On May 19, The New Times published a story about 18-year-old Amina Uwikuzo whose photo made rounds on social media, as she sat by the roadside, concentrating on her books while at the same time selling fruits to support her family.

We visited Uwikozo and her family in Rwampara, Gikondo sector in Kicukiro District to get her story after the photo captioned "at work” which was first shared by social media user Tito Harerimana on May 14, touched the hearts of many.

Subsequently, the story attracted many people who were amazed by Uwikuzo’s sheer determination, and reached out to offer her support, among them, the director of Rwamagana Leaders' School, which has offered Uwikuzo a full-board scholarship.

Amina Uwikuzo visited the dormitories and classrooms to see how students go about their studies.

On Tuesday, Uwikuzo and her mother, Marciana Mujawimana and Harerimana, who first posted the photo, along with The New Times, visited the Eastern Province-based school, where the administration official offered her the scholarship.

Moses Ssenyonjo, the director of the school, says that he first came across the story on The New Times’ Facebook page and it touched his heart, and it is then that he brainstormed with colleagues on what could be done to support Uwikuzo.

"I read the story and it really touched me, that’s how I decided to reach out such that we can offer her a scholarship,” says Ssenyonjo, adding that Rwamagana Leaders' School has initiatives to support brilliant children from vulnerable households.

"When you read her story, you see a future that is not supported. So, we came in to support her to realise her dreams,” the school’s director says.

Like other students the school supports, Ssenyonjo says the scholarship offered to Uwikuzo is full board because they understand students come from different backgrounds.

"In the case of Uwikuzo, we want to move with her on this journey, starting from S4 to S6. We don’t have anything attached to her scholarship, we want her to grow like any other student.

"We want her to perform like any other student. We have high expectations of her,” Ssenyonjo says, adding that the school supports many children from vulnerable families, especially girls, who are always at risk of dropping out.

With her mother at the school.

The school supports children in different categories, including those picked from the streets or those coming from poor families that cannot afford school fees but have the will to study.

Uwikuzo, a special case

Ssenyonjo says that Uwikuzo’s case is a special one because it was brought to their attention through the media, unlike other cases. The school will offer her everything, including clothing, meals and scholastic materials.

The sponsorship includes a termly fee of Rwf351, 000, amounting to an annual tuition of Rwf1, 053, 000. Uwikuzo, currently in S3 at Groupe Scolaire Mburabuturo, will not pay anything, and just report to school when the S4 term starts. 

Ssenyonjo explains that the idea of offering her a scholarship was to bring her to a safe space where she can focus on her studies, and protect her from the risks emanating from the society she currently lives in.

"We are bringing her out of all those risky ways. Girls of her age meet several challenges. There are very many people out there who would wish to exploit a girl like her.

"As a school, we are bringing her into a secure environment where she can grow and prosper and that is the assurance I can give her mother,” Ssenyonjo says, adding that they are an organised institution and have been doing this for a while.

He says there many other girls who joined the school like Uwikuzo and have gone on to become successful individuals, starting NGOs or charities and travelling the world.

The director says that all they want to see is Uwikuzo succeed in her education and career and maybe in future, pay back by supporting others like her.

The school is one of the best performing schools in the country and offers students different academic opportunities while training them in key interpersonal skills, language proficiency and public speaking, among other abilities.

The road to success

Uwikuzo had an opportunity to tour the school and see for herself the different facilities including, classrooms, laboratories, dormitories and sports amenities—things she has never enjoyed before.

One could easily tell that this is an environment she has never been in, seeing other children using computers, in neatly pressed uniforms, going on about their studies. She was elated.

"I thank God for this chance. I am overwhelmed. May God bless this school,” says Uwikuzo, with a wide smile.

She did not know what the next step after O-level would be, but the gesture has offered her an opportunity to envision the future by fully focusing on her studies.

"I will not let the school down. I will do my very best. I can promise my mother too that I am going to fully grab this opportunity and focus on my studies and become someone in future,” Uwikuzo says.

A random photo taken by a stranger has completely changed Uwikuzo’s future and that of her family, yet for her it was simply a routine. After school, she would go to sell fruits by the roadside to support her mother, following the demise of her father in 2019.

Her mother does two jobs to support her children, and is also over the moon following the offer, which will at least relieve her of the burden of paying Rwf24, 000 in school dues.

"I am thankful to God for this offer. I cannot believe this is happening to us,” says Mujawimana, 45, a mother of six, who has been struggling to make ends meet since the passing of her husband.

"Words cannot explain what this means to me and Amina. She can now concentrate on her studies and I am also going to do my best to grow my business and use the money I get to support other children,” Mujawimana says.

Rwamagana Leaders' School director hands Uwikuzo the scholarship letter.

She has also been able to receive support from different people who were touched by Uwikuzo’s story and her determination to make enough money to help her mother establish a sustainable business.

Uwikuzo does not take anything for granted. She knows this is a chance that comes once in a lifetime and is looking forward to fully utilising it to excel in her studies.

According to Ssenyonjo, most of the students who graduate from Rwamagana Leaders' School end up in the best universities abroad, in Rwanda or in the region and go on to excel in life.

Uwikuzo in the girls' dormitory. 

Uwikuzo checked out the classrooms and laboratories.

Rwamagana Leaders' Shchool is well equipped.