an equal playing field; learning gender norms and dynamics of power, along with confidence building and teamwork.