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$100000 Goal
$77511
Total Raised
The 2021 Kwizera Award
In Rwanda, the word Kwizera means "hope."
At its core, Komera seeks to provide hope to young Rwandan women who need it most. This task is not ours alone, but relies on a broader community who provide us and the people we serve with hope. Hope for a better future, hope for young women, and hope that as our world flourishes we will continue to take care of one another.
In recognition of such, we have decided to annually honor one such person or persons with the Komera Kwizera Award. Kwizera honorees show a unique and special commitment to Komera. They are our people, our family and inspire our work.
2021 Kwizera Award Recipient: Riley Block & Family
The Block Family is originally from New Jersey but now lives in South Carolina. The Block's starting volunteering with Komera in 2013. In 2014, Geoffrey, Riley, and Benjamin Block had the opportunity to visit Rwanda to meet Komera scholars and their families, visit schools, and participate in the annual Komera Fun Run. Riley Block is currently a first-year college student pursuing a degree in marketing. As a young woman herself, Riley understands the privilege she has of education and parents who have supported her. She believes that educating young women is essential which is why she believes in Komera.
Please join us in celebrating and honoring the Block Family on May 25th!
To support Riley's Classroom Fund, please click here!
Thank you to the following generous benefactors who believe in Komera's vision for the Leadership Center and have invested in this campaign since 2019!
Komera Board of Directors
Komera NYC Host Committee
Ali Samadi
The Block Family
Victoria Reese & Greg Kennedy
David Boehmer & Becca Gelb
Cristina & Sam Patel
The Orser Family
Pete Zink
Adam Giannone
The Wade Family
Sophie and Arthur Brody Foundation
The How Fund
Special thanks to KOVAL for sponsoring our Party at Home gift boxes!
The Komera Leadership Center was designed by architect Bruce Engel at BE Design
The Komera Leadership Center
In 2019, we embarked on an ambitious initiative to build a home for Komera, the Komera Leadership Center. Throughout 2020, we worked towards making this dream a reality with the support of generous funders and partners. We are proud to have the support of the Rwandan government as they have donated the land for the Center, showing their investment and commitment to Komera's work.
COVID-19 proved a setback for our progress and timeline on this initiative. As we battle the pandemic globally, we know now more than ever that young women need our support. As economies and livelihoods are decimated, as families can no longer afford to send their children to school, and as young women struggle to access the health services they so desperately need, we are committed more than ever to not just build back better, but to build forward together.
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