Media release:
RAUW Member gains Skills in Water Resource Management

1 May 2007

The Junior Vice President of the Rwanda Association of University Women (RAUW). Marcelline Kayitesi, is now studying for a Master of Science degree in Integrated Water Resource Management at the University of Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania.

The President of RAUW Ambassador Joy Mukanyange said that Marcelline has this opportunity because she is among the very few women who successfully joined and completed their first degrees in engineering subjects. Marcelline is one of a minority of girls who studied mathematics and physics during her secondary education. She obtained a senior six Diploma at the KIGEME secondary school in 1999.

By 2003 Marcelline had obtained an Advanced Diploma in Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology at the Kigali Institute of Science, Technology and Management, KIST. She continued studying at KIST and by 2005 she obtained a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology.

In addition to her academic training, Marcelline has undertaken several short courses, including a one month course on Remote Sensing, GPS and GIS basic principles and major applications with Applied Training Project of the Nile Basin Initiative at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development in Nairobi, Kenya. She also participated in the International Institute of Women in Engineering (IIWE 2003) seminars, projects, workshops and visits at “Ecole d’Ingenieurs” in Paris-France.

After her graduation Marcelline was employed as the Administrator and Linkage Officer for the KIST “Promoting Gender Equality” project and when that was completed she began working as an independent consultant.

Marcelline has always had an interest in women’s issues. Since 2004 she headed the commission of Social Affairs, Sports and Culture of the Rwanda Women Leaders’ Caucus (RWLC). She is a member of the Rwanda Women EngineersAssociation and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) as well as RAUW and RWLC.

In addition Marcelline has been keen to support other girls and women as a mentor of FAWE Rwanda and of girls from Rulindo Secondary School, providing guidance, counseling, and role modeling. In 2003, she was the Minister of Gender in the KIST Student’s Association, KISTAS, and a member of the KIST Governing Council.

Marcelline’s goal is to make a difference in her career, which is in a male-dominated field, and to contribute to the sustainable development of communities through effective water resources management.

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