Rwanda Students Study Abroad at OC

The Talon

Oklahoma Christian University
Sara Shumate, Staff Writer

Oklahoma Christian University’s latest study abroad program is bringing students into campus instead of sending them out of the country.

Ten of Oklahoma Christian University’s new students this year are here thanks to an agreement with the government of Rwanda. The students are the Rwandan Presidential Scholars, one of the newest connections between Oklahoma Christian and their home country.

The Rwanda Ministry of Education began choosing these students by selecting 24 students based on national exams. These students were then given an English proficiency test that narrowed the field to 16. These students were then interviewed by members of the Oklahoma Christian staff who traveled to Rwanda to choose the remaining ten.

Yves Mujyambere, who is majoring in electrical engineering, is one of the students who made it all the way through the selection process.

“I chose the program because I was offered a full scholarship by the government of my country and Oklahoma Christian but also because I could receive a good quality of education from Oklahoma Christian,” Mujyambere said.

Christelle Lyiza, another of the ten students, is majoring in chemistry and saw not only the education benefits in this opportunity but the cultural ones as well.

“I chose to apply for this program for two main reasons: I was aware that I will have a good knowledge in my studies. In addition, it was a great opportunity to learn from other people culture, language, technology, and to have an experience of studying abroad. Another motivation was studying at a Christian university,” Lyiza said.

When these students return to Rwanda, they will be among the future leaders of the country.

“The aim of this program is to train students from Rwanda in the fields of sciences and technology so that they can use the acquired education to help in the development of their country,” Mujyambere said.

While all the students new this year to Oklahoma Christian are adjusting to their new lives at college, these students also have to adjust to a different culture.

“My first impression of Oklahoma Christian was positive because people were very kind toward our group. I appreciate the interaction of students and their instructors. I was surprised that there was any public transportation like bus or train because almost every student and every family has a car,” Lyiza said.

“Americans like to have fun, to have free food, to do every thing fast and being on time.

You can find a job easily even if you are a student,” Lyiza said.

There are many ways in which the lives of the Rwandan students differ now that they are in Oklahoma.

“When we first arrived it was so hot and now it’s cooling down and will certainly be colder during the winter,” Mujyambere said. “In Rwanda, we don’t have all those seasons, temperatures are always moderate and people don’t have to worry about what to wear. Sometimes they do, when it’s raining. Another thing that differs is that there is no public transport here. Whenever you want to go somewhere, you need to find a ride if you don’t have your car. In Rwanda you can go almost everywhere without necessarily having your own car.”

The students are being housed by families from Quail Springs Church of Christ.

“I appreciate how people in the office of international program and different offices have received us during the first week at Oklahoma Christian. I would like to thank all people who work in these offices. I thank also the president, Mike O’Neal for the occasion we had to go to his house, and have dinner with his family,” Lyiza said.