Four years after a photograph of her studying beside a roadside fruit stall went viral, Amina Uwikuzo has graduated from secondary school and is preparing to begin university in January 2027. When Uwikuzo welcomed us into her home in Rwampara, Gikondo, she was no longer the young student we first met in 2022, struggling to balance schoolwork with selling fruit by the roadside. At the time, a photograph of her studying while selling fruit attracted widespread attention, highlighting her determination to remain in school despite financial difficulties. The publicity eventually earned her a full scholarship to Rwamagana Leaders' School, where she studied from Senior Four to Senior Six. Now, having graduated, Uwikuzo is looking forward to the next chapter of her life. I feel great. I feel so good. It's amazing to me to graduate, you know. It was my dream to end up with my secondary school, she says, smiling as she reflects on her journey. ALSO READ: Meet 18-year-old Uwikuzo, the fruit vendor who inspired many But reaching this milestone was not without challenges. Adjusting to a new learning environment When Uwikuzo joined Rwamagana Leaders' School in 2022, she found herself in an unfamiliar learning environment. Having completed Senior Three at Groupe Scolaire Mburabuturo, she had to adjust to different academic expectations. One of her biggest challenges was English. I remember the first day I reached Rwamagana Leaders' School, I reached the class. The first student greeted me in French. I said, my goodness, what is this? she recalls with a laugh. Her classmates and teachers helped her settle in, and she gradually became more comfortable. When The New Times visited her at the school in 2023, Uwikuzo identified English as one of her biggest academic challenges. She particularly remembers the difficulty of making classroom presentations in English. It was tough for me to stand and say, 'I want to present to you,' she says. At first, I was not able to stand in front of people and say something. I was not sure of myself, but now I try my best. Beyond the classroom For Uwikuzo, her time at Rwamagana Leaders' School was about more than academic achievement. She says the school helped her develop leadership skills, become more independent and take greater responsibility for her life. At Rwamagana Leaders' School, they teach us to be responsible and take initiatives, she says. During her time at the school, Uwikuzo served as a choir leader and was actively involved in sharing the word of God with her fellow students, activities she says helped build her confidence. WATCH: 18-year-old Amina Uwikuzo on balancing studies and working as a fruit vendor She also participated in other school activities, including producing a magazine, and took on responsibilities that required her to interact with fellow students. Those experiences, she says, have shaped how she approaches life outside school. I stay here at home and I do things I am supposed to do without somebody telling me, 'Do this, do this.' No. I do this for myself, she says. I have to take responsibility. I said, I can do this without Mum or another person telling me. I do it myself. And it's my life, you know. I become the owner of my life. The photograph that changed her life Uwikuzo still remembers the circumstances surrounding the photograph that brought her story to national attention. She was preparing for examinations while selling fruit when social media influencer Tito Harerimana noticed her and took a video. Harerimana later visited her home and explained that he wanted to take photographs and possibly connect her with journalists who could tell her story. I said, why not? she recalls. A series of media interviews followed, bringing her circumstances to the attention of a wider audience. In May 2022, The New Times reported that the photograph had prompted Moses Ssenyonjo, director of Rwamagana Leaders' School, to offer Uwikuzo a full-board scholarship covering her studies from Senior Four to Senior Six. Looking back, Uwikuzo believes the events that followed the photograph were not a coincidence. All things that happen, they have a reason, she says. Why did someone take that video? And after that, many things happened and many people came to know more about me. University education next Having graduated from secondary school, Uwikuzo is preparing to begin her university education in January 2027. She currently works as a custodian at a company in Kigali and had to seek permission from her employer to leave work briefly for the interview. ALSO READ: I will not let the school down: 18-year-old fruit vendor celebrates fully funded scholarship Although she is earning a living, furthering her education remains a priority. I plan to join a university as soon as possible, she says. Beyond university, Uwikuzo is also interested in entrepreneurship and hopes to establish her own business one day. My goodness, business is my wish. I feel good when I start a business, she says. I want to continue to pursue my passion for business. For now, she is balancing employment with preparations for university, determined to build on the educational opportunity that transformed her life four years ago. Her message to young people Having experienced financial difficulties and the challenges of balancing school with work, Uwikuzo believes young people should not allow their circumstances or the opinions of others to discourage them from pursuing their goals. You have to study even if it is hard, she says. She also urges young people to avoid drugs and other choices that could undermine their future. Please, young generation, my friends, don't disappoint your parents and society because, of course, our decisions will make our future, she says. Let's make good decisions and get a better future. A new chapter Uwikuzo is the fourth-born in a family of six children. Her father died in 2019, leaving her mother, Marciana Mujawimana, to raise the children. The scholarship she received in 2022 eased the financial burden of her education and allowed her to concentrate on her studies. Her mother also received support that helped her establish a fruit and vegetable business. Now, as Uwikuzo prepares for university, her ambitions extend beyond the achievement that first brought her into the public eye. Life has many paths. You may not even know what is the way you can pass through, but never give up. Follow your passion, she says. Four years after a photograph of her studying beside a roadside fruit stall captured national attention, Uwikuzo has completed secondary school, secured employment and is preparing to pursue higher education. WATCH: One year later, former fruit vendor Uwikuzo revels in her life-changing academic journey The roadside fruit stall that once defined her public story is now part of her past. Her next chapter will be one of university education and the pursuit of her entrepreneurial ambitions.
