Grace Rwanda co-founder Elizabeth Johnson continues to inspire others with her dedication to youth literacy in Rwanda.
Recently the Kwantlen Polytechnic University graduate was profiled in the school’s 2014/15 Accountability Plan and Report, singled out with other exceptional grads who are contributing to their community.
In an article titled, “From KPU to Kigali: Langley humanitarian brings literacy to her home country,” the university highlighted Johnson’s “compassionate and international mindset,” and her “efforts to serve humanity and work toward peace.”
Here’s an excerpt:
Elizabeth Johnson is bringing literacy to Rwanda, one book at a time. Through the volunteer-run charity she co-founded after graduating from KPU’s School of Business, Johnson has to date helped renovate a Rwandan school, build six mini school libraries, build a kitchen facility that nourishes over 1,500 students and create two community youth centre libraries that are home to over 15,000 books.
Her next goal is to supply books to all 87,000 students in Rwanda’s Muhanga District, and 20 youth centres across the country. It’s work that takes a village. A Rotarian with Langley Sunrise, Johnson’s literacy efforts have connected local Rotary clubs in Langley and North Delta to multiple clubs in Rwanda. She has also received cross-Canada support from corporate sponsors and individuals.
The causes she supports have incredibly deep, personal roots within Johnson. Born and raised in Rwanda, she lived through the country’s Tutsi genocide in 1994. While there, she served in a variety of important positions with institutions that include the Ministry of Agriculture, Care Australia and World Vision. In 1999, she brought her compassionate and international mindset with her to Canada, where she now speaks across the country to raise awareness about genocide.
Read the full article in the Kwantlen report here, starting on page 33.
You can get regular updates on our work by following @GraceRwanda, liking us on Facebook, adding us in your Google+ circle, and watching our videos on YouTube.
]]>