
The East African Scholars Fund has extended its financial support to the Open A Door Foundation which helps post-conflict Rwandan women access higher education in the U.S. to prepare them for leadership roles at home. The U.S. nonprofit mentors aspiring female leaders who hope to become role models and make a difference in improving lives of Rwandan women.
The Foundation singled out Rwandan women because it sees great opportunities emerging for its graduates to become leaders and change-makers. The Foundation notes that as “the economy continues to grow, a educated middle class will emerge creating a strong need for leaders with new skills, idea and connections…female leaders who can shape the culture with both an insider understanding and an educated, fresh outsider perspective will be in demand…(and) highly influential.”
EASF Advisory Board member Jack Anderson recently visited with Susan Mbabazi, OAD’s Kigali Program director. “My wife and I were very impressed with Susan, her background with Carnegie Mellon’s campus and the Open A Door program,” Jack reported to the EASF Board. He learned that due in part to the genocide 20 years ago, more women already are filling leadership positions in Rwanda with women comprising 52% of the parliament. Rwanda hopes to become the technology capital of Africa, he added,
The Open A Door Foundation currently has 10 students in the U.S., each with an American mentor.
The Foundation singled out Rwandan women because it sees great opportunities emerging for its graduates to become leaders and change-makers. The Foundation notes that as “the economy continues to grow, a educated middle class will emerge creating a strong need for leaders with new skills, idea and connections…female leaders who can shape the culture with both an insider understanding and an educated, fresh outsider perspective will be in demand…(and) highly influential.”
EASF Advisory Board member Jack Anderson recently visited with Susan Mbabazi, OAD’s Kigali Program director. “My wife and I were very impressed with Susan, her background with Carnegie Mellon’s campus and the Open A Door program,” Jack reported to the EASF Board. He learned that due in part to the genocide 20 years ago, more women already are filling leadership positions in Rwanda with women comprising 52% of the parliament. Rwanda hopes to become the technology capital of Africa, he added,
The Open A Door Foundation currently has 10 students in the U.S., each with an American mentor.