The struggle started when Valerie Mukandayisenga was the only student in her secondary class (S.3) that chose to do mechanical studies at her school.

Studying mechanical engineering in the faculty of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration at Integrated Polytechnic Regional Center (IPRC) Kigali, Mukandayisenga finds herself in the middle of a male dominated field.

"Everyone was shocked because no single girl chose mechanical studies before me. They mixed it with other options but I chose to stick to it alone,” she says.

"Women should know that we can do what our brothers can do just as well or even better. If you are interested in something it’s advisable to go with it especially if it’s pointing you towards your dream,” says Mukandayisenga.

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