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Jennifer Batamuliza
Lecturer, Information Technology
Adventist University of Central Africa
And - Mentor
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Have confidence in yourselves and believe in yourselves.
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WHAT DO YOU DO?
I am a lecturer of IT at the Adventist University Of Central Africa (AUCA) and i am a PhD candidate in Data Mining (IT) at the University of Rwanda. I graduated with a Master’s degree in Engineering in Computer Science and Technology from the University Of Electronics Science and Technology of China and has a Bachelor’ s degree in Computer Engineering from University of Rwanda- College of Science and Technology former KIST. I am a researcher and i have published many papers related to Technology in highly ranked journals and i am a reviewer of IEEE Transactions on Services computing. I am a member of various women-oriented organizations: vice president of RAWISE, Girls in ICT and the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD). I am a founder and CEO of RWA TECH HUB. RWA TECH HUB provides different services in the technology sector and trains and mentors young high school girls in the field of technology. I attended the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) program and did the Leadership in Public Management at Arizona State University and I am a 2019 Mandela Washington Fellow.
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS FIELD?
I always wanted to be a teacher and teach students science courses. Most of the girls didn't join science courses saying that those courses are for boys. I wanted to change that mindset and stereotypes that girls aren't able to do science courses.
HOW DO/DID YOU TACKLE OBSTACLES?
I faced many challenges along the way such as meeting people who discouraged me to continue with STEM courses saying that it is for boys. I ignored all that and pursued my dreams and i used to top my classes. I kept going. I was hard working and that made me overcome all the challenges i met.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT & THINK, "I WISH YOUNGER ME WOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS POSSIBLE?"
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WHY DO YOU LOVE WORKING IN STEM?
I love working in STEM as it is my passion. I also like doing things which other people think is impossible. I also wanted to inspire many young girls to pursue their dreams without following what people say about girls. I also like STEM because the field has many opportunities especially for girls.
BEST ADVICE FOR NEXT GENERATION?
I always tell girls while mentoring them to have confidence in themselves and believe in themselves as they are capable of achieving all what men can achieve. Girls should follow their dreams ignoring the myth and stereotypes about inability of girls to be successful in STEM field.
INSPIRATION
Just go for it as you are able!