Words from Isonga Grade’s Class Representative, Fabrice

On October 17, 2019, ASYV celebrated the graduated of its eighth class of students, the Isonga grade. Fabrice Mpozenzi served as the Isonga grade’s class representative and student speaker. Below is a transcript of Fabrice’s inspiring speech.

Dear guests, looking at where we have come from, one would say we are the fine metal that has passed through the hottest fire. Was this through luck, was it because we are the most intelligent, was it because we are talented? No, it has been the effort of everyone present here and those absent today, but most importantly, our beloved mother- Anne Heyman without whom many of us would probably be on street, some in prison, and others would never know the love of a family.

To the Class of 2019, let us pause a bit and reflect on the days before joining ASYV. Our hearts were broken, filled with sadness and anger because of some unforeseen struggles we encountered. We were missing our beloved parents at a young age when we needed them most or dropping out of school as a result of having no school fees. Some of us starved because of not having anyone to feed us. We were very worried about the future and we had no hope.

Luckily, in 2016 our darkness changed into light. The sun shone upon us and we rested in the hands of ASYV and had a chance to survive again hoping to be the light of our nation. We were given families and a place to call home, yet some of us used to be called street kids. We met educators who undoubtedly stood on behalf of our precious parents we had lost. We were shown love, given support and now we can dream, achieve, and live a prosperous life because the core values we were taught have become a foundation of everything we do. We can now respect and support each other. We are young men and women of integrity who are committed to make a difference. We will be the role models the world will learn from and this, we promise.

Today, as we are celebrating our graduation from high school, it is indeed a sign that we are graduating from poverty and from being called orphans because what we have inherited from ASYV allows us to be called honorable not vulnerable.

Dear guests, allow me on behalf of my class, to extend special thanks to our extended ASYV family, particularly the Board chair of ASYV (Laurie Toll Franz), the Merrin family, partners and friends, who generously give even when some of them don’t even know us. We are grateful to your unyielding support to help young Rwandans to reach their dreams.

Dear parents and educators, there is enormous transformation that happened in our lives and I am very sure that all guests here can witness it through different talents that were demonstrated to you. Some of us have become artists, musicians, poets, sports men and women, photographers among others. I am personally a living example of this transformation.  The day I joined ASYV I could hardly speak any English. I was shy, not motivated and pessimistic about life. Today I am able to speak for myself and on behalf of others. I can see a bright future ahead and these are the fruits of all that ASYV has developed in us.

Dear graduates, the journey has not been easy but we moved together, supported each other and today we are celebrating together. We were taught to be persistent and resilient. In the words of Frederick Douglass, we learned that “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Today, we foresee challenges as an opportunity to do what is right for us and for our communities.  Now we are proud of our remarkable success. It is now the time to spread our wings and explore the world, building on the foundation ASYV has given us to create a profound impact in the lives of others.

Though we are celebrating our achievements today, the journey is still long; there is a lot to learn as this world never stops teaching. We have to keep working extremely hard in order to live a purpose driven life. Let us live by the core values we have learned from here to shape our lives and the lives of others. As we walk out of high school in November, we have to make sure we don’t misuse those core values and that our success will be a true definition of why Agahozo-Shalom exists. Let us be the agents of peace, love and support that our country and the entire world needs, and this way, the legacy of Anne Heyman will live on forever.

Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to address our parents here in Kinyarwanda. I want to thank them for all they have done and continue to do for us. 

Babyeyi bacu, mboneyeho umwanya wokubashimira ubwitange mudahwema kutugaragariza mukuzamura ireme ryuburere bwacu. Ikizere mwatwubatsemo nicyo gitumye uyumunsi turi ku isonga. Ntabwoba dufite bwubuzima kuko uburere muduha twizeye tudashidikanya ko buzatugeza kunzozi zacu. Mwizina ryabagenzi bange turabashimiye.

Dear all, on behalf of my class, I confidently give a promise to our educators, parents, and donors of ASYV who are here today that our graduation is not the end, instead it is the beginning of the battle, the battle of making the world better, the battle of redefining the values of our country, the battle of bringing peace because we are the future, the hope, strength and the light of Africa. Yes, we can and yes, we will!

Thank you, may God bless you and may God bless ASYV too.