We are in this together

The word Duhugurane has become more than just the young woman's project, which is very important to me; helping each other, or building each other up has become more than just a name of a project for me. Most organizations have mission statements they can reflect on each day as a gauge to see if what they are working on supports the overall direction of the organization.

The ROC Partners mission statement is: dedicated to investing in the people of Rwanda through education, community development, and faith-based initiatives. As employees of ROC Partners, we seek to be involved in projects that support our 3 pillars: education, community development and faith-based initiatives in Rwanda.

But personally, my mission statement has become duhugurane. Let US help each other, or build each other up. What can I do everyday to work with someone to help and together we build each other up? How can we all work together to build someone up, to mentor them?

When I was home this summer, so many people said, "I just couldn't do what you do." I would laugh and think (and sometimes say outloud), I probably couldn't do what you do on a daily basis. We have all been given unique gifts, it is up to us to use them to glorify Him. Recently, one of the Duhu girls (university students who are learning to be trainers to take what they have learned to other young women) wrote in a blog post: If everyone makes an impact, what impact are you making wherever you are?

God has given me the capacity to be able to uniquely serve His daughters and sons in Rwanda. It is because of your prayers and financial support that we are able to be here together, working side by side. You may not be able to phsycially be in Rwanda, but you can support the work here. We can do this together, duhugurane-style!

We need $1300 to launch our first training in January 2013. I hope that you will consider donating to help us work together to build up young women in Rwanda!  Click here to make your donation

Definition of Success

Personal success must connect with your inner purpose and passion.

We have different meanings of success because we are different. Find your personal meaning of success and you will quickly become successful.

Keep working until the last moment of your life with intention and potential, and with that you will shine one day.

It is also to achieve goals which you set, to overcome the difficulties which you faced.

In brief, success means to get in your daily life what you have dreamed, so that your heart will be shining with much happiness. When you feel it, you can be proud of yourself.

-Darlene

Live the Life of Your Dreams

Believe it or not, you can talk to yourself and begin to build your self-confidence. It won't be easy and you will have to fight with yourself and your inner voice (conscience) to bring about the results that you want.

Faith is the antidote to fear. God's plan for you is to have hope and a future, because you can't give what you don't have.

You can ask yourself these few questions like:

Why are you still alive? What is the purpose? Is there a big reason?
If everyone makes an impact, what impact are you making wherever  you are?
How do you treat others? Does it model how you want to be treated?
How many ways can you say "Fear Not"? What is your source of courage, hope, strength, wisdom...?

After asking yourself all those questions, you will see that it is not a mistake for you to be alive, it is not an accident; it is for your benefit. It is part of God's plan. Trust Him. All things are possible!

Daily Duhu-Giving Hope

Today, I would like to talk about building the hope of girls. In the past, girls or women in general were left behind for a long time. In Rwanda especially, the culture did not allow girls to have the same rights as boys. For instance, girls were not allowed to go to school, they were like house girls, or servants.

I know it is hard, but it is possible to change the mindset of girls. As Duhugurane girls, this is our time to tell all girls that they are able to change their lives. We want them to know that they have value, then set their goals and work hard to reach those goals. This is the main objective of Duhugurane girls.

Daily Duhu-Patricie

I am Patricie Nyiransabimana, a student at Akilah Institute for Women, year two. Let me share with you my experience that I am learning through this training. Through this training, I know how to have a specific goal and how to achieve it. I have learned that I can be a solution to others, specifically young women. I am a role model and good advisor.

In September 2012, I began a small business selling tea and snacks on campus. From this training, I have learned that I can not give up when it gets difficult. I am also learning how to set goals and achieve them.

I believe in me and I have the ability to do anything. In this training, I am learning how to change the world through Duhugurane.

Daily Duhu-Peace

Hello!! Welcome to the Daily Duhu. My name is Peace, an Akilah student.

I am participating in a work readiness training, to be a trainer for Duhugurane. I want to share with you what I have learned from it.

• Do you know that people are the main pillar in your life?
• Do you know that you are a pillar of others' lives?

Now, I realize that I have a big responsibility, or influence, on others' lives.

Here, I am learning the importance of trust in a group, team building, self-expression and being confident wherever I am.

Have a nice day! I will write more next time.

Daily Duhu-Darlene

My name is Darlene France Mageza. I am 22 years old. I am proud of being a Rwandan lady and a second year student at Akilah Institute for Women in Hospitality Management and Leadership.

As a young lady, I have learned to be confident in whatever I do, to live with confidence and to also feel that I can do everything for myself.

I am proud of who I am and to explore who I am through my talents.

You have to be confident and to be proud of who you are so that you will be able to change your dreams in true life.

Daily Duhu

My name is Sarah Duhimbaze, a student at Akilah Institute for Women. I am 20 years old. My experience that I want to share with you is knowing who you are. There's no other person who will respect you if you do not value yourself as a young lady. After knowing yourself, you are able to set goals for your future. For me, I am being trained on how I can set my own goals and discovering the resources I can use to achieve those goals. As time goes on, I will keep letting you know my experience that I will gain in the rest of the training.

Meet the Team

These 7 girls are students at a local 2 year higher education institution, Akilah Institute for Women. They have been selected among young women throughout the country to study in the fields of leadership, hospitality and entrepreneurship. But my favorite aspect is that the school seeks to find each young woman's potential to help others. These girls are all interested in helping to build others up, they just need a forum to be able to implement what they have learned. 

From Left to Right:

Patience wants to help other girls develop self-confidence and teach them how to overcome difficulties and challenges. She wants to "teach the young generation with lost hope how to develop it."

Queen wants to develop her own self-confidence and the confidence of others through encouragement. She dreams of making a change in the community and becoming an entrepreneur.

Darlene wants to change the lives of others by giving them hope and confidence. She hopes to help other achieve their dreams and become good leaders.

Peace, Team Leader, is passionate about Rwanda's youth and is interested in sharing ideas with them. "...we know that the youth has influenced the Rwandan community through their thinking and physical capacity and their participation."

 Sarah is excited about giving back to the community by bringing social change and teaching leadership to Rwanda's youth.

Patricie is practicing her small business skills by offering tea and snacks on her school's campus. She wants to help the community by fighting poverty by encouraging entrepreneurship.

Julian wants to empower young women by helping them develop self-confidence. She hopes to serve as a role model to younger generations by being an example in ethical leadership.

While in training, 4 of these girls receive money to help with transportation to make sure they can get home safely at the end of the day. Young women this age can't afford cars or licenses, so they are dependent on public transportation if they can afford it, or they walk. To cover their expenses, I have committed to pay them $50/month to help them get to our trainings. I have so much confidence in these girls and in this program and I want to be able to do whatever is necessary to help them achieve their dream of reaching out to other girls.

With your financial support, I will be able to continue helping these girls and soon I hope to be able to hire each of these girls upon graduation to be full time trainers, reaching out and mentoring young women.

What is Duhugurane?

Duhugurane, meaning “Let us help each other”, is a professional and personal development program for young women 18-25 years old. Many Rwandan girls will complete secondary school with few options and/or resources to take the next step into adulthood and their future. It is the goal of Duhugurane to help these girls discover what amazing talents God has put within them and how to utilize those in their personal and professional lives.

Duhugurane will be using the work readiness curriculum including Personal Development, Interpersonal Communication, Work Habits and Conduct, Leadership, Safety and Heath at Work, Worker and Employer Rights and Responsibilities, Financial Literacy and Market Literacy. Each class will be taught by a trainer and a local businesswoman. We have found that the young women respond positively to having a mature businesswoman take time to encourage and educate them.

The participant girls will then be divided into smaller groups following the training who will be mentored by a local business woman; focusing on hands-on learning, possible internships, and overall encouragement.

Duhugurane mentors are made up of a unique combination of university women and local businesswomen who have a desire to reach out and encourage young women within the country.

The projected annual budget for this initiative is $50,000, but we must secure $5,000 to launch the pilot phase of this project. Any support you can provide to help me achieve this will be appreciated.

Donate to Duhugurane

Online:


Click here and select "Boiles" and designate either a one-time gift for monthly through auto withdrawal.







By Mail:

Click this form, print, complete and mail to ROC Partners 2604 NW 113th Oklahoma City, OK 73120











All donations are tax deductible through ROC Partners, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization