Welcome Nicole!
We’re so excited to introduce you all to Nicole, our newest team member joining us from Rwanda! As our newest Fellow, Nicole will be supporting our team both here and in Rwanda, as well as learning about the work Komera does to support the girls and their families in our Rwinkwavu community.
How did you first hear about Komera?
I heard about Komera through a mentor, who was also my college professor at Arizona State University. She sent me a post about the Development Fellow opening on LinkedIn. I was immediately intrigued when I started reading about the role and the organization. Throughout the day, I kept researching Komera to learn more about their work and ended up applying that very same day. A few weeks later, I’m so excited and honored to be joining an incredible team that is helping to accelerate women empowerment in rural communities in my country.
What made you want to join Komera full time?
I wanted to join Komera because the mission of the organization resonates with me. As someone who has been greatly impacted by organizations that share the same vision as Komera, in terms of providing young people with access to high quality education and formal mentorship — I can personally relate with the impact of the work that they do. Whether through the Cornerstone Leadership Academy, SHE-CAN or the Master Card Foundation Scholars Program; I have been able to find my way in the world because of the investment that was made in me. It’s my passion to do work that’s paving the way for fellow young people, especially young women coming behind me.
What projects are you most excited to dive into and support the team with?
I’m excited to support the team on all the fundraising efforts that allow Komera to continue to have an impact that is shifting the needle on important issues that hinder women empowerment, especially in rural areas.
Nicole - Our new Komera Fellow!
A big piece of Komera’s mission is female empowerment through sport and health wellness. What is your personal favorite way to sweat and how do you practice self-care?
I enjoy self reflection and curving out time to feel grounded. So meditation, journaling and rest are some of the ways that I practice self-care. Sport in general is one area where I’m looking forward to drawing inspiration from my active colleagues at Komera. (I’m working on it )
The few physical exercises that I don't dread are rope jumping, long walks, and dance!
What is a fun, unique or weird fact about you?
I’m an avid believer in what I call Afrobeats therapy. Listening to a good playlist and dancing around the house absolutely brings me joy. I used to be a dancer in a Kinyarwanda traditional dance troupe in high school which is perhaps where my love affair with dance started. I carry lots of fun and fond memories of celebrating my heritage through dance. To this day, I still have a secret passion of one day becoming a professional entertainer through dance. I love the joy and energy it infuses in any room.
Inspirational quote or mantra you live by:
The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. - Dr. Paul Farmer