Imbuto Foundation has reaffirmed its commitment to an ongoing partnership with Mount Kigali University. The new phase of the partnership is set to kick off with a plan by the university to build two ECD (early childhood development) classrooms in Kicukiro.

The foundation’s pledge comes following the institution’s name change from Mount Kenya University Rwanda in April.

This alliance seeks to support exceptional yet underprivileged Rwandan students to access educational opportunities that can transform their lives.

Mount Kigali University, now a fully autonomous higher education institution operating throughout Rwanda, has taken the baton from its predecessor, Mount Kenya University Rwanda. This development signifies a new era of collaborative educational empowerment efforts within the country.

A letter the university sent to Imbuto Foundation in June this year, states: "Following the MoU signed between the two organisations and renewed early this year, Mount Kenya University Rwanda (read, Mount Kigali University now) pledges a donation of U$ 175,000 to the Imbuto Foundation during the renewal of the partnership to educate the girl child.”

It also states, "Furthermore, we are proud to contribute Rwf150 million towards the construction and operation of the One Childhood Development and Family Community-Based Center, which will be located in Kicukiro District. By working together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of Rwandans, by empowering them to realise their full potential and make positive contributions to their communities.”

According to the acting Vice-Chancellor, Dr Martin Kimemia, the two organisations are laying the groundwork to build two public ECD classes in Kicukiro District to benefit the local community. This follows the transfer of the foundation’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mount Kenya University Rwanda (MKUR) campus to the new entity. The MoU is now between Imbuto Foundation and Mount Kigali University.

"We are working on the modalities of making this happen,” Mount Kigali University Ag. Vice-chancellor, Dr. Martin Kimemia, says.

Communication between the university and the foundation shows that the two partners in education plan to forge ahead with the initiative to build the ECD classes.

"Imbuto Foundation has laid out the vision which we embrace and look forward to achieving together,” said Kimemia.

"For any further support to go ahead with the process, Jean de Dieu Kayiranga, the Ag. Division Manager in charge of the Education Division, will facilitate you,” notes a statement from Imbuto Foundation to the university.

The foundation’s five-year partnership with MKU has borne fruit. Several scholars trained at MKU courtesy of the foundation have graduated.

One of these scholars, Dr Redempta Icyishaka, graduated from MKU early this month with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree.

The first Rwandan medical doctor trained by MKU, Icyishaka is currently undergoing her internship at Our Lady of Lourdes Mwea Hospital, a Level 5 Teaching and Referral Hospital, located in Kirinyaga County, Kenya.

Icyishaka says: "I am very grateful I completed my degree through a scholarship from the Imbuto Foundation and Mount Kenya University. My dream is to work hard and give back to society, as well as Imbuto Foundation and Mount Kenya University who made my dream come true. I will double it up by sensitising young people to study hard and realise their dreams.”

She declares that she intends to "pursue a Master's degree in surgery when I get an opportunity.”

Icyishaka sees herself studying for her second degree "most probably in Kenya” before returning home "to take back experience I have gained outside the country.”

The young doctor is among the Imbuto Foundation scholars who studied at the university’s main campus in Thika, and the rest at the MKUR campus in Kigali.

The university provides five scholarships to brilliant girls — also beneficiaries of Imbuto Foundation — every year, from 2018 through to 2023.

In an effort to promote East African integration, three of those scholarships are offered at Mount Kigali University, and the other two, at the MKU Main Campus in Thika, Kenya.

Commenting on the MoU with Imbuto Foundation, Kimemia pledges that the university will continue investing in corporate social responsibility initiatives.

He promises that Mount Kigali University will continue to partner with organisations such as Imbuto to empower the girl child. In addition, it will offer scholarships to other organisations, such as New Life Ministries.

It will undertake community outreach programmes with Kicukiro District as well as donate towards Girinka (one cow per family) programmes.

Kimemia adds that the university will participate in Umuganda activities and contribute to the development of schools.