B2R Scholars reunite at Annual Alumni Retreat in Gisenyi

Last month 90 B2R students travelled to Gisenyi for B2R’s Annual Alumni Retreat. The weekend was packed with several different speakers, including Stephen Kinzer, author of “A Thousand Hills;” Pastor Antoine Rutayirsire; Lucy Mbabazi, country director for Visa in Rwanda; and Jean Paul, country director for the Clinton Development Initiative. The theme of the retreat […]

Meet Scholar and University of Global Health Equity Intern Joyeuse

After completing her freshman year at Samford University in Birmingham, Class 5 Scholar Joyeuse Yvette Senga has returned home for a summer internship at the University of Global Health Equity in Kigali. As a health care administration and public health major, Joyeuse is working alongside UGHE’s academic team to help improve the university’s curriculum and […]

Class 6 Scholars Celebrate Their Commencement

Congratulations to our Group 6 Scholars, who celebrated their commencement last month! We are excited to see what their futures hold in college, where their career paths take them, and the eventual impact they will have on their home countries.

Group 6 Scholars On Their Way to the US

Over 300 friends and family gathered at Kigali’s Convention Center on Saturday, June 17, to celebrate the commencement of 40 Bridge2Rwanda Group 6 Scholars. The ceremony included speeches from Founder Dale Dawson, B2R Alum and Rwanda Air Force Lieutenant Jackson Karama, and Group 6 Scholars Pamela Uwase Sebeza and Thierry Uwase.  Having completed B2R’s 16-month […]

Class 2 Scholars Graduate from Universities

Congratulations to our Group 2 Scholars, who are graduating this month! We are thrilled to welcome you back to Rwanda and witness the impact that your service and leadership will have for years to come. Ange, Marist College Richard, Wheaton College Vincent, Michigan State University Sonia and Solange, Abilene Christian University Sonia and Solange, Abilene […]

Class 7 Scholars Begin Gap Year in Kigali

Earlier this year, we welcomed 38 young leaders, 24 men and 14 women, to our training center and dormitory to begin their gap-year program in Kigali. Over the next year, these students will improve their standardized test scores and English usage, apply to dozens of universities, meet employers (like Inyange Industries, pictured at left), participate in […]

B2R Host Families: Integral to Scholar Success!

The relationships between our host families and Scholars are transformational. Host families support our Scholars during their college years, and our Scholars enrich the lives of their host families. Watch the video below to hear our host families and Student Support Coordinators share the host family experience. We’re searching for host families in the following […]

B2R Founder Dale Dawson Receives Honorary Doctorate from Hendrix College

B2R Founder Dale Dawson delivered a message of encouragement and advice to Hendrix College graduates during their commencement on May 13. Hendrix, a long-time friend of Rwanda and B2R, awarded Dale an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters. Congratulations, Dale! Dale encouraged graduates to build on their strengths, “let the fruit of their work grow on […]

Meet B2R College Counselor Joy Beth Bodie

After several years of working in admissions at Vanderbilt University and as a college counselor at a private high school, Joy Beth Bodie felt an unmistakable calling to support African students in their journeys to college. In 2013, Joy Beth (an Alabama native!) made the move to Rwanda’s capital city to join our team as […]

Gap-Year Scholars “Pay It Forward”

This December, B2R gap-year Scholars raised money to provide medical insurance for 40 people unable to afford the yearly payment. The idea for the project came to Thierry Uwase, current gap-year Scholar and leader of the project, in October after reading several articles by author, anthropologist and physician, Paul Farmer. In the articles, Farmer encourages […]

Scholars Enjoy Winter Break with Host Families Across the Country

Host families welcomed Scholars into their homes while their universities were closed during the holidays. Scholars’ relationships with their host families are integral to their success. In addition to deepening these relationships, many Scholars are exposed to new experiences on school breaks, from the ballet to horseback riding and more! Here, several host families share the […]

Meet B2R Host Family The Stockers

Born-and-raised Texans Dub and Valerie Stocker live in Fort Worth and host Scholars who attend Abilene Christian University, Dub’s alma mater, and Texas Christian University. Dub also serves on the board of Bridge2Rwanda, they’ve both made several trips to Rwanda, and they have been instrumental in connecting B2R with donors and university partners. Dub and Valerie […]