Project Launch: 4-22-16

Let Girls Learn is a U.S. government-led initiative aimed at improving girls’ access to quality education and breaking down barriers that are preventing 62 millions girls around the world from attending school. As part of Let Girls Learn, this project will allow 60 female high school students in Muhanga District, Rwanda an opportunity to shadow local female Rwandan professionals and learn more about career opportunities outside of their own rural villages. Twenty of the sixty girls who demonstrate the most commitment to the program will be selected to participate in a four-day mentorship program in Rwanda's capital, Kigali, where they will again shadow various female professionals, tour a private women's university, and participate in workshops focused on career guidance, goal setting, and self-confidence. Overall, the project aims to motivate and empower young women to continue their education by having them discover various career options that many never knew existed, and also to connect these outstanding young women with a network of Rwandan female university graduates and professionals.

Progress Update: 6/21/16

Twenty students from 16 schools either participated in a weeklong workshop or became a member of a club to learn about career and future planning. Afterwards, each school picked three female, advanced-level students from the lessons and matched them with a professional female mentor in regional towns. Volunteers generally had great success in finding mentors who were enthusiastic and excited to work with the girls for a day of shadowing. They are now beginning the third phase of the project. One female student from the three will be selected to do an additional day of job shadowing and career workshops during a weekend long program in Kigali. They are currently working to find mentors for all of the 16 students selected.

Final Report: 8/2/2016

390 secondary school students received professional development and leadership skills training through the project. In addition, 16 girls completed a job shadowing workshop in order to better understand the daily responsibilities and working conditions associated with careers in which they were interested.

Testimonials

"This project has changed things for women and children in the community where girls are not fearing to speak in public or large audiences. They are ready to be candidates in all elections that can be done in schools, in local government and in different club committees." - Angelique, Project Leader

"Shadowing creates confidence with my self and develops my knowledge about my career, and after shadowing I am interested more about career of doctor and I got more information about it. In the future, I would mentor a girl in my community." - Nirere, Project Participant