PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS®
In 2008 the Academy of Leadership and Liberty, The Institute for Economic Empowerment of Women, and Oklahoma Christian University (OC) partnered with Rwanda Outreach and Community (ROC) Partners to select 15 business women for in depth business training on the OC campus. Following their training they returned to Rwanda where they have utilized what they learned, as well as participating in “pay it forward” efforts. In 2009 the program, in partnership with IEEW and Northwood University, was increased to 30 women who received two months of training before 15 were selected to go to the U.S. for Leadership Development Training and business mentorships. Dr. Holly Hixson, ROC Education Projects Coordinator, has been managing this effort in Rwanda.
Since its inception, over 100 women have participated in the in-country training before 15 are selected for further training, mentorship, and networking in the U.S.
In 2012, Jamie Boiles, Director of Communications and Development, ROC Partners was added to the PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS® Rwanda team to continue to grow the program of training local business women. The women who have graduated from PEACE THROUGH BUSINESS®
have formed an Alumnae Association, dedicated to taking what they have learned and "pay it forward". They are currently piloting their pay it forward training with about 25 women from Nyamata, a local village, 20 minutes outside of Kigali.
