“Impuwe” is Rwandan for compassion, and also stands for “inspire and motivate powerful, undiscovered women with education.” Fourteen-year-old Jessica Markowitz is founder of IMPUWE, a group that helps Rwandan students — paying for schooling and a library.
Three years ago, when she was in sixth grade at Seattle Girls’ School, an all-girls middle school, Jessica organized some of her classmates to support education of young girls in Rwanda, where $40 can buy a year of schooling. And that was just the beginning.
On Nov. 5, Jessica, who is now a freshman at Garfield High School, will receive the 2009 World of Children Founders Award at UNICEF in New York. The award honors people around the world who are creating innovative programs for children in need. With the $15,000 prize, Jessica plans to help build a library in Rwanda focused on girls.
Please take a few minutes to the read the story the Seattle Times ran on the front page. It’s inspiring to read, and it fills us with admiration. Hats off to Jessica, and to Seattle Girls’ School, the school that champions change.
Tags: IMPUWE, Jessica Markowitz, Seattle Girls School, social entrepreneur, Unicef