Before the Grand Study Tour, like most Rwandans, I would use the statement “a land of a thousand hills,” but I couldn’t imagine how a country like Rwanda, which is among the smallest in the world, could actually hold a thousand hills. By the time our bus approached the Western Province, I was very amazed. 

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A poem by Ihimbazwe Umutesi Tumusifu, ASYV Class of 2024

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One day, I was sitting in an electronics class, and the teacher explained that in this class, we are trained to become problem solvers. In my home community, I often saw people with missing limbs and trouble moving. I started thinking about a project I could make that would help people with physical disabilities.

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Third-year student Pacifique Ishimwe discusses a Tikkun Olam—repairing the world—initiative he started to help students at a primary school neighboring ASYV learn English. Prior to coming to the Village, Pacifique attended the school himself.

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Visual art is my rhythmic breath. A dance of inhales and exhales, where each stroke births beauty born of creation and dreams. In this space, knowledge graciously steps aside, allowing the boundless expanse of imagination to take center stage—meaning that knowing is nothing at all but to imagine is everything.

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We are exhilarated to share the 2023 edition of the student-produced Liquidnet Magazine with you, the ASYV community. We have no doubt that you are going to enjoy this masterpiece filled with written expressions and emotions made as we embrace the culture of writing, strive for success, and wrap up this academic year of 2022–2023.

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Below is the text of the valedictorian speech I gave at my graduation. I wanted to submit it to Bwira News in the hope it may inspire others to learn something and/or pursue their passions.

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On March 10, we held a workshop for girls interested in writing prose and/or poems exploring their own lived experiences with gender-based issues and their feelings on working together to overcome them. Three second-year students, Ruth Kayatesi, Esther Mukakamanzi, and Deborah Butati, shared the poems they wrote for Bwira News.

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Catch up on the latest happenings at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV). All news updates are student performed, edited, and produced in collaboration with Enock Mutabazi, ASYV Class of 2022 and current Media Intern.

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In western, eastern, and central sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of people with vision impairment do not receive treatment for the issue. In Rwanda, vision impairment affects more than 400,000 people. Our research found that without aids, the condition has a negative influence on people’s health, increasing the risk of collisions and falling. Most cannot go outside without a person to guide them, and they do not have jobs. Many are beggars. Many die.

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I delight in seeing girls take the lead in their societies, and was inspired by the life story of Deborah Meillah, ASYV Class of 2022, especially by her struggles and her desire to uplift the vulnerable girls in her society. Due to this admiration, I decided to share Deborah’s story with the world, in the hope of inspiring other girls who aspire to become great empathetic leaders like Deborah—or even better.

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To me, an umbrella represents an incredible person, like my mother, who is always there to cover you whenever it is about to rain. She's a true heroine, and this has inspired me to not only express my gratitude to her via words, but also through action, such as writing a book that future generations will read. The book is called The Umbrella Problem.

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We lived near the Village, and there were times when ASYV students used to come to teach us English. I dreamt about one day going there, so when ASYV staff came to recruit, I filled out an application. After finding out that I could come to the Village, the hours and days stopped moving. One day became like a month. It felt like an endless dream.

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The African Child & Happiness and Pride - paintings by Wivine Cyuzuzo

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In the above video, I talk with girls about the problems they face and why they don’t stand up to say anything about it. When I was doing research, I found out that women and girls who face the problem of gender-based violence are often between the ages of 8 and 18. This is because they are raised by people who tell them that they are inferior to the boys. They tell them what to do and how to be instead of accepting how they are. All this builds a wall of the gender bias. I realized that most girls don’t understand the problems they are facing, because when you see something over and over it, just seems normal.

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In October 2020, when students were off school due to the pandemic, I was invited to speak as part of an international webinar series on young women's mental health. The series was hosted by Ilitha Labantu, an organization that provides services for women and children affected by violence in South Africa.

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A note of gratitude from Student Government Vice President Emile, on behalf of our students.

Through everything that happened ASYV never stopped thinking of us and thinking of how we are doing through these days. We received calls from the Village asking how we are doing, how our families are and what we would like to ask from the Village.

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While school is closed and our kids are home, they've been keeping themselves busy with art, music, dance, and poetry. Passions nourished at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village are helping our kids stay hopeful and engaged during the long months until they can come back to the Village. Check out some of the creative pieces our students have made during their time at home.

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Inyarabuga Elvis — stage name, “Levis Lenzy” — is an Enrichment Year student at ASYV. He loves singing and making music and has become a school celebrity for his creativity and talent. Below is a short biography, written by Elvis himself, about his love for music and the meaning behind his new hit, "Till the End." 

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