What ASYV Means to Me

PACIFIQUE RUTAMU, CLASS OF 2013

When the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi was over, my dad had passed away. My mom had to make sure we had food. At times, that was not easy. And I know now that those events impacted the way I perceived the world. After I arrived at ASYV, everything changed for me. I learned about things such as trauma. The family environment helped me to feel safe. The “healing of hearts” focus gave me the ability to dream about my future—about starting a family and studying in the U.S.

I was part of the second class to enter the Village, and during my four years, I watched ASYV grow like a web to improve its academics, the sports and extracurriculars offered, the ways we could all support one another as a family. When I started at Texas Christian University, I felt prepared. I also felt excited about returning to Rwanda, as someone who is young and energetic, so I could contribute to all the country is building—to pay it forward.

Ensuring the future of ASYV is important because you cannot just get rid of the trauma that we have in Rwanda in a couple years or even in a few generations. But ASYV is changing lives that would not have otherwise had the opportunity to be changed. And we graduates are helping change the country. ASYV graduates are leaders in all professions. Some have started their own businesses. I work at the Bank of Kigali. Long term, I want to do what for others what was done for me. I want to help the disadvantaged become advantaged.