Village
of Hope
In the heart of Rwanda, we work alongside survivors of the 1994 genocide to lift families out of extreme poverty — through education, vocational training, and the power of community.
30
TAILORING
GRADUATES
14
VOCATIONAL
TRAINING GRADS
21
UNIVERSITY
GRADUATES
300+
LIBRARY
MEMBERS
The poorest of the poor — who call themselves the Village of Hope
In Nyarugunga, Kigali, Rwanda, What Better Looks Like works to lift people out of extreme poverty. The residents have lived through the unspeakable 1994 genocide or its traumatic aftermath — many suffer debilitating illness or injury, or were orphaned children left to raise their younger siblings.
The people have been provided very modest housing from the government, without plumbing and with limited electricity. They collect water in cisterns. Hunger is prevalent. Work is hard to come by. Yet with everything they continue to live through, they proudly call their home the “Village of Hope.”
Our program focuses on education and vocational training for adults who are then afforded the ability to earn a living. All those in the Village of Hope are invited to give something back — to contribute to the creation of the Beloved Community.
A remarkable connection across continents
One of the founders of What Better Looks Like, Marie Goretti Ukeye, was in her third year of medical school in Rwanda when the genocide began on April 7, 1994 — lasting 3 months and killing nearly 1 million people in a country of 7 million. She lost many loved ones and vowed to find a way to help survivors.
We met when Marie moved to New York City. In 2010, Marie took a group of us with her to visit her family in Rwanda, where we got to know the people in Nyarugunga Village for the first time.
What started as a visit became a commitment — and that commitment has never wavered. We invite you to follow the project, help make it successful, and celebrate with us as we see the positive changes and impact.
What your support
has made possible
Every number represents a real person — a life transformed, a future made possible, a community lifted. We are so proud of every single one.
21
UNIVERSITY
GRADUATES
30
TAILORING
GRADUATES
14
VOCATIONAL
TRAINING GRADUATES
300+
LIBRARY
MEMBERS
300+
YEARLY MEDICAL INSURANCE RECIPIENTS
300
EMERGENCY FOOD
RECIPIENTS (COVID-19)
How we're creating
lasting change
University Education
We sponsor tuition and support for Village of Hope residents to attend four-year universities — giving them the tools to build careers and lift their entire families out of poverty.
21 Graduates
01
Allison Hickey Sewing Atelier
30 graduates completed sewing and tailoring classes, earning the right to use the official “Made in Rwanda” tag on their products. Some work independently, some in shops — others formed a cooperative workshop in the Village of Hope itself.
30 Graduates
02
Trade & Vocational Certificates
14 people earned certificates in mechanics, driving, photography, graphic design, salon work, or filmmaking — hands-on skills that translate directly into earning power and independence.
14 Certified
03
Village of Hope Isomero — Lending Library
Established in 2025, the Isomero (lending library) now gives 300+ people from Nyarugunga and neighboring villages access to books and computers to improve their literacy skills — a resource that will serve generations to come.
04
Emergency Food Relief
During the Covid-19 pandemic, we provided emergency food packages to 300 people in the Village of Hope — ensuring that the most vulnerable in our community did not go hungry during the crisis.
300 Families
05
Help us build a BETTER Village of Hope
Every dollar goes directly to education, vocational training, and emergency support for the families of Nyarugunga. Your generosity changes lives.
Creating a better world for ourselves and others — from Bryant Park, NYC to Nyarugunga, Rwanda.
