Education

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS - SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 2019 11 Thirteen years ago, Jeremie Minani came to Canada with a dream. In 2006 — after fleeing political instability in his native Rwanda and spending time in a refugee camp — Jeremie and his mother ended up immigrating to Canada, ultimately landing in Winnipeg. After all he'd been through — life in Rwanda had been tough — Minani nevertheless dreamed of one day returning home armed with an education that would help him play a role in turning his native country around. He filed that thought away in the back of his mind as he embarked on his new life in Winnipeg. As exciting and peaceful as his new surroundings were, it was difficult to start over. Not only did he and his mother have to adjust to a new country, but they had to do it without his father, who'd been killed during an armed conflict in Rwanda. Even though life was fraught with challenges, Minani was a good student. He maintained excellent grades in school, fuelled by his dream. As he approached high school graduation, he was looking for an educational institution that would equip him with the knowledge and skills to make his dream a reality. After a brief search, he happened upon Booth University College. "Their slogan, 'Education for a Better World,' really drew my interest," recalls Minani. "I checked them out, and they seemed like the right fit for me." His intuition proved correct. Booth's educational philosophy seemed custom-fit to his unique set of circumstances. "Because my mom was a single parent who didn't have a great education, I had to work to help out to pay the bills in addition to going to school full time. After I was accepted into their accounting program, they helped me out with bursaries and scholarships that helped me afford to pay for my studies." Not only did Booth provide invaluable financial assistance, but staff members also supported him in his scholastic endeavours. "At the college, they say that they're there to educate and equip students to not only help themselves, but the world," Minani says. "Everyone at the college lives that out every day. It's also not super-big, so you can connect with professors outside of class, where they're happy to make themselves available." Jeremie says the encouragement he's received from teachers has sustained him as he's made his way through his first two years of school. "All my teachers have been so encouraging. They've all gone out of their way to give me the knowledge, support and confidence I needed to thrive. They really want to help students. It's been very humbling to have been so well-supported by the school." That support has been augmented by a curriculum that's provided him with the knowledge and skills that will be required to help transform Rwanda upon his eventual return. "I've been taking courses like marketing, artist management and marketing after- production," says Minani, who is also into music, and wants to help musical artists connect with record labels. "I've been learning and applying the skills and have even been involved in a number of events with music, travelling through Canada." As he moves forward — he's slated to visit Rwanda in the not-too-distant future — Minani wants to expand his entrepreneurial skills beyond music. "I want to start off helping people through music and the arts, but also want to get involved in investing in businesses there, especially renewable energy. I also want to invest in young entrepreneurs," he says. "Ultimately, I want to help provide jobs so people can get an education and better themselves." The 20-year-old — who is going to be switching over to marketing to add to his already formidable arsenal of skills — says the college is helping make his dearly-held dream reality. "I'm very excited about the future," says Minani. "The education and support the college has given me is going to help me make a difference when I go back to Rwanda. They really get involved with their students and are there to help in any way they can. I am so appreciative of all the help they've given me." For more information, visit boothuc.ca. ❚ E D U C A T I O N F O R A B E T T E R W O R L D BOOTHUC.CA WHEN THE WORLD CLOSES ITS EYES, O P E N T H E M. BOOTH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE BOOTH UC EQUIPS STUDENTS TO HELP THEMSELVES & THE WORLD By Todd Lewys for the Free Press Minani and his mother immigrated to Canada from Rwanda in 2006. Student Jeremie Minani (right) says Booth University College's slogan 'Education for a Better World' piqued his interest. Supplied photos

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