CHOSEN

Occasionally in life we are given an opportunity that can best be described as holy terror. It’s far beyond our human minds to comprehend. Our prayers frequently just say, “God, help me not screw this up.” I have had the opportunity to live in holy terror for the last year. The terror has been brought upon by the opportunity to facilitate the selection of 10 Rwandan students to attend Oklahoma Christian University. The process has left me thankful to be a participant, hopeful for Rwanda’s future, and more convinced than ever that a Sovereign God brings good from humanity’s most painful experiences. These ten students are captivating people full of ability and vision. Their stories are ones of resilience. I trust you will find their youthful ideals as inspiring as I do. They have truly been chosen for a purpose that is greater than anything our human minds can comprehend.

BEGINNINGS

In the Academic School Year, 2004-2005, I had the privilege to lecture at Oklahoma Christian University. OC is a small Christian Liberal Arts university with about 2,000 students. It is located in America’s heartland far from her traditional centers of influence. It is known as a community of faith and learning. The faculty is made up of down to earth lecturers who prefer to engage students in warm mentoring and good natured humor.

In November 2004 Oklahoma Christian Trustees; Richard and Pat Lawson, OC President Dr. Mike and Nancy O’Neil, and myself to visited Rwanda at the invitation of the Office of the President. Prior to this my family had lived in Uganda for a number of years, and always had been fascinated by the possibility of working in Rwanda. After this visit we all came away convinced that we must do something to help Rwanda. We were particularly drawn towards PILLAR 2 OF THE 20/20 VISION of promoting Human Resource Development and a Knowledge Based Economy. Education was in our blood, and we believed God had placed an opportunity in our hands. How could we do anything but help?

FACILITATION

My family moved to Rwanda in June 2005. We have spent most of our first year making friends, seeking opportunities to serve, and acquiring the needed documents to begin a new church (Christ’s Church in Rwanda).

The former Minister of Education, Professor Romain Murenzi continued to stay in contact with OC and both he and OC leaders continued the dialogue about possible scholarship opportunities. On 26 April 2006, President Kagame visited OC. In the process he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate and the Rwanda OC Presidential Scholarship agreement was finalized. The new Minister of Education, Dr. Mujawamariya Jeanne d'Arc and her staff at the Ministry of Education have brilliantly and efficiently executed the agreement.

The agreement involves scholarships in the academic years beginning in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The OC catalog was laid before the Ministry of Education, and they chose to select students to study in the areas of Math, Science, and Technology. As OC is primarily an undergraduate university, the students selected will study for their bachelor’s degree. Professor Murenzi has remarked that besides these students academic training, their time in the U.S. should further the Rwanda government’s objective of facilitating global partnerships.

SELECTION PROCESS

OC requested that Rwanda send her very brightest young minds. Both the Ministry of Education and OC believed that the process needed to be one of transparency in which the educational investment in these scholars would likely lead to a high return. Twenty-four students were selected by the Ministry of Education (MOE), based on their scores on the National Examination (those with scores above 8 were chosen). The examination tested the skill areas of Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, and English. These 24 students were informed of their selection by national radio and asked to submit applications, national exam scores, mark sheets, and statement of purpose essay. Some submitted additional information. Mr. Emmanuel Muvunyi, Director of the office of Student Financing Agency for Rwanda (SFAR), displayed wonderful leadership as he helped administer this process. Of these 24 students, 23 completed applications to OC and a statement of purpose essay.

OC appointed Mr. Bryan Hixson and Dr. Holly Hixson to travel to Rwanda to interview students. I joined them in forming an interview committee. An English Proficiency Examination was given to further eliminate candidates from the pool of students. One student for whatever reason did not take this exam so 22 sat the exam. At the recommendation of the Ministry of Education we decided to eliminate 6 (those with scores below 60 were eliminated). This left 16 students to be interviewed. There was an obvious break between Intermediate-Level English and Advanced-Intermediate English.

The 16 students were assigned an hour time slot over two days in which they were interviewed by the assessment panel. Each student was rated on a scale of 1-10 in the areas of conversational skills, commitment to academics, ethics and morals, adaptability to different culture, emotional stability, fit with a Christian (OC) Community, and the use of education. Additionally, we discussed and noted factors that might tip the scale for a final decision different than the average interview score. We recommended students to the OC Presidential Scholar Review Team in the United States. The OC Presidential Scholar Review Team made the final decision and reported it back to the Ministry of Education.

RWANDA’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST

Girurugwiro Philibert, Kabatende Akintore Alline, Karenzi Jean Pierre, Lyiza Christelle, Majyambere Sugira Yves, Nibakuze Placide, Rukundo Evangeline, Shema Alain, Tulikumwenayo Alexandre, and Umuhoza Arlette were chosen to be the recipients of the 2006 Rwanda Presidential OC Scholarships. Each brought tremendous talent and optimistic vision to the process.

Shema Alain showed creativity and uncompromising principle in the interview related to ethics. He seems a teacher by nature, and believes that, if he can explain a concept to other students successfully, he knows the material well.

Tulikumwenayo Alexandre is a very spiritual young man with an enjoyable personality. He has overcome many trials, as a portion of his family was killed during the 1994 genocide. He hopes to use his education to improve technology in Rwanda, specifically by building a factory to manufacture computers in Rwanda.

Kabatende Akintore Alline was the candidate with the most international experience. She is an articulate communicator and natural leader, and was quickly chosen by the other students to be their spokesman at later events.

Majyambere Sugira Yves is visionary and ambitious, but practical (he has specific ideas). He made the highest score in the country on the national exam, and plans to be the “Bill Gates of Rwanda.”

Nibakuze Placide was the only student from outside Kigali. His parents were killed during the genocide. Placide hopes to become a mathematics professor.

Girurugwiro Philibert believes that Rwanda greatly needs teachers to train the students in Rwanda so that expatriate teachers will not be as necessary. Like many of the candidates, Philibert spent time as a refugee and as a result seems to have gained a heart for helping others and believes this opportunity will expand is ability to help his fellow citizens.

Umuhoza Arlette is very independent and driven to succeed. During the interview she spoke with a great sense of patriotism and self-confidence. She sees herself as having the potential of being a role model for young Rwandan girls—to increase their interest in the sciences.

Lyiza Christelle has a unique outlook on the needs in Rwanda. She hopes to improve literacy in Rwanda by writing books in Kinyarwanda.

Karenzi Jean Pierre is a young man with a contagious smile and a great attitude about life and people. He has a faith-driven gentle personality. He has overcome much in his life as he lost both of his parents.

Rukundo Evangeline was separated from her family during the war. She lived as an orphan for 9 years. Evangeline returned to Rwanda with the help of the Red Cross and was reunited with some of her family. Her resilience and strength are a demonstration of Rwanda today and why that nation is moving forward.

Our interview committee considered it a great honor to be able to meet and work with such exceptional young people.

COVENANT

After the selections were made the scholars were required to sign a contract with their family. In this contract they agreed to follow the Christian principles of OC while a student at OC. Also, they agreed to continue their history of academic excellence. The most important component to the contract was their agreement to upon the completion of their studies return to Rwanda to serve for 5 years. Brain drain will not be a legal option for these students. The total value of their tuition, living costs, and travel costs over 4 years of study will exceed $100,000. If these students choose not to return to Rwanda both they and their families will be legally obligated to return this investment to the Ministry of Education and OC.

However, this contract is more than just a legal contract. It is a covenant made with God, their families, community, and governing authorities. As such it has been a public display of transparency. Those of faith believe that such a covenant has the potential to bring great blessing upon it’s recipients for many generations. However, it also has the potential to bring severe consequences upon those who choose not to keep the covenant.

EVALUATION

In order to maximize the potential success of these scholarships there are built in measures of evaluation. Throughout the time that the scholars are at OC they will function as other students with periodic exams and course grades. Their performance will not only be monitored by OC, but by the MOE and their families in Rwanda.

As was stated previously upon of their education the next measure of evaluation will be their return to Rwanda for 5 years. The truest test for the success of this program will come in the years following these students return. In fact, history will be their judge. Unborn future generations will be the true beneficiaries of this program. It is my hope that these scholars will be struck by the same holy terror that has gripped me through out this process. We stand with an incredible opportunity which is far greater than our limited minds can comprehend.