50 in 50

50 Women in 50 Days a look at some amazing women There are 50 business days until the launch of our next class and we need $5,000 to be fully funded. Click here to help launch Duhu 4! "50 in 50" means 50 women in 50 days. As we countdown to the next class, we are going to give you Facebook and Twitter updates about 50 Duhu graduates. Starting today! #50: Brenda (Duhu 2) is a very out-spoken and smart, young woman making her mark in the media industry in Rwanda. These qualities combined with the work-readiness education she received through Duhugurane have enabled her to further her career in radio advertising, radio shows, TV shows and print media, including newspapers and magazines. “ Thank you for making us feel that we are more than just pretty faces but that we have brains too.” We have 50 days to raise $5,000, click the link below to be a part of empowering 25 new Duhus. Duhu emphasizes to young women in Rwanda that God put within them strengths and abilities making them uniquely beautiful. Duhugurane (Duhu) offers a Core Training twice a year for young, Rwandan women 18-25 years old and is comprised of 160 hours of education in the areas of: Living in God's Zone (Strengths and Abilities), Personal Development, Interpersonal Communication, Work Habits and Conduct, Leadership, Safety and Heath at Work, HIV/AIDS and Gender-based Violence Awareness, Nutrition, Sanctity of Human Life, Worker and Employer Rights and Responsibilities, Financial Fitness and Exploring Entrepreneurship Training. Copyright © 2014, All rights reserved.

50 in 50

We have 50 business days before the next Duhugurane class, Duhu 4. So we are launching our 

fundraising campaign!

We need $5,000 before July 7 to have our next class fully funded.

 

"50 in 50" means 50 women in 50 days. As we countdown to the next class, we are going to give you Facebook and Twitter updates about 50 Duhus.

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What is a Duhu?

A Duhu is a young, Rwandan woman 18-25 years old who wants to change her life and her community.

What is Duhu 4?

The Core training is comprised of 160 hours of education in the areas of: Living in God's Zone (Strengths and Abilities), Personal Development, Interpersonal Communication, Work Habits and Conduct, Leadership, Safety and Heath at Work, HIV/AIDS and Gender-based Violence Awareness, Nutrition, Worker and Employer Rights and Responsibilities, Financial Fitness and Exploring Entrepreneurship Training.

Why is Duhu important?
Duhu emphasizes to young women in Rwanda that God put within them strengths and abilities making them unique. 

Duhu-ful

Last week, I started this message titled "57 reasons why I am thankful for Duhu" and I wrote the names of all the Duhus & Gabie, our program coordinator. I was going to schedule it to send the night before Thanksgiving so you could see how thankful I am for each and every girl. But then I got a phone call and life came to a screeching hault.

Amina Bateta "Teta" from our first girl (pictured above, front row, pink shirt) had passed away from liver failure. She was one of our university graduates who finished school and was not able to find employment. She came to us looking for help with her future.

 There are no words to adequately describe what our Duhu family is feeling right now. Our hearts are heavy in this loss of a promising young woman. We want to take this time to honor her memory.

I personally have taken this loss as a challenge to do better. Each day Gabie and I meet, I ask her, "What can we do better? How can we do what we are doing better?". I want to go into each future Duhu class thinking, "If this is the last words they hear, what do we need to tell them?".

It comes down to this, "God loves us, He has a plan for us; something He prepared in advance for us to do. If we choose to glorify Him with our life then we and others around us will be blessed because of the choices we make."

My heart is thankful for Duhu. I am Duhu-ful.

Jamie

 

Duhu 3 Needs You!

Dear Friends and Duhu Supporters, Duhu 3 will launch January 13, 2014 and we are in full planning mode for the next 25 participants and we need your help. We have added a new course, (which I am really excited about) allowing the young ladies to not only learn how to write a business plan, but creating a unique business idea and given a small investment to implement their idea. Over the last two months, we have been in meetings and doing a lot of research and planning. We feel really positive about the work we are doing and have had that affirmed by various organizations, including USAID, who developed the core Work Readiness Curriculum. We have listened to many needs of the young women, two of which we are trying to address by casting our nets to see how to implement a vocational training class teaching basic computer skills and English classes for those not able to pass the entrance exam. We have also started a weekly Bible study, inviting all the Duhu graduates, “Duhu Disciples”. When I say “we”, I mean Gabie and I. “Gabie” Immaculee Ingabire has been promoted to a full time position as the Program Coordinator. I was going to call her director, but she said that means I have to give her a car to drive, so Coordinator is it! All the day-to-day training work, including all contact with the graduates and planning for future trainings are now her responsibility. I realized when I returned to Rwanda in August from the U.S. that I don’t have to mentor all 56 young women (and counting). It is my responsibility to mentor 1 on how to empower the other 56. So my support to her, among many things, is making sure there is enough money to run the trainings. Here is where you come in! Below you will see a breakdown of the expenses for the next training. As our training grows, so do our expenses. I am raising $3,000 for Duhu 3. $3,000 divided by 25 Duhus = $120. $120 will sponsor one young lady to complete our training, gaining not only work readiness training and experience, but also training in creating a small business. Gabie tells me, “We have to train them to create jobs so they will hire their friends or classmates. That is how we will make a difference in their lives and how they will make a difference in their community.” Click here to make a donation to help support the Duhu 3 class.

Work Readiness Training Living in God’s Zone Personal Development Financial Fitness Leadership Job Interview Preparation Sanctity of Human Life Why Wait? Gender Based Violence HIV/AIDS Education Women’s Health & Nutrition Trainers: $900 Participant Guides, Classroom Materials: $300 Lunch (25 meals x 15 days): $600 Total: $1800   Career Exploration Sessions Visiting various types of business Networking with local business owners Encouragement Transportation Expenses: $100 Lunch Visits: $200 Total: $300   *NEW* Creating Entrepreneurship  Introduction to Small Business and Income Generating Creativity workshop Business Plan Creation and Presentation Small Business Short-term Implementation               Trainer: $200 Participant Guides, Classroom Materials: $200 Business Investments: $500 Total: $900

Thank you from Ritah Tumukunde

(Click to see a larger image)

Duhu's doing what

Of the 56 students who successfully completed the 2 Duhugurane In-Class Trainings offered since the project's launch in 2013, 70% have gained work experience through placement in internships, part-time or temporary jobs; 7% of the young women have obtained full time jobs; 3% have started businesses and many have pursued or continued educational endeavors.

Our business partners throughout the community have committed to invest into their youth and it is demonstrated each time they offer to host a Duhu participant at their business. 

Bottom line: Duhu is "learning from each other". 

Themes of Rwandan Youth

A recent estimate states that two-thirds of Kigali, capital city of Rwanda, is composed of youth (ages 14-35). 

Here are some consistent themes (recently published) that people believe about Rwanda's youth:

1. Youth won't take advice
2. Youth are unproductive with their time
3. Youth won't collaborate
4. Youth need education

Over the last few months, we have learned that young people do need education, but they also want to be heard. They have ideas and concerns for their future. The young women of Duhu have proved that in the right conditions, the top 3 for them are not true. They do work together, they will use their time well and they will take advice.

We have encouraged our Duhu girls to dream big and create SMART (Specific, Measureable, Adjustable, Realistic, Time-Oriented) objectives to achieve those dreams. But they need resources, so we should just give them money, right? Nope.

The model of Duhu is built on empowering young women to create a sustainable livelihood. We will soon be offering a Creating Entrepreneurs class for our graduates to educate them on running a business within a small group. We hope to create an environment for them to not only learn, but see if they have what it takes to collaborate together on a business idea and actually launch their idea.

We are motivated to prove those themes against youth wrong.

Duhu Video is up!

Check out the Duhu Facebook page to see our video, or click the picture below. Don't forget to LIKE us while you are there!

Thank you Olivier Rule for putting so much hard work into this video!

Duhu 1 Stats and beyond

During our first cohort, we had all 21 students complete the internal assessments with above 80%. 60% of those who successfully completed the In-Class training and Career Exploration were placed in internships or part time jobs; 1 young woman obtained a full time job. 25% pursued educational opportunities.

We are currently hosting our second cohort--20 in the morning class and 20 in the afternoon. And we are making plans to offer a Small Business/Income Generating Training for all of our Duhu Graduates in the near future, using the Akazi Kanoze curriculum and include a mock business implementation experience.

Duhu 2

From Jamie Boiles, Project Director

For our second class, we are still learning how to better serve the girls and meet their needs. We are trying a few new topics and hands-on learning experiences.

My personal priority is seeking ways to continue to involve more Rwandan women of various ages to train, mentor and coach these young women. The young women need to hear from women who have gone before them to inspire and encourage them along their path.

There are a few values the leadership and advisory team have agreed upon as our core values that I would like to share:

• Education: We believe in the value of education in increasing opportunities. This goes beyond knowledge, but is complemented with hands-on applicable skills.

• Community: The individual exists in the context of their community.  Therefore, change in attitudes, ideas and practices can impact the lives of community members, businesswomen, and others who interact with the girls in whose lives we invest and vice versa.

• Faith: We are founded on the belief that each individual possesses dignity and deserves respect because we are all created in the image of God.

• Accountability: Our greatest responsibility as an organization is to remain accountable to our beneficiaries in all operations. We commit to being wise stewards of our resources and to keep young women at the center of our financial decisions.

• Youth Empowerment: We believe that young women should be at the center of initiatives. They are key stakeholders in the future of their communities and have the capacity and ingenuity to shape strategic responses to events impacting their environment. 
  

As Duhu continues to grow and evolve, these values may evolve; but we commit to hold the young women as the highest priority, using everything we have to empower them to not only positively impact their lives, but to impact their community and country.

Daily Duhu

Divine Akimana
(The family name "Akimana" translates to "of God")

All my goals that I have now were like dreams to me before. Since I joined Duhugurane, I really feel like I am in control, am more focused and more motivated.

I can work on all the stories that I had kept private until now and produce some good novels. Because of Duhugurane, who inspired us, I can inspire some other girls not only in Rwanda but all over the world.

We will never have another Week 1 like this one

From Jamie Boiles, Project Director

As we end our second week of three weeks of Work Readiness training, I realize we will never have another first week of Duhugurane and that makes me excited for the future.

We started with 25 and only 4 have had to drop for personal reasons. To receive a certificate, each participate must attend 90% of the training. I was a little nervous on Day 2 to see who would be returning; most returned.

I have watched an evolution in team work, participation and voice level. The more they work together and participate in class, the more comfortable they get with it.

These 21 girls are beautiful, ambitious and strong. One young lady works several nights a week at a call center, gets off work and then comes to class. Another lady lives a 30 minutes car ride away, but isn't able to take a car, so she uses a combination of bus taxis and her own feet to get to class, taking about 2 hours each way.

Through this training, we are learning how to do things better. I feel like these girls are our first-born; we are making all the parenting mistakes with them, so we will do better next time. (I can say this being the baby of the family.)

We have already determined our goal is not just to churn participants through the training, but walk through these next steps with them and then focus on our next group. And we've gotten to really like and enjoy each and every girl. As we get to know them more, we want to see each one to find success in achieving their dreams.

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.