Patricie Uwase Mavubi recently returned home to work on national transportation issues at the invitation of the Office of the President of Rwanda. She is a graduate from University of California, Berkeley with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering. She is currently setting up a Mentorship programme that will benefit 100 girls. She talked to Donah Mbabazi.

Who is Patricie?

I am 25 years old; I have a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and a BS in Civil Engineering from (former) KIST.

Was your Masters’ Degree self-financed or was it a scholarship?

After I graduated from Kigali Institute of education, I was awarded an Open A Door scholarship, which is basically a programme that connects women from post-conflict countries (like Rwanda) to women in the US, who then mentor them through school applications. With help from my Open A Door mentors, I applied to different schools in the US, and got admitted into UC Berkeley.

So, what are you currently doing?

I got a job with the Ministry of Infrastructure, but I am dedicating my first two months back in Rwanda to organizing the camp. I have been privileged in so many ways, and I wanted to give those two months to the girls as a way to give back.

The programme is called ‘100 Women Who Will Impact Rwanda (100WWW-IR)’.

Tell me more about the initiative.

The 100 Women Who Will Impact Rwanda (100WWW-IR) is conceived as an environment for connecting generations of women leaders in Rwanda. The camp will bring together 100 young women from across Rwanda and we will have panelists discuss on topics such as leadership and the power of mentorship, as well as educational and career opportunities.

The camp is a one-week intensive leadership summit, as well as, a weeklong national women’s leadership awareness campaign that is due to take place from July 31st to August 7th. This week, we will start the process to recruit the 100 girls; I will be traveling throughout the country to twenty schools to select the girls. My hope is that this programme can happen every year, and we have started thinking about sustainability.

What is the criterion for one to be chosen?

We are looking for girls who are self-motivated, creative, have a desire to pursue college and are really longing to be mentored. We are also looking for girls who perform well in their studies and are preferably in the top ten of their class.

What inspired you to start up the mentoring camp?

In creating the mentoring camp programme, I wanted to offer the girls an opportunity to expand their horizons and see beyond high school. I have also always wanted to create a mentorship programme for young people in Rwanda. I applied for a grant from the Davis Foundation, and was awarded the grant in March.

Any partners helping you with this initiative?

Yes, Paper Crown Institute is a sponsoring partner in my project. I also have a team of twenty mentors, and an advisor, who will be helping out during the camp.

How do you think the girls will benefit from it?

There are so many opportunities out there, and it takes discipline and hard work to get them. With the structure of the camp, I believe the girls will leave the camp transformed in a sense that they will learn that they can achieve anything if they stay focused.

What would you so far call the defining moment in your life?

I would say a defining point in my life was in 2005, when my uncle who was paying for my high school fees suddenly lost his job and I was on the verge of dropping out of school. But then that year, I was awarded a scholarship by the First Lady of Rwanda, and since then, I have been attaining my education from one scholarship to another. Also, doing a Masters’ Degree in the US was challenging, and I had to work extra hard. In the end, I did very well.

What keeps you going?

What kept me going was my dream for Rwanda, my family and for myself.

Any lessons you have learnt in life?

I have learned that when you mean good and want to do good for others, the whole universe will get up to help you. I have also learned that when you dare and dream big, anything is possible.

Your philosophy about life

My philosophy is that there is always a second chance to be better and do better. I keep a positive outlook on life because I know things will fall into places if I continue wanting to improve and work hard.

Future plans?

Thanks to my job at MININFRA, I plan to immerse myself in solving transport-related issues in Rwanda. I hope to contribute to improving our public transportation system.

Advice to women and young girls in particular?

My advice to young girls and women in general is to live a life of purpose and uphold their dignity. We should take advantage of the women-friendly environment we have in Rwanda and aim higher and higher. To young women in particular, I would say they should be focused and work hard because the possibilities ahead are endless.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw