This page feature non-Rwandan nationals who have invested their time and resources to improve lives of Rwandans through various initiatives and organization. If you have been a long-term friend and supporter of Rwanda(ns), please click here to tell us about it and get featured! https://www.rwandanamericanfriends.com/friends-of-rwanda-submission-form/
The people of Rwanda have captured my heart. The resilience of the women inspires me in particular. I have had the privilege of helping to share stories through documentary films about the incredible Rwandans who have rebuilt their nation.
Mary Beth Minnis
I began my journey of friendship and love for Rwanda shortly after the genocide against the Tutsis. I founded the Rwanda Education Project (REP) in 1995 in partnership with the California State Polytechnic University Pomona, California, Southern California Rwandan Community Officers, the California State University San Bernardino, and the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda. I continue to develop relationships with several universities, deans, professors, and others on behalf of the Rwanda Education Project – expanding curriculums, creative degree attainment and community capacity building through these partnerships and exchanges.
I coordinated the establishment of the San Bernardino, California/Kigali, Rwanda Sister Cities Program. Rwanda’s first sister city! These relationships included the mayor’s offices in San Bernardino, the mayor’s office in Kigali, the Minister of Education, Tourism, Sports, Industry, Finance, etc., as well as Business and Community Leaders in Rwanda and the U.S. I have facilitated economic and educational roundtables in the U.S. and Rwanda, cultural exchanges with school children, brought several Rwandans to California universities for undergraduate and graduate degrees, and performances of dance groups representing the Rwandan Ballet throughout California.
Dr.Cherry (Uwamahoro) Houston
In 2009, Pamela traveled for the first time to Rwanda to participate in the Palau Festival Season of Service as a medical provider. She could not predict how moved she was by the beauty of the land and the people who live there. Since 2009 she has served through Africa New Life Ministries as a medical missionary, board member, and now Chair of the Board of Directors for this ministry which serves To Transform Lives and Communities through Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Acts of Compassion.
Scott, Founder of Pyle Financial Services, soon followed to visit the country which had affected his wife so deeply. He too was impacted and desired to bring his gifts and talents to a country with such great progress and potential. In his role as Senior Advisor to the John Maxwell Country Transformation, he advocated for Rwanda to be the first African country to participate in leadership training. Recognizing the quality of leadership already present within the country, the values-based leadership program is targeted for the educational system and Rwanda’s greatest resource, it’s youth.
Scott and Pamela soon joined with John and Rebecca Constantine to form Umubano Group, LLC. The primary objectives of job creation and community engagement were to promote Akagiro. Led by Rwandans, Love Avocado was the first company created within Rwanda and has had international success.
Dr.’s Scott and Pamela Pyle consider Rwanda as a home away from home and are thankful to God for His leading them to The Land of a Thousand Hills.
I have had the privilege of working in Rwanda and conducting research, since 1999. I originally connected with Rwanda through an amazing Rwandan, Bonaventure Niyibizi, who was in a US government training program (the Development Studies Program) in 1993 that I was directing. I have worked on education and public health projects in Rwanda, educated Rwandan students in the US and Nigeria, helped organize numerous conferences and have felt compelled to document Rwandan’s journey since the Genocide Against the Tutsi. The progress in education, gender equity, health and governance to name only a few sectors, is very impressive and gives hope to all those struggling to build societies based on equity, dignity and opportunity.
My two books are: Rwanda: History and Hope, co-authored with Tulane University Professor Dr. William Bertrand and Confronting Genocide in Rwanda: Dehumanization, Denial, and Strategies for Prevention, edited with Jean-Damascène Gasanabo, and David Simon.
I am currently the President of the American University of Nigeria.
