Groundbreaking on the Komera Leadership Center

After many years in the making, we are so thrilled to announce we have broken ground on the Komera Leadership Center!

On a sunny Monday morning, September 6, 2021, Komera Executive Director Dativah Bideri Mukamusonera directed the construction engineers to begin their work, the construction crews came onsite with their trucks, and the land surveyors began collecting data. The next few weeks we anticipate seeing the ground clearing as the site is prepped for the foundation work.

This is a big moment for us as Komera and a goal we have been working towards for many years. In 2020 we set a new strategic plan for the organization, and having a home for Komera to allow us to expand our reach and increase our impact was at the forefront. The Komera Leadership Center will be a home for Komera and create a community space in Rwinkwavu to be a home for thousands of adolescent boys and girls, parents, community members and children to gather together to learn and grow. We are so honored to build this safe space for our community!

Komera is taking many precautions to allow this work to begin during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is including but not limited to: providing PPE for all workers onsite, setting up hand washing stations, providing COVID-19 testing, and taking social distancing measures. We are following all local regulations and adding additional safety measures.

We are proud to be working with local partners and have employed Rwanda Village Enterprise (RVE) for the construction. RVE has a commitment to employ 40% of its’ labor workforce with female workers which we strongly support. The Center design was created by Bruce Engel Designs architect who has worked on several nearby projects in the Kayonza District. The project design uses local materials, resources, and the entire architecture is reflective of Rwandan culture and values.

Many thanks to the generous benefactors who have supported the Center Capital Campaign, making this progress possible!

To learn more about how you can support the Center, please reach out to Lauren Mason, lauren@komera.org. You can find the Center Capital Campaign brochure online, here.