Learn about TechWomen’s expansion to Chicago!

TechWomenTechWomen

TechWomen is an Initiative of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

  • Home
  • Program
    • Overview
    • 2024 Impact Projects
    • Professional Development
    • Cultural Exchange
    • Delegation Trips
    • Impact
    • TechWomen@10
  • Participants
    • Chicago Emerging Leader Profiles
    • San Francisco Emerging Leader Profiles
    • Eligibility and Application
    • The Experience
    • Award Details
  • Mentors
    • Mentor Outreach Toolkit
    • Why Mentor With TechWomen?
    • Professional Mentor Overview
    • Cultural Mentor Overview
    • Innovation Mentor Overview
    • TechWomen Mentor Application
  • Get Involved
    • TechWomen Alumnae Summit
    • TechWomen Chicago
    • Host an Emerging Leader
    • Host an Event
    • Other Ways to Get Involved
    • Host companies and partners
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Program Countries
    • Connect
  • FAQ
    • General
    • Participants
    • Mentors
  • Blog
  • Log In

Rwanda Day 4: celebrating international women in STEM

February 6, 2020 By TechWomen Leave a Comment

“The greatest cheerleader of a woman should be another woman.”


The delegation had the honor and opportunity on day four to be welcomed warmly by Impinganzima Hostel in Bugesera District, a community for elderly survivors of the Genocide Against the Tutsi. The home, occupied by 64 women and seven men, has created a community where residents feel safe, supported and connected. 2018 fellows of Rwanda coordinated the visit to Impinganzima, introducing the delegates to the community and sharing how they’ve worked to support residents through their TechWomen seed grant-winning initiative, Healing Together.

During a morning tour from Constance, who runs the facility, the delegates learned about the support system that Impinganzima has put in place for all residents: housing, meals, on-site medical care, entertainment, and most of all, a sense of family. “When we reached this home, we found rest and happiness,” said a resident as she addressed the group. “We are not isolated anymore.”

Healing Together


After the delegates were greeted by residents of the hostel, 2018 fellow Noella Nibakuze shared the work and progress of Healing Together, the initiative created by Noella and fellows Vanny Nicole Katabarwa, Pascale Mugwaneza, Christa Munezero, Solange Uwera and Lucie Uwizeye. “We created Healing Together to support, activate, advocate and help create a network of counselors around the country who would help women widows and survivors,” she said. “Techwomen pushed us to think beyond ourselves and think about our communities.” Since the launch of Healing Together, the fellows have worked alongside the coordinators and psychologists at Impinganzima to bring customized training sessions on group therapy and group counseling.


Despite a language barrier, mentors and fellows spent the rest of the morning with the residents playing games, knitting and dancing. Although the women and men have faced unimaginable hardship, the delegates were uplifted by the true sense of community and home that Impinganzima provides.



Women in leadership 

In the evening, the delegation gathered with Rwandan women leaders in STEM and guest of honor Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, to celebrate women of influence in Rwanda, share best practices and generate momentum to inspire the leaders of tomorrow. Fellows Solange Kalema and Emma Marie Ndoringoma welcomed the group, sharing their TechWomen experiences and ushering in an evening of learning and networking: “TechWomen has been an eye opener, a life changer and an introduction to the world,” said Emma. After, mentor Samantha Raniere delivered remarks on women in leadership based on lessons from her 25 years in business and experience as a coach: “I urge you to be intentional. Think about what you want in your life. Where do you want to go? Make it happen – don’t let it happen to you.” 


After, in a panel discussion moderated by Makeda Mahadeo on women in leadership, attendees learned from the CEO of MTN Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambithe, the founder of Career Women’s Network Kigali Lucy Schalkwijk, TechWomen fellow of Rwanda Rita Clemece Mutabazi, and mentors Maya Bisineer and Jennifer Gieber. During the discussion, the women leaders shared their personal journeys as women in STEM and offered advice for the unique challenges women in leadership face. The panelists encouraged the women in the room to seek out communities of women who support one another, reminding them to listen to their inner voice: leadership is not something somebody gives you, they said — it’s what you feel inside.


After hearing from the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Marissa Rollens on her advice to the women in the room, the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, closed out the evening, challenging the room of women to life each other up and work together to get more girls passionate about STEM fields.

Closing out her speech, Minister Ingabire urged attendees to forget labels, restrictions and societal expectations: “Stop thinking ‘I am a woman.’ Just get the task done,” she said. ​

 

Follow the hashtag #twrwanda on Twitter for more content from the TechWomen delegation trip to Rwanda!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email

Filed Under: 2019 Program, Cultural Exchange, Delegation Trips, Entrepreneurship, Girls Education, IIE, Impact, Mentoring Girls, Mentorship, Professional Development, STEM, Sub-Saharan Africa, Technology

Speak Your Mind Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 906 other subscribers

Sign Up for TechWomen Updates

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Recent Posts

  • “Mentor or Mentee?” My Techwomen journey from Imposter Syndrome to Empowerment by Natarajan Gayathri
  • More Than Mentorship: How TechWomen Transformed My Leadership Journey by Kristy Bonham
  • Postcards from the Windy City: A Chicago Content Strategist’s TechWomen Mentor Journey by Amy Graff
  • Protected: TechWomen Alumnae Outreach Toolkit
  • TechWomen 2024 Week 5: Connection. Impact. Diplomacy.

Categories

  • 2012 Program
  • 2013 Program
  • 2014 Program
  • 2015 Program
  • 2016 Program
  • 2017 Program
  • 2018 Program
  • 2019 Program
  • 2020 Program
  • 2022 (Fall) Program
  • 2022 program
  • 2023 Program
  • 2024 Program
  • Alumnae
  • Announcements
  • Application & Outreach
  • Application Tips
  • Central Asia
  • Chicago
  • Conferences
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Delegation Trips
  • Emerging Leader Voices
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Girls Education
  • Guest Blogs
  • IIE
  • Impact
  • Lean In
  • Mentor Application
  • Mentoring Girls
  • Mentorship
  • Middle East and North Africa
  • Partnerships
  • Professional Development
  • Scholarship
  • Seed Grant
  • Solar Power
  • STEM
  • Sub-Saharan Africa
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Washington, D.C.

Archives

  • July 2025
  • June 2025
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • May 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013

Tags

2013 program 2014 program 2015 program Africa Alumnae application central asia Community cultural exchange Cultural Mentor delegation trip delegation trips Education Egypt emerging leaders emerging women leaders Empowerment Entrepreneurship guest post impact Jordan kazakhstan Kenya kyrgyzstan Leadership MENA Mentor mentoring girls Mentors mentorship Middle East Morocco nigeria Rwanda San Francisco seed grants Silicon Valley south africa STEM TechWomen TechWomen Alumni Tunisia Twitter U.S. Department of State women in tech

CONTACT US | MEDIA | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Cookie Policy | Sitemap
Copyright © 2025 TechWomen | Site by MIGHTYminnow

 

IIE partners with the U.S. Department of State on the TechWomen program. We are reviewing this website to ensure compliance with recent executive orders and other guidance.

   

Copyright © 2025 · TechWomen on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...