A Lens on Girls Taking the Lead

“I want to see the world and show it to others,” says Mukeshimana Deborah.

Getting the Shot

Pictures and videos of Mukeshimana Deborah are hard to come by at the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV). This is because she is generally found behind the camera. Deborah recently completed her term as the first female president of the Village Media Club. One of ASYV’s most in-demand extracurricular activities, the Media Club provides students with the resources and guidance to make their own films and media projects. We sat down with Deborah to talk about her time as president and her passion for the field.

Deborah took the picture “My Missing Soda Bottle,” above, through her work with the Village Media Club. Visit here to read the essay she wrote to accompany her photo.

How did you become involved with the Media Club?
The first few times I tried to attend a club meeting, I was too scared to enter. It was almost all boys. But on my fifth try, I arrived very early so I wouldn’t be as scared. I eventually took over the weather forecast from my big sister Pamela. Then I applied to be in the camera operators’ boot camp during the vacation between school years, and was so excited when I was accepted. I learned so much about how to use cameras, capture and tell a story, and have confidence in the field at large.

How did being president of the Media Club impact you?

At first, I was scared that people would look to some of my brothers for leadership instead of to me, but seeing Enrichment Year [first-year] students and others come to me for help, guidance, and knowledge was amazing. They truly accepted me as a leader and a source of knowledge and passion. Going from the person who was afraid of trying new things to the president of the club and a leader in my community felt inspiring, and made me feel responsible for helping inspire other girls to try new things.

Are there any current Media Club projects that you are especially excited about?

We are currently having an interclub filmmaking competition. This is providing everyone, especially our newest members, with the opportunity to learn more about the filmmaking process, and to explore different roles, such as directing, writing, and videography.

What do you want to do after you graduate from ASYV?

My dream is to study abroad. I am not quite sure yet where or what program, but I know I have a deep passion for both environmental science and filmmaking. People have told me that there is a lot of possibility for these two passions to interact, and I think as long as I can keep pursuing my passions, I will be happy.

To find out more about the Media Club members and their projects, look out for Media Monday posts on our Instagram.

Speaking Up

Esther Mukakamanzi gives her winning speech.

On a Monday in early February, the girls of the Intwari Grade, our first-year class, stood before their student families to deliver original speeches on topics ranging from the importance of trees to how to empower their female peers. Members of Female Solidarity Legacy (FSL), the student club that organized the event, then selected a winning speaker from each family. “We have chosen to do this competition because encouraging girls to speak their opinion, no matter the topic, is one of the most important things for improving their confidence in and outside of the Village,” said FSL member Uwera Clementine.

In March, the selected finalists will compete to be grade-level champion. Each participant will discuss how women have contributed to progress in Rwanda and how gender equity can be achieved worldwide. “I look forward to seeing what my colleagues have prepared,” says Esther Mukakamanzi, who won the Claudette Colvin family’s competition with her speech on the importance of friendship.