Breaking Barriers: Light4Refugee Launches Second Summer Bootcamp to Empower Refugee Youth in Rwanda
Kigali, Rwanda — Light4Refugee (L4R), a youth-led organization founded by former refugees, has officially opened applications for its third Summer Bootcamp, marking a significant milestone in its ongoing mission to dismantle barriers to education and career advancement for refugee youth in Rwanda.
Founded by individuals who successfully navigated the Bridge2Rwanda and Isomo Academy programs, Light4Refugee was born from a stark reality: while 70% of refugee youth complete secondary school, only 4% access higher education or employment. The organization aims to bridge this gap, ensuring that a refugee’s circumstances do not define their potential.
“I believe that everyone, including a refugee, has potential yet to be unleashed,” says co-founder John Kelly Rukundo. “No human being is unfit; they just need a space and stage to contribute to a better world.”
The newly launched Scholars Bootcamp, taking place at the Mahama refugee camp, is an intensive program running from July to August.
Designed for Senior 6 students and recent graduates, the bootcamp focuses on developing essential skills including English proficiency, entrepreneurial thinking, leadership, and university application readiness.
Unlike traditional programs that prioritize perfect grades, L4R focuses on resilience, commitment, and a drive to improve one’s community.
This initiative is part of a broader, multi-faceted approach the organization has developed over its three years of operation. Their programs include:
- iSpeakLead Program: Currently serving 240 students across four refugee-affiliated schools, this program focuses on public speaking, academic writing, and interview techniques to prepare students for the global market.
- Lighting Career Path Program: This initiative connects university scholars across East Africa to prestigious institutions and career opportunities, with the goal of preventing graduates from returning to the camp without viable employment.
- IRIS Excellence Program (IEP): A targeted intervention that has helped scholars navigate the pressures of elite boarding schools, resulting in a 100% pass rate in Mathematics and French for its first cohort.
- 1500 Rwanda Book Project: Led by John Kelly, this partnership with BelieveNBooks is currently distributing 15,000 books across all refugee camps in Rwanda to foster a love of learning from a young age.
In just three years, Light4Refugee has achieved measurable impact, including securing full-ride university scholarships for 19 students and facilitating internships for 9 others. The organization’s work is supported by key partnerships with entities such as UNHCR-Rwanda, Isomo Academy, and the Arizona State University Education4Humanity initiative.
As the organization looks to the future, it emphasizes that its work is not charity, but a strategic effort to remove barriers so that brilliant young people can contribute to a better world.
By fostering peer accountability and mentorship, Light4Refugee continues to ensure that the journey to success is a collective one.
As co-founder Bernard Ndayishimiye puts it: “Not only us but also our young sisters and brothers. If you want to go far, you go with others.”
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