Gashora, 3 July 2012
This morning in Bugesera, girls from the Gashora Girls Academy welcomed President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame. True to the academy’s motto “educate a girl , inspire a community , transform a nation,” the Gashora Girls Academy shared with President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame their ambitions which ranged from becoming East Africa’s first astronauts to being elected the next President of the Republic.
Taking the stage to welcome the guests, student representative Yvonne Musiime told President Kagame :“Your victory has given us a reason to dream and be agents of positive change.” Addressing First Lady Jeannette Kagame , Musiime shared that for the girls of Gashora Academy Mrs. Jeannette Kagame was the role model that inspires them all to know their potential and become the future leaders they are meant to be.
During the interactive session with the students, President Kagame told the Gashora girls-also called“the mothers of invention” as coined by the headmaster Peter Thorpe :”You inspire the leaders of Rwanda…you are what Rwanda needs to be the best it can be.” He encouraged the girls to believe in themselves and have the self confidence to realize their dreams. Asked what advice he has for a student aspiring to become president, President Kagame told the student to be the best at what she does today and begin by believing that she can be president.
When asked about his professional and family life, President Kagame shared with the students his secret to a healthy balance. “My family is my comfort…they make me the person I should be.” President Kagame ended the interactive session by telling the students: I want to do the job you have hired me for and know that I have given it my all.
Returning to Kigali, President Kagame and First Lady Jeannette Kagame made a surprise visit to the neighbors of Gashora Girls Academy- the Koperative Twiteze Imbere Kagenge. With over 400 members who have joined hands to make a living from their crops, Kotica is yet another example of Rwandans who have achieved food security in an area previously known to be famine threatened. President Kagame toured the cassava plant, thanked the members of cooperative for their hard work and shared that he looked forward to tasting Kotica’s products.