Tuesday, October 4, was a day of joy for Amina Uwikuzo and her family as she joined Rwamagana Leaders’ School for the first time, to enjoy a full scholarship following her life changing story published by The New Times.
Many remember Uwikuzo following her photo which made rounds on social media in May this year, as she sat by the roadside, concentrating on her books while at the same time selling fruits to support her family.
Uwikuzo’s photo was first shared by Tito Harerimana on Twitter on May 14, captioning it "at work” and her sheer determination touched the hearts of many.
The story attracted many people who were amazed by Uwikuzo’s courage and reached out to offer her support, among them, the director of Rwamagana Leaders’ School, which went on to offer Uwikuzo a full-board scholarship.
At the time, Uwikuzo was in Senior Three, waiting to sit her national exams, after which, depending on her performance, she would then be able to join the Eastern Province-based school.
On Tuesday, May 24, Uwikuzo and her mother, Marciana Mujawimana and Harerimana, who first posted the photo, along with The New Times, visited the school where the administration official offered her the scholarship.
At the time, Moses Ssenyonjo, the director of the school, said that he first came across Uwikuzo’s story on The New Times’ Facebook page and it touched his heart and the school resolved to give her a full scholarship and as they say, the rest is history.
The school stood by its offer and fast-forward to October 4, Uwikuzo, her mother and Harerimana boarded a bus with excitement and headed to Rwamagana, where she would join the school.
For a young girl who was studying under difficult conditions, Uwikuzo performed well in the national exams, scoring 22 out of 54 in the primary and secondary results released last week on September 27.
Uwikuzo had been offered a place at Ecole Secondaire Kanombe (EFOTEC), where she would pursue Physics, Economics and Computer (PEC).
Panic
When the results came out, Uwikuzo’s mother tried to reach the director of the Rwamagana-based school in vain, but he was out of the country and unreachable. For Mujawimana, the offer was too good to believe, and when Uwikuzo couldn’t contact the school, panic and fear set in.
Did the scholarship still stand? Would she have to report where she was offered a place? Too many questions popped up in her head. For many years, the widow has been working hard and struggling to make ends meet. The scholarship meant everything for her.
As days went by, Mujawimana feared that Uwikuzo would lose both opportunities and reached out to The New Times for help.
The New Times reached out to Ssenyonjo, who is on a work trip in the U.S and he said that though he is away, the school administration was waiting for Uwikuzo to report.
"We are extremely happy to receive Amina at Rwamagana Leaders’ School and to have her among our students and hope that she fits in very well. We wish her all the best in her studies,” the school head said in a phone interview.
At Rwamagana Leaders’ School, Uwikuzo will major in her favourite subjects Mathematics, Economics and Computer (MEC).
As she reported to school, she only carried sanitary pads, undergarments, and a pair of slippers, school shoes, a bucket and suitcase.
The school will provide everything else she needs, including, uniform, sportswear, sports shoes, mattress, beddings, towel, washing soap, plus all scholastic materials.
Though he was away, Ssenyonjo instructed his deputy and the school administration to ensure that Uwikuzo gets a befitting welcome, and indeed she got one.
Upon arrival, the smiling Uwikuzo was given a warm welcome by the teachers and students who immediately made her feel at ease.
Excitement and relief
Both Uwikuzo and her mother were beaming with happiness as they arrived at the school. Understandably, she was overwhelmed and nervous at the same time.
"I am filled with excitement and joy as I join this school. I’m grateful to Rwamagana Leaders’ School for the opportunity and I’m going to do my very best to not disappoint the school and to make my mother proud,” Uwikuzo told The New Times.
"I won’t lie, I’m a bit nervous because of all the new things; new teachers, new students and new school, but I look forward to making new friends and also doing what is expected of me,” she added.
Uwikuzo said she won’t forget where she came from or take for granted the opportunity she has been given, to be able to continue her studies in a better school.
Her mother Mujawimana could not believe it when they got to the school and found everyone waiting for them.
"We could not believe what was happening. I was literally numb. It was an extraordinary experience,” she said, adding that she is confident that Uwikuzo will not disappoint.
"I know Amina is going to concentrate on her studies. I know she is a brilliant girl. She has always loved mathematics and computer studies but she never got the opportunity to study like other children,” Mujawimana said.
She added that at school, sometimes she would miss out on tests or exams due to lack of tuition and she would hardly attend sports activities because she did not have sports shoes.
Uwikuzo would use her spare time to support her mother’s fruit vending business, sitting by the roadside where she would revise under street lights, most times struggling to do her homework as she took care of other chores.
It is a huge relief for Mujawimana who now says she doesn’t have to worry about Uwikuzo as the school provides her with everything she needs.
"I’m so grateful that she is going to concentrate on her studies and I’m not going to be worried again about school feels even though she has siblings, but at least I know she is being taken care of.
"I am extremely grateful to God and to the management of Rwamagana Leaders’ School for the great opportunity that they offered us,” she said, adding that she never imagined that her child would study in such a good school.
Mujawimana is thankful to the many Rwandans and all the people who were touched by Uwikuzo’s story and offered support, promising that she will not let them down.