VIDEO: One year later, former fruit vendor Uwikuzo revels in her life-changing academic journey

On the sunny Saturday morning of July 8, we paid a surprise visit to Rwamagana Leaders’ School in Rwamagana District to check on Amina Uwikuzo, the 19-year-old fruit vendor whose story, and plight, moved many people last year. In May 2022, The New Times published a story about Uwikuzo, then 18, after her photo went viral on social media. In the photo, she was seen seated by the roadside, diligently studying her books while simultaneously selling fruits. ALSO READ: Meet 18-year-old Uwikuzo, the fruit vendor who inspired many When the photo captioned “at work” went viral, we visited Uwikozo at her home in Rwampara, Gikondo sector in Kicukiro District, to get her story. The image was first shared by social media user Tito Harerimana on May 14. Subsequently, Uwikuzo’s inspiring story moved many people, who were in awe of her determination, and many reached out to offer their support. One of these was the director of Rwamagana Leaders’ School, who provided her with a full-board scholarship. It was an instant turnaround for Uwikuzo and her family. Moses Ssenyonjo, the director of the school, who came across the story on The New Times’ Facebook page, reached out to us to deliver the good news of Uwikuzo’s scholarship. We again documented her journey as she went to the school for the first time after receiving the scholarship. In awe, the beaming teenager and her mother toured the school’s amenities. ALSO READ: I will not let the school down: 18-year-old fruit vendor celebrates fully funded scholarship Her story had spread far and wide, and as soon as she arrived at the Christan-based school tucked away in the Eastern Province, it was not just a life-changing experience, but also a dream come true. Her determination to study against all odds had been rewarded. Regardless of the challenges she faced then, including the language barrier as well as the high academic standards at the school—compared to where she was before— Uwikuzo was determined to take on the challenge and catch up with her peers who were far ahead. One year later, we visited the school again to see how Uwikuzo is progressing and settling in the environment. A colourful journey At the school, we were received by Pacifique Rukundo, the school’s campus monitor, and we were soon joined by a jolly Uwikuzo and two of her best friends. Together with the administrative official, we were given a tour of the campus. We checked out the school’s basketball court, computer lab, library, and dormitory where Uwikuzo sleeps, as well as the dining hall where students who had completed their exams, except for candidates, were having lunch. From the tour, one could see that Uwikuzo is home—so to speak. It is a whole transformational journey for the former Groupe Scolaire Mburabuturo student whose education future was bleak given the financial challenges her widowed mother grappled with. It has been life-changing for her mother, Marciana Mujawimana, too. When we sat down with Uwikuzo for the interview, we could tell that she has taken it all in very well, and we can sense her determination and energy. She looks healthy and well-nourished as opposed to when she joined. You can also see that much as she has settled in, there is still a journey for her. Upon seeing The New Times’ team, Uwikuzo was elated. She is grateful that the story changed her life. She went over the scholarship story in detail before delving into her journey thus far, calling it “humbling in many ways.” Humbling in the sense that if it was a race, her starting point was 10 steps behind. She knew from day one that she was going to play ‘catch up’, she says. “I was scared. It was the first time I was moving away from home and from my mother and siblings. My whole routine and settings changed, including the time I woke up. I had to adjust as quickly as I could,” says Uwikuzo, reflecting on the first time she reported to school. “On the first day in class, we had a computer lesson. I was panicking, as you can imagine. I was scared but I said I would let God guide me in this journey,” she adds. Uwikuzo was warmly welcomed by everyone at the school. They taught her how to socialise, and this gave her confidence and esteem a boost. Before going home for the break, she was briefed on the things to do during the holidays to keep herself busy in terms of catching up, as well as other life hacks that would help her not just to stay on track, but also sustain the momentum. “As we say here, ‘Rwamagana Leaders’ School, where education is for life,’ it goes beyond just academics but also other aspects of life,” she observes, adding that she used her first holiday to read as much as she could because as soon as they report to school, they are given tests. “If you don’t read during the holiday, you will definitely fall back,” she says, adding that luckily, she did not have to sell fruits by the roadside again because life back home changed too. “I would wake up, schedule my reading routine, and then liaise with my mother on a few things, but I dedicated my time to reading,” she says. Uwikuzo could not wait to return for the second term and this time she was more comfortable. Though third-term reports are yet to come out, her teachers are confident she will be promoted to senior five. A few bumps “My biggest challenge was speaking and reading English because my level was really low,” says Uwikuzo, who preferred to do the interview in Kinyarwanda to express herself better. However, everybody made an effort to help her grasp the language, she says, and her classmates came through to support her in other subjects so that she could catch up. One of the biggest challenges Uwikuzo says she has faced so far is the lack of a laptop. During the holidays, she lags in programming courses as her mother can’t afford one just yet. As she goes home for the long holiday that started on July 10, Uwikuzo is hoping for a generous benefactor to provide her with a laptop. This is especially important for her studies in Mathematics, Computer, and Economics (MCE). For now, the school cannot afford it as they are already giving her a full board scholarship, but her teacher, Emmanuel Sabiiti, says since Uwikuzo is innovative, she can go to youth centres and access public computers, but it would be best if she had her own. Regardless, Uwikuzo is not fazed. She is happy that all the stars are aligning for her at the moment and remains focused on her goals. The thing about Uwikuzo Rukundo, the school monitor, says Uwikuzo has adjusted well to life at the school since she joined in September last year, and her determination to catch up with others has been very impressive so far. “Our girl Amina is doing well. We were happy to receive her at the beginning of the year. She is our student in senior four, doing MCE, and she is doing well in her class of 12 students. “She has adjusted well; she speaks English and is a good girl. She’s a role model to some of our students, she has friends and teachers who love her,” Rukundo says, adding that she dealt with her challenges very well. He points out that the language of instruction and communication at the school is English, and when she joined, her level was still low, but with the support of teachers and fellow students, she was able to adapt and catch up easily. The school has also made sure she gets everything she needs to study well, including scholastic materials. They are also happy that she played her part well, putting in the effort and time to improve herself. Rukundo says over the past eight months, Uwikuzo has been able to grow in confidence and discipline, and she is an active member of several clubs, and is in the school choir where she sings with her friends. Uwikuzo’s academic journey was made easy by her teachers who understood her challenges from day one and supported her as much as they could. Sabiiti, the economics and entrepreneurship teacher, says knowing Uwikuzo’s story, it was a privilege to have her in his class and he had to do his part to support her. When she had just joined, she was mostly quiet in class because of language challenges. In class, she started by sitting in the middle but later the teacher noticed she was having challenges, she hardly spoke or responded to questions. He moved her to the front, sitting her next to a girl called Providence Irakoze, who later became her very good friend. Sabiiti says Uwikuzo was always attentive and maintained eye contact with the teacher, keenly following the lesson. Soon, she was put in a group and she made her first presentation. “I remember her presentation, I liked it because it was a very good step—she tried to read though she couldn't explain very well what was written. She was in a group of four students,” Sabiiti says. To encourage her, Sabiiti told Uwikuzo not to give up and continue trying, and that some of her classmates came when they were not proficient but eventually, they learned by practicing and speaking. “She told me about her challenges. She said she can read and write, she has beautiful handwriting by the way, and she’s organised. She said “I just want to talk”,” Sabiiti says, adding that he encouraged her to keep talking and not worry about being made fun of. The school environment is also a good one since there is no bullying or other behaviours that would make her feel uncomfortable. On her first test, she scored 45 per cent, which was below average, but the teacher encouraged her to revise the question paper. She then scored 85 per cent on the second attempt. In the mid-terms, she improved and scored 65 per cent, and since then it has been a journey of improvement—one step at a time. In class, she is one of the most active. The sheer determination made teachers try their best to support her. She is not afraid to answer or try to understand what the teacher is saying. Sabiiti encourages Uwikuzo to use the holidays to revise and further develop her entrepreneurial skills, while still maintaining a healthy balance with her education. Helena Muhongerwa, the matron at the school also speaks highly of Uwikuzo and describes her as a great girl with a good attitude. “She listens and acts. She is among our most disciplined students, works well with others, is social and proactive in everything she does, including her studies,” Muhongerwa says, pointing out that she has no doubt that the future is bright for her. Making friends Providence Irakoze Ndekezi, 16, became fast friends with Uwikuzo—they joined the school around the same time, were placed in the same class, and shared a dormitory. “We came to this school at the same time. We are both newcomers. One of the things that made me like her is her Christianity, and she’s an open person who is welcoming and kind,” Irakoze, who hails from Kicukiro, says. In a rare coincidence, her other best friend is also called Providence. Providence Abizera Kayabo speaks equally highly of Uwikuzo and their bond was also instant. She describes Uwikuzo as a great person with whom she has developed a bond in all aspects of life. “Our friendship was inevitable. We bonded over anything and nothing,” she says. Kayabo says that even when Uwikuzo is sad you will find her smiling, and there is no way you will fall out with her. Kayabo also took it upon herself to help Uwikuzo with the subjects she was struggling with. “She is outgoing, easy to talk to, everyone feels comfortable around her,” Kayabo says, adding that she takes a while to socialise with others but with Uwikuzo, in an hour they had already bonded. A grateful mother Uwikuzo’s mother Mujawimana is delighted by her daughter’s progress and the changes she has ushered into the family. From the proceeds of the fundraiser on social media to support her business, she was able to set up a fruit and vegetable shop in Gikondo. From the savings, she has been able to buy a piece of land with small houses which rents out for about Rwf10, 000 and 12, 000 per month. Still, a long way to go, but the efforts by the public have helped her get out of the deprived situation they were in. The future looks bright for the 45-year-old widow and mother-of-six who has been fending for her children since the death of her husband in 2019. She is grateful that her daughter’s determination and effort have impacted not only her life but the entire family. Keeping an eye on the goal “The reason I chose Mathematics, Computer, and Economics is because these are valuable subjects. Once you have skills you are in demand because the government is also focusing on those fields too,” she says. She wants to be a successful businesswoman when she completes her studies, and employ as many people as possible. “I don’t even know how I can thank the school for the opportunity they have given me. There is nothing I can give to show how grateful I am. I pray that God blesses the leadership of this school,” Uwikuzo says. “I can only promise that I will continue to be a good student, excel in my studies and also get to a point where I can support others,” she says, adding that she will continue to desist from engaging in risky activities that can derail her dreams. She urges young people to take advantage of the opportunities they get in life. “I know we are going for long holidays and we are looking forward to enjoying life with our friends and families, but it is not time to make wrong choices, like drinking alcohol or engaging in risky sexual behaviours, and drugs,” she says. Please contact The New Times in case you are looking to support Uwikuzo further.

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VIDEO: One year later, former fruit vendor Uwikuzo revels in her life-changing academic journey