Desange Uwera

Family: Queen Esther
Academic Concentration (Referred to as a Combination): Mathematics, Computer Science, Economics

Before arriving in the Village, I studied at the Inyange Girls School of Science. I lived with my mother and two sisters in the Musanze district which is located in the northern province of Rwanda. Unfortunately, there were many occasions where my family was unable to support my school fees.

When I heard that I had been selected to study at Agahozo-Shalom, I was so happy. My older sister already had the opportunity to study here and so I knew about all of the amazing things that go on in the Village.

I am now coming to the end of my second year at ASYV and can honestly say that I feel like a completely different person. There has been a huge improvement in my confidence and also my English skills which have led me to achieve many great things during my time here.

In years gone by, I have sung in various choirs but never had the courage to perform solo. With the right training and encouragement, I now have the confidence to perform songs by myself and recently won first place at an inter-school singing competition.

Recently, I was appointed as the Student Government's Minister of Student Initiatives - a position that many candidates applied for. I hope to be the voice for those who have ideas but lack the confidence and conviction to share them.

I'm also proud to have been selected to attend an event held by Yale Young African Scholars at the Green Hills Academy in Kigali. The event gave me some insight on how to apply for universities in the United States and also some tips on strong leadership.

My future goals are to be independent and start my own business which will contribute to the development of Rwanda. I hope to achieve this after studying Business and IT at a university in the United States. I also hope that one day I will be able to support my mother and sisters.