Help Mekha finish his grad school.

Dear Reader,

 

My name is Mekha Rousseau, and I am pursuing a Master's in Social entrepreneurship and change at Pepperdine University, CA. I wanted to reach out and let you know that I'm fundraising to attend a mandatory international program in Uganda and asking for your help for me to cover my tuition.

 

A bit of my history.

 

I was born on 16th December 1994, just a few months after the Genocide Against the Tutsis that happened in Rwanda. My mom raised me by herself for as long as I can remember. As soon as I was old enough to speak, I started asking her about my father. She always answered with a sorrow-filled voice, "Your father disappeared during the Genocide a few months after you were born. Nobody knows where he is, my son." That never sat well with me. Did he leave us behind on purpose? Or was he killed during the Genocide? Or maybe, had he survived? Did he know he had a son? The most painful thought was that no one knew if he was alive or dead so that we could at least mourn his death and have closure.

 

Growing up with this much doubt and mystery around my father, I had to learn the hard way and grow up earlier, step up and help my mother pay bills at home at a young age. I attended a public primary school where we paid 5$ per term. It was not the best experience. In fact, it severely affected my upbringing as I was not receiving the best education that would prepare me to compete in the job market with others. As I enrolled in a renowned high school in the capital city. My classmates spoke better English and expressed themselves more eloquently. I quickly noticed that all the top-performing students at school had one thing in common, they were all part of the school debate club. So, I diligently joined the debate club; my spoken English improved considerably, and so did my confidence to speak up, especially in public. I decided that I would work towards availing a great education to every child in my country, regardless of their socioeconomic background, for as long as I can.

 

 

For as long as I can remember, I have always longed for a father figure after whom I could model my manhood for so long. Myriads of questions still linger on my mind. Will I be a better father to my daughter? Will she grow to follow in my footsteps? Would she be proud of the man that I am today? I long to leave a legacy for my daughter by serving my community instead of destroying it. Given our country's history, there is no doubt that more Rwandan youth are dealing with transgenerational trauma inherited through their parents. There must be a way to break this cycle and educate a generation that is more aware of themselves and how they can contribute to building Africa. I believe that my passion for my country, coupled with the knowledge I will gain at Pepperdine University, will make me a true agent of change for my society.

 

Why this GoFundMe Me?

 

This fundraiser will help me pay for my trip to Uganda and pay my tuition. During my stay in Uganda, I will be learning how to create effective social enterprises. I will visit an organization called Kibo Group to learn how they operate to change the lives of Ugandans. This experience will guide me and teach me how I can create even more solutions with the social enterprise I would make upon graduation at the end of my studies here.

This cause is significant to me. I have always valued education, and completing the requirements for this degree is crucial. Education has allowed me to share my story, and in so doing, I impacted many lives. Contributing to this cause is a strong push for me to keep working hard to make my family proud and create impactful solutions for the world.

 

To attend this program, I need a total of $6000, which will cover my return flight, living expenses, other essentials that I will need while in Uganda and my tuition.

A donation of any amount would help me reach my goal. It would mean much if you could share my fundraiser link with friends. The more people hear about my cause, the quicker I can reach my goal.

 

With love,

 

Mekha Rousseau