The recent Oscar win for "Period. End of Sentence." reminded us of the work of Joy Rukanzakanza ’19, a 2016 recipient of a Davis Projects for Peace Award. Communications Office writer Chloe Berger ’21 found out what Joy has been up to since receiving the award.
Joy Rukanzakanza ‘19, an International Studies major and Africana Studies minor, and a 2016 recipient of a Davis Projects for Peace Award, has continued her work on Project Qeqesha, which provides Zimbabwean high-school girls with greater access to education. By donating reusable sanitary wear and initiating mentorship programs, the project aims to ensure that girls do not miss school due to lack of sanitary wear, and fosters students’ academic success and self-esteem through programs on reproductive health, sexual education, body image, and academic excellence.
Joy designed the curriculum for these educational sessions and began the project in 2016 by leading a team of volunteers to mentor girls at Filabusi High School, a rural community school. Joy also partnered with the National AIDS Council, Young People's Network, MyPads Zimbabwe, and The Rotaract Club of Matopos so that the girls would have access to comprehensive educational resources and career guidance.
“Being engaged in a project of this magnitude, balancing finances, devising alternative solutions and logistics, whilst facing inherent and external pressures to succeed made the project a challenge," says Joy. "Teamwork, delegation of duties, collaboration and cooperation, as well as being extemporaneous, were traits that I acquired, which every leader needs in order to be impactful."
Along with developing a mentorship program, Joy donated reusable sanitary wear, and led the girls in starting a club that raises chickens and sells their eggs to fund the repurchase of sanitary wear. This aspect of the project promotes its long-term sustainability and encourages the girls’ financial independence.
“With the realization that they have financial independence at the palm of their hands, girls have this newfound confidence that they can achieve anything. Security brings confidence, confidence brings peace.”
In 2017, Joy continued the project by contributing her own funds. Joy visited two high schools in impoverished urban areas, where she mentored the students, and expanded her outreach by including boys in the educational programs, in order to dispel misconceptions about menstruation and reproductive health. In addition to increasing student engagement, Joy donated sanitary wear, strengthened the schools’ chicken coop sales projects, and created positive connections with the students.
“I established contact with students at the school who have since created social media platforms on the project so as to share their own perspectives and foster a great community of powerful future leaders. Most importantly, the shift in mindsets which was exhibited after the project also goes to show the positive impact it had.”
Joy’s plan for the project’s next phases include expanding it to more high schools and establishing Project Qeqesha as a non-profit organization, as well as communicating with business partners and volunteers in Zimbabwe. Maintaining this network of volunteers will help the project reach as many students as possible, while Joy will begin a full-time position at BlackRock in New York City upon graduating this May.
