Laetitia Umutoni is a 24-year-old journalist currently working with High Media, a company that specialises in video production, photography and graphics design.

She did her primary education from her home town in Rubavu District at Groupe Scolaire de Gisenyi.

She then joined Ecole d’Arts de Nyundo for her O’ and A’ level education in literature, where she specialised in English and French.

She was awarded by Imbuto Foundation in 2010 after emerging among best performing girls.

She says it was a surprise, but it gave her the courage to continue working hard.

"I doubled my efforts because I wanted to excel highly and to show other girls that they can do it as well as showing gratitude to the people who awarded me. I did not want to disappoint them.”

She strived to be at the top of her class and she achieved it when she graduated with a distinction from the Shool of Journalism at the University of Rwanda.

She attributes her success to the various trainings she got from Imbuto Foundation, including public speaking skills, moderating debates and leadership skills.

Umutoni is part of the alumni group that mentors young girls in different schools. The group is also currently soliciting monetary contributions to sponsor some girls in school.

 "We are mentoring girls in 10 schools. Our strategy is to mentor them for two years, then we move on to other schools. The girls we mentor also continue to mentor others under their care,” she says.

Umutoni was motivated to join journalism because she loved what she saw on TV and heard on radio. However, she was shy as a child and her parents always warned her that she would not make it as a journalist if she was shy.

"So, I decided that I was going to prove them wrong. Since I was bad in mathematics, I concentrated on literature which would help me realise my dream of becoming a journalist,” she says.

Umutoni credits Imbuto Foundation with the skills she has gained over the years.

Through career guidance, she was able to make a decision about what she wanted to study and eventually practice.

Imbuto Foundation also equipped its beneficiaries with financial management skills.

Umutoni challenges young girls to fight hard and overcome the obstacles they face.

"Girls face many trials and they easily fail to concentrate on the bigger picture. That is why some of them are victims of early pregnancies or even early marriages. But we need to sensitise these girls about the benefits of studying and talk to them about the consequences of early marriages and dropping out of school,” she asserts.

Umutoni also stresses that parents should also be sensitised about the importance of educating girls and treating them as equals with boys.

Umutoni is only one of the many girls that have benefited from Imbuto Foundation’s programmes.

Solange Tetero, 23, is a student of agriculture, rural development and agro-business at the University of Rwanda.

Tetero, who hails from Rubengera Sector in Karongi District, is due to graduate on July 29.

She studied her primary education at Ecole Primaire de Gatwaro, then proceeded to College St. Marie de Kibuye for O’ and A’level education and before joining university.

Tetero is also a beneficiary of another program at Imbuto Foundation that sponsors smart yet vulnerable children.

She won the awards after emerging first among girls in Karongi.

"I was motivated to work hard because of the situation back home. I wanted to change the lives of my family members as well as mine, and the only way to achieve that was through hard work and determination,” Tetero says.

She is the fourth born, and first girl in a family of eight children.

After completing A’level, Tetero became an active supporter of Imbuto Foundation work.

As she awaits her graduation, she is currently working with Best Performing Girls Alumni Association to mentor other girls still in school.

Tetero says the mentorship programmes ensure that the cycle does not stop with the initial beneficiaries.

However, she says will only be content with their efforts when she initiates a similar programme back home.

"I hope to go back home in Karongi and start mentoring young girls so that they can also be responsible women.”

Tetero hopes to achieve this using the experience she gained as a student leader while at the university.

"I was the chairperson of the Representatives’ Assembly. During this period, I gained enormous experience in issues regarding handling people, listening to them and being able to make decisions,” Tetero says.

She adds that she gained exposure and confidence from Imbuto Foundation.

Although she had leadership responsibilities, they did not interfere with her studies.

"I have a dream of going for further studies; get a master’s degree and a PhD. I always try to keep a positive mentality,  which has helped me accomplish many things. Besides, I always give my best in whatever I do,” Tetero said.

Her dream is to become a lecturer or work with an NGO that cares for the vulnerable.

She advises girls never to give up on their plans and to strive to be exemplary in society.

"Society’s mindset, as well as the physical and psychological aspects of our lives tend to work against us in many ways, but the secret is in staying focused, committed to your goals and working hard,” Tetero says.

For Maureen Isimbi Kalimba, her ambition is to  transform her community.

Oozing confidence in dreadlocks, rolled up shirt, blue jeans and a ‘swagger’ in her gait, it is hard to tell that she is 17 years old. 

"My community lacks clean water; in fact, they get water from a well near my home and the water is very dirty. So, I designed a project called "My water, my Health”, where I intend to construct a borehole for the community in partnership with other stakeholders,” she says.

Kalimba, who is the seventh child in a family of nine children, studied from Camp Kigali Primary School, but missed out on being awarded by Imbuto Foundation since she was not among the best performing girls.

However, she did not lose hope and continued to work hard.

She enrolled at Riveira High School for her secondary school education.

"At Riveira, I worked hard, but again I missed out on the Imbuto Foundation scholarship in O’level. However, with more determination and hard work, I achieved that goal in 2014 while in S.6,” she says.

Kalimba pursued mathematics, physics and geography at A’level and scored As in all subjects, which eventually earned her the award of a laptop.

"When I won the award I was so happy, but I already had a laptop. So, it would be selfish of me to keep the second one. From the time I completed A’level last year, I have been using the laptop I was awarded by Imbuto Foundation to give ICT skills to children in my neighbourhood. Currently, I teach about eight children,” she says.

Kalimba is also a voluntary tutor in maths, physics and geography at Riviera High School. She derives her passion for tutoring from the urge to help fellow students after she realised that some of them have trouble understanding teachers.

"Some students think they are not capable of doing some subjects even when teachers encourage them. Besides, these students usually need follow-up. But when I sit with them being their agemate and we talk as equals, it is easy for them to gain confidence and work hard,” she says.

However, after being awarded in 2014, Kalimba did not get involved with Imbuto Foundation until this year. After attending various seminars, it is when she realised that her contribution to society was vital.

Kalimba is currently a scholar of Open A Door Foundation (OAD), an organisation seeks to build female leadership in post-conflict countries.

"I will be heading to the US in August next year, where I hope to pursue piloting. I hope to be a leader in the aviation  industry so that I can inspire other girls,” Kalimba says.

She advises girls to work hard if they want to be respected and self-reliant, saying she has achieved a lot because she does not believe in being a failure or listening to negative people.

"Society will always try to pull us down with negative comments and stereotypes, but it is up to us to defy them. We have great minds and are capable of doing a lot of things as long as we leave our fears behind. We are lucky that our country promotes gender equality, so we should take advantage of the opportunities availed to us,” Kalimba adds.

When this youngster is not running around trying to make sure her project becomes a success, she is ministering at Tehillah Dawn Plaform Ministries. She says she loves singing too.

Thanks to Imbuto Foundation, these three girls are growing into inspirational leaders for the next generation. And they are just a fraction of those who have been impacted by the works of the Foundation established by the First Lady Jeannette Kagame.