Vulnerable yet talented youth in the country are being funded and guided through online courses sourced from top global universities. This is facilitated by the Kepler organisation. The organisation’s objective is to establish a model that can be applied to students in developing countries worldwide.Through use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), Kepler is able to access online course work sourced mainly from American universities for its 50 selected students.“These courses are open to everyone but they have a low completion rate,” said Melanie Chuen, the Chief Operations Officer of the organisation. To help the students complete the courses, Kepler offers course facilitation using local staff.Kepler, launched this September, falls under the larger organisation, Generation Rwanda, that has been providing scholarships to students in Rwanda’s traditional universities for the past ten years. There are currently 75 students in universities thanks to Generation Rwanda scholarships. “Generation Rwanda has been a scholarship programme with great employment success. Kepler is a new initiative and we are combining what we know with new expertise,” Chuen said.The students selected to attend Generation Rwanda undergo an extensive selection process. Last year, over 2,700 applicants from vulnerable backgrounds across Rwanda applied for the Kepler course, with less than 2% passing the competitive tests and interviews.If the Kepler students are successful in completing their courses, they will receive a degree from an accredited US university. Inside the organisation’s classroom, clusters of students are found gathered around tables doing group work. Other students sit in rapt attention facing a teacher. Stella BonardIbango, one of the students, said: “I am excited to implement what I have learnt here. I hope to become an entrepreneur, perhaps using graphic design to start my own company.”
