Meet Patience

22 Years Old
Lives in Boneza, Rwanda
Student at Kivu Hills Academy
Education Level: Senior 6

Patience is a 22 year old Construction Technology student at Kivu Hills Academy. She comes from a large family of nine siblings with her mother being the sole bread winner. This busy home environment has caused family hardships and greatly hinders Patience’s progress at school. When Patience was a child she felt “warmth and privilege” living with both parents, however it wasn’t long before her father left home, leaving the family to fend for themselves. Patience’s mother was placed in a desperate situation unable to raise all nine children with a proper education.

While in the classroom, Patience pays deep attention to her lessons and tries her best to be proactive. However, the hardships surrounding her family consistently limit her focus. Patience regularly feels the weight of her situation, providing a distraction from her passion for learning.

Patience’s mother works very hard to look after the family, working on crops and animal farming. The crop residuals provide food at home. One of Patience’s sisters managed to study up to Senior 6 and start a small business of selling clothes. This modest income is used to purchase basic school needs for the siblings.

Patience says that if she is unable to secure her school fees she would need to put in a lot of effort to find a job in order to support her mother and to save enough to eventually continue her education. Upon completion of her studies at Kivu Hills Academy, Patience hopes to become a Civil Engineer. She believes she has gained substantial skills that can earn her a Civil Engineering job or start her own construction company. She is grateful for the opportunities that Kivu Hills Academy provides her with, and she serves as an inspiration for her family and community.