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"Have you lost your senses? Have you gone mad?" asked Arthur Rutagengwa of his wife Beth Murora when she announced to him that she planned on enrolling in the Cisco Networking Academy Program. It was May of 2001 and Beth, 27-years old and 6 months pregnant with twin boys, assured her husband that she was of sound mind and resolute in her decision to enroll in the Networking Academy program.
Beth's pregnancy wasn't her husband's only concern. While Beth had been honored with a scholarship to attend the Academy program, it was being offered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia nearly 1,000 miles from her home in Kigali, Rwanda. To participate in the Networking Academy program, Beth would have to leave her family for six months during which time she would become a mother giving birth to twin boys. "It was one of the most difficult decisions of my life," recalls Beth. "But, too often women lose opportunities to advance themselves because of family obligations. I could not pass up this opportunity, which would help me to help other women in Rwanda. I had a vision and the willingness to make it a reality."
Cisco Educational Ecosystem at Work
Beth had been accepted into a Networking Academy program pilot project sponsored by Cisco Systems, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the World Bank's Information for Development Program (InfoDev). The Networking Academy program in Ethiopia was part of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) initiative, which has brought the Networking Academy program to 31 of the world's 49 LDCs.
Over a one-year period, the Academy Program provided full residential scholarships to nearly 50 African women with one class for women from English-speaking countries and another for women from French-speaking countries. "I wanted to be part of this program," says Beth. "It bridged both gender and digital divides - issues that are of concern to me. And, it had the potential to empower women with information technology skills that lead to economic opportunities. Such empowerment is critical for Rwandan women."
Participation in the Academy program was fully supported by the National Rwandan Ministry of Women's Affairs where Beth serves as a program officer. "Our Ministry has a vision to create an Information Communication Technology [ICT] department, which will promote IT in every government organization and to women as well. The opportunity was viewed as a major step forward in equipping us with the knowledge we need to implement ICT programs," explains Beth. The Minister of the Rwandan Ministry of Women's Affairs worked with the Ethiopian embassy in Addis Ababa to ensure that Beth's medical and housing needs would be taken care of while she attended the Academy program. With the assurances that nutritional, medical, and transportation needs would be met and the guarded support of her husband and family, Beth embarked on her journey to Ethiopia accompanied by her mother-in-law. "I knew my babies would be in good hands while I attended classes," recalls Beth.
Helping to Rebuild Rwanda
With a bachelor degree in Public Administration from the National University of Rwanda, Beth had but a few computer-related courses under her belt. She knew that the Networking Academy program, which follows the 280-hour, 6-month Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) curriculum, would pose a challenge. Additionally, through the UNECA African Center for Women, Academy program participants were trained in gender and development, entrepreneurship, and management skills.
"Some days it was very hard for me," says Beth. "But, the Networking Academy instructors were very helpful. They kept me going and encouraged me to succeed. I set out of my country with a goal to achieve. Despite the pains I felt some mornings, by sheer force of will I got out of bed and to my classes because of my goal. By accomplishing what I set out to do, I knew I could look forward to much happiness when I returned to my home -- mission accomplished with my new babies."
Achieve her missions she did. On October 30, 2001, Beth gave birth to two healthy boys named Jack Kenzo Rutagengwa and Jackie Ken Rutagengwa, and in February 2002, Beth completed her CCNA coursework. Upon her joyous return to Rwanda, Beth possessed a networking and IT skill set enabling her to pursue the development and implementation of ICT programs championed by the Rwandan Ministry of Gender. Beth's work is, however, done against a backdrop of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
According to the Global Fund for Women, in the wake of the 1994 genocide, women now constitute approximately 70 percent of Rwanda's population and 50 percent of these women are widows. "The genocide left a country in need of rebuilding both physically and emotionally," says Beth. "The majority of Rwandan women are single mothers and very, very poor. These women must be able to earn a living and support their children. And, I intend to use the knowledge gained through the Networking Academy to help raise women out of poverty with the technical training to run organizations and develop businesses, and a communications network that enables information sharing among women's forums."
While Beth attended a Networking Academy course in Ethiopia specifically for African women, Rwanda is currently home to both Regional and Local Networking Academies. A Regional Academy is located at the National University of Rwanda and two local academies operate at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology and the Kigali Health Institute.
"People should know that Rwanda is now secure," continues Beth, "things are improving, and we are going about the business of rebuilding this country. And, the Networking Academy provided an opportunity for me to be a part of the rebuilding of Rwanda."
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