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March 7, 2025 | by Honorine Irakoze
My name is Promise Honorine In Irakoze, and I live in Kigali, Rwanda. I come from a family of six children, and have both of my parents. I finished high school and recently started university, but getting here was not easy. Let me share my story.
When I was younger, life was good. Both of my parents had jobs. My father was a driver, and he owned a car that he used to transport goods. My mother had a small restaurant where she sold fast food. Their income was enough to take care of our family.
Tragedy struck & my parents struggled to afford basic needs…
One day, my father had an accident. The goods he was transporting were destroyed, and his car was badly damaged. He had taken a bank loan to buy those goods, and now he also needed money to fix the car. Even after repairing it, the car still had problems, so he decided to sell it.
After selling the car, our financial situation became worse. My father lost his job, and my mother’s business also failed. Since they had to repay the bank loan, they had no choice but to sell our house. We had to move into a rented home, and life became very difficult. We struggled to afford food, clothes, and school fees.
School sent me home because we couldn’t afford fees…
Even though things were hard, I had one opportunity starting the 7th grade. My school had a rule: students who were first in their class and scored at least 80% on their report cards didn’t have to pay school fees. I worked very hard and always ranked first, so this part of my education was covered.
However, when I reached the 10th grade, things got tougher. At the new school, tuition fees were higher, and my parents couldn’t afford them. My father would beg the headmaster to let me continue studying, paying only small amounts when he could. Eventually, the headmaster got tired of this and sent me home in the third term. I missed two weeks of school while my classmates continued learning.
RAS stepped in to support my education…
During this difficult time, I met Rising Above the Storms. They stepped in and paid for my education. From then on, I didn’t have to worry about school fees. I focused on my studies and worked even harder.
Since 10th grade, I have always dreamed of being the top student in the National Examination. There were times when I felt discouraged because of our family’s struggles, but the support from RAS gave me hope. I stayed determined, and in the end, I achieved my dream. I became the top student in my field of study in high school in the country – Information Technology.
My top grade earned me a university scholarship…
That excellent grade helped me gain university admission, fulfilling my long-held dream of pursuing higher education. After my results were released, I began applying to various universities in the hopes of securing a place. Fortunately, I was admitted to Kepler College under the Kepler Scholarship and enrolled in the Business Analytics program—a great faculty that I believe will help me take a significant step toward my future career. I am certain that without RAS’s support, I wouldn’t have achieved any of this. Their support has truly shaped who I am today.
The journey was not easy, but I am truly grateful to RAS (Rising Above the Storms) for helping me make my dream come true. I may not have anything to give them right now, but I pray that God blesses them with long lives so I can continue to show my gratitude and make them proud.
I also want to thank my sponsors Mr. and Mrs. Anderson for their kindness and support. Their generosity played a big role in my success, and I will never forget it.
Join the Anderson’s in sponsoring a child’s education and future like Honorine!
