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UR, Huye Campus hosts Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Rwanda partners convening

The University of Rwanda (UR), Huye Campus, hosted a two-day Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Rwanda Partners Convening from 29 to 30 May 2026, bringing together partners implementing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program across various universities and partner organizations in Rwanda

While officially opening the convening, the University of Rwanda Huye Campus Resident Principal, Dr. Alphonse Mulefu, expressed appreciation to the Mastercard Foundation for its continued investment in young people through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. “We highly commend the Mastercard Foundation for its commitment to expanding access to quality education and equipping young people with the skills and values needed to become transformative leaders and agents of change, while instilling in young people the understanding that leadership extends beyond positions and titles,” said Dr. Mulefu.

The convening brought together partner institutions implementing the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program in Rwanda, including the Africa Leadership University (ALU), Carnegie Mellon University Africa (CMU-Africa), the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Rwanda, and Kepler College. It also included key partners such as the Solid Minds Counseling Clinic, which provides mental health and psychosocial support services to Mastercard Foundation Scholars, and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), which supports Mastercard Foundationn Scholars at the University of Rwanda on gender equality initiatives and reproductive health trainings.

Prior to the official opening of the convening, partners paid tribute to the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi at the University of Rwanda Genocide Memorial. The commemoration provided a moment of reflection and reaffirmed the shared commitment of all partners to promoting unity, dignity, empathy, and a sense of responsibility.
The convening has been an important platform for partners to exchange experiences, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration in key areas of program implementation, including scholar recruitment, transition support, leadership development, inclusion, entrepreneurship, mental health support, and community engagement.

Assoc. Prof. Kagwesage, Program Director of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Rwanda, thanked institutions that had hosted previous partners convenings and encouraged participants to use the gathering as an opportunity to generate practical recommendations and commitments to further strengthen support for Mastercard Foundation Scholars and enhance the program’s impact.

Ms. Ruth Mukakimenyi, Lead for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Partner Networks at the Mastercard Foundation, reaffirmed the Foundation’s belief in the transformative power of investing in young people. She commended partners for their continued dedication to advancing the Foundation’s mission and emphasized that investments in youth create lasting benefits for families, communities, and society at large.
Throughout the two-day convening, participants engaged in productive discussions, peer-learning sessions, and knowledge-sharing exchanges. Partners reflected on achievements, explored innovative approaches, and identified opportunities for deeper collaboration to enhance support systems for Mastercard Foundation Scholars at different universities in Rwanda, throughout their academic, leadership, and transition journeys.

The event also featured a campus tour, which provided participants with an opportunity to reconnect with the University of Rwanda Huye Campus. For partners who are alumni of UR, the visit was very nostalgic, as it offered a chance to revisit a place that played a significant role in shaping their academic and professional jouneys.

As part of the convening activities, Mastercard Foundation Scholars at the University of Rwanda and partner institutions also joined the launch of National Environment Week in Gisagara District. Their participation demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental protection and community service, as a core value of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. The activity further highlighted the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program’s dedication to sustainable development and their determination to create meaningful impact within communities.