Niyonkuru Christella’s story is one of resilience. Born in Bugesera District, Christella is now twenty years old. From early childhood, school was never a given for her, it was something she had to fight for, growing up in a family facing real financial hardship.

She began her education with determination, but just as she was about to complete Senior Three (S3) of secondary school, a serious illness pulled her out of school entirely. For a long stretch, recovery had to come first; everything else, including her studies, was put on hold. When she finally regained her health, her heart went straight back to the classroom, but the obstacle that had stopped her before hadn’t gone anywhere. With no means to return, she waited. Two years passed. She felt stuck and unable to move forward. She later heard about the School of Mwana Nshuti, which offers vocational training, and hoped she might join. But financial challenges remained a major obstacle, standing between her and the classroom once again. Then, almost like a door opening at just the right moment, a friend sent her the application link for the FCC EmpowerHer program. She prayed about it, applied, and held onto hope that she would be accepted. In March 2026, she received confirmation that she had been accepted.

“When they told me I had been accepted, I was so happy because I knew I was finally on my way to where I had always wanted to be,” she says. 

Christella chose to pursue the Culinary Arts training track because cooking was a passion she had carried since childhood, something she loved and felt deeply connected to long before she ever had the chance to study it formally. To her, it isn’t just something she enjoys; she sees it as a real profession, one that could let her build a life of her own and stand on her own two feet. Outside of the kitchen and her coursework, Christella finds joy in singing, a simple hobby that keeps her grounded.

She is currently still in training, with her coursework set to run through September 2026. From there, her next step is to find an internship to gain real, hands-on experience. Beyond that sits the dream she’s building toward: opening her own large restaurant one day.

“Since joining the Culinary Arts programme, many things have changed in my life. I have learned how to prepare a variety of foods, including pastries, meat dishes, and vegetable dishes. I have gained practical cooking skills and a much deeper understanding of food preparation and hospitality. I can now prepare banana bread, pumpkin bread, and many other flour-based baked products, combining different ingredients to make different kinds of foods using flour,” says Christella.

Christella now looks to the future with hope and confidence, determined to build a lasting career in the culinary world doing work that gives her purpose every day.

I have hope because I know where I have come from and where I am today. Before, I didn’t know what I was capable of. Now, even if I don’t have enough capital or a job yet, I have gained knowledge and skills. I can make pastries like mandazi and continue building my future instead of sitting idle,” Christella shares.