Providing bright Rwandan orphans the opportunity to go to university.

Overview

The Uyisenga Scholars Program is a part of the Umubano program of the Discover Worlds organization that builds relationships between Rwanda and the United States. The scholars program specifically works with orphans of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, and those who were orphaned by HIV/AIDS and gives them the opportunity to attend university within Rwanda. Umubano works in the selection of the students and to find them U.S. sponsors for their university education.

Who the students are

All students chosen for the Uyisenga Scholars program are members of Uyisenga N’Manzi, a Rwandan non governmental organization with a vision of implementing child focused programs that address the special needs of orphans affected by genocide and/or HIV/AIDS.

These students are orphans who live in child headed households or receive support from Uyisenga N’Manzi, a program that builds orphan communities as well as providing the orphans with psychological care. Uyisenga also facilitates their social and economic development, increases their access to medical care and education, and empowers them to participate in their country’s recovery.

There are an equal amount of males and females who receive the scholarship, which is dually need and merit based.

How students are selected

The students selected for this program are chosen by scholastic achievement from their testing grades of the Rwandan National Exam and their marks in school. This exam is a comprehensive standardized test taken by all seniors in Rwandan secondary schools (equivalent to 12th grade/senior year in United States high school) and includes all major subjects such as mathematics, science, history, French, and so on. The results are used in university placements.

They also write essays describing their life stories, their goals, desires and why they should receive the scholarship. The top students receive the scholarship and sponsors.

Why they need education

These orphan students are looking to raise themselves out of poverty by continuing their education and university. Since many of these students are also providing for other orphans in their household, they act as the primary care givers and income earners. Due to this great responsibility, raising funds to attend university often seems impossible.

Still, receiving a university education is absolutely imperative. Since Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa, good jobs are difficult to come by without a university degree. Therefore, sponsoring one of these students through a university education will open many doors for them in the Rwandan job market, empowering them to escape from poverty and menial labor. This will change their lives forever.

Providing a university education to one orphan does not simply benefit an isolated individual; instead, education can produce a chain effect which benefits and empowers all of the members of his/her household and greater community. This program will work to bring an entire community out of poverty.

Costs of Scholarship: The scholarship provides the students with the amount for an average Rwandan university education which is $700.00 USD per year. The scholarship provides this for four years. This covers tuition, room and board, and basic school supplies.

Who can sponsor: Sponsors can be businesses, clubs, organizations, individuals, universities, religious organizations, classrooms, schools, or more. Sponsors will receive letters from the orphan who they are helping. Sponsors can choose to build a relationship and friendship with their orphan if they would like.

Time commitment: Sponsors can pick whether they would like to be the sole sponsor for an entire university education or donate a certain contribution of years to the student and share sponsorship.

The cost of an average U.S. private university education for ONE person is four years is $168,000. This provides a Rwandan university education for 60 people for all four years of college.

The information about the orphan you will sponsor will include

• Educational information
  This packet will include information of where they have gone to school, the testing results they have gotten, and their marks from schooling.
• Testimony
  This will be the orphan’s story of his/her past.
• Picture
  A recent photograph of the orphan.
• Goals
  The university that the student would like to attend, the subject they wish to study, the profession they wish to achieve, etc.