Archive | October 2010

Introducing Project Assistant Simon Mvunabandi

simon

Simon is a fourth year student at Mount Kenya University’s Kigali campus. In August of 2011, he will graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Business of Information Technology. Simon was accepted into the Orphans of Rwanda university scholarship program in June of 2007. Through this program, Simon is receiving university tuition along with advanced English classes and other support.

Orphans of Rwanda scholars are encouraged to take advantage of internship opportunities throughout their studies. Simon has worked for The Clinton Foundation, Joint Voluntary Organization, The Elisabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation and other organizations.

In February of this year, Simon began working with Ready for Reading. He has been assisting with Ready for Reading’s day-to-day operations as well as playing a key role during Ready for Reading’s focus group research in Rwinkwavu. Simon was responsible for recruiting focus group participants and coordinating the six Orphans of Rwanda interns who moderated and recorded the sessions. The nineteen focus groups were conducted and recorded in Kinyarwanda, and Simon translated all of these documents into English. Simon found the focus group experience to be rewarding, and he feels he was able to learn a great deal through the experience. Here’s what he had to say about working on the focus groups, “I had a great time meeting various groups of people coming from different backgrounds. It was very interesting to learn how to communicate with these different groups.”