CMU/Rwanda Started Classes on Aug. 27, 2012

On Aug, 27, 2012 classes were held at CMU/Rwanda
for the very first time.

This Master's Program in IT

(Information Technology) 

is the first of its kind in
Rwanda.  

The professors, staff 

and everyone was ready to launch a new and wonderful opportunity for students!

   And these students of CMU/Rwanda are real pioneers!!  

 Stepping into the unknown these five women and nineteen men
  realized quite quickly that reading and studying
would be filling their days and nights.  And like real pioneers, 
they started to work on the challenge before them. 

By the time I was able to visit the campus...
much work was already being done---
here in the student study room....and

 also here in the classrooms.

Even as far away as Rwanda.... one of the major staples
 for students is Mountain Dew!   Some things are
just the same the world around.

     

       Just a little history

It is truly hard to imagine that in April these rooms looked like this...

In May they looked like this....

 In June, things were really taking shape.

And in July... all the final touches were 

being done.

Oreintation would start in a week.

The overhead projectors and screens were all that was left to finish

and then ---all that was needed was the students!  

 Director of CMU/Rwanda, Professor Bruce Krogh making sure all the details were done and
CMU/Rwanda was ready to open its doors!

                     

Professor Michel Bézy in his newly arranged office
preparing for classes and many other things, in his 
position as Associate Director. 

Professor Hedda Schmidtke arrived in August and is
now making Kigali her home.  She too was preparing for 
opening day and the year ahead! 

Since I had been away in August during the 3 weeks of orientation, I had not had a chance to meet the student body!  So, Bruce and I
have been having lunch with 4 students, twice a week so that I can meet them and that both of us can begin to build relationships with the
students. This was our first lunch, at the Umbano Hotel which is just a short walk from CMU/Rwanda.

The first lunch I met four guys!  
Rafiki and Joseph (and Bruce)...

 and Richard and Kevin
I think Bruce must have just tasted something hot! ha! 

Each student brings to the table different life experiences, backgrounds

and reasons for applying for this program. 

Each one is unique and very interesting.

The food is terrific here at the hotel.  This is a 

lazy Susan... of veggie dishes!  The whole table top spins. 

Fruit for dessert and other tasty items

And of course, the main course(s)! 

The first lunch group, I took a lot of pictures.

 Left to right--Bruce, Clement, Pie, Mary Claire and Emmanuel

The second lunch group I almost forgot to take pictures so, 
please forgive me everyone for not taking more!  
But this one is so good of all of you!!!!!  

The day looked like this and yes, that's a pool in the background that
the students can use... along with the tennis courts, volleyball, etc.
CMU/R has an agreement with the hotel for the students
to use some of their facilities.

The third lunch I met, Jean Bosco and Bonaventure...

Redempta and Jean Bosco (again)

Bonaventure (again) and Andrew

 And here they are all together.
Each lunch we ask a lot of questions and get a lot of answers.
It is really fun and very engaging.

"What do you like most about these lunches," you ask??? 

The openness and the honesty of the students.  It is great to hear them speak 

"out loud" about how they feel about the program so far.

The answers I enjoy hearing most are why they decided to "jump into" an

entirely new University setting ---sight unseen and totally untested here in Rwanda.

  We know how CMU works in the US but the system is a little 

different here and the students are the first to talk about 

what that means to them and their success in the future.

I find these young adults eager to accomplish their goals and bright and industrious enough to complete their Masters in this two year program.  All of them realize it is a full time job and they are approaching it as such. I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the students, too so you, too will get to meet them soon.... in the meantime... 

Students... if you are reading this... Relationships are so important.  I have come to realize this even more as I'm in Rwanda.  Everyone is interconnected here, it seems.   But there is only one Relationship that really matters... and that is with our Maker. 

As a man named Oswald Chambers writes:

         "Let everything else go, but maintain that relationship with Him at all costs,

and God will fulfill His purpose through your life.  One individual life 

may be of priceless value to God's purposes, and YOURS may be that life!

Holding you all in my prayers!

love,

margie 

May I present to you the 

First Class of CMU/Rwanda... 

taken at Oreintation!