Computers, Ambition, and Leadership: How Janvier Kwihangana puts it all together

Between computer science classes at the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) and putting in hours as the manager of a local video store, you might think that Janvier Kwihangana’s plate was already full. But Janvier recently explained his ambitious outlook to ORI Program Manager Julie Lelek: “I learned in life that if you want to get anything done, and done well, you have to do it yourself.”

Following his own advice, Janvier, who aspires to become a leader in Rwanda’s IT sector, decided that student government would be a great opportunity to learn management skills and teamwork. By acquiring these leadership skills in the short-term, he hopes to move closer to his long-term ambitions.

Janvier won the election for the disciplinary committee’s presidency, which has added to his many responsibilities. As for fitting this new, important commitment into his already busy schedule, that’s just a matter of finding the right metaphor: “People are like computers,” Janvier says, “there are temporary storage areas and hard drives. My brain is like temporary storage and my agenda (day-planner) is the hard drive. I have to write things down before I forget and then I have to double-check things with this hard drive.”

Janvier in action

Computers, both metaphorical and literal, are at the center of Janvier’s goals for the future. In his application for an ORI scholarship, Janvier wrote, “I want to be the best IT person in Rwanda. Rwanda is starting to change, all the small shops are becoming computerized, I can bring automation to the country through computer programming.” Janvier has first-hand experience with the role computers play in the operation of a small business. At Video Dreams, the store where he works as a manager, Janvier uses a computer program to track customers’ information and maintain a record of the inventory. He also uses the Internet to download promotional materials for the new movies the store puts on its shelves.

Microsoft Excel, a program he first learned about through an ORI-sponsored computer training, is Janvier’s most important tool and it allows him to manage the store’s finances and record financial transactions. Janvier’s managerial responsibilities usually bring him to the store six days a week, and with so much practice, he says utilizing Excel has already become second-nature: “You just put in the rules, enter your numbers, and that’s it!”

To become the best IT professional in Rwanda, Janvier knows that he’ll need more than Excel skills and an impressive knowledge of American cinema! With this in mind, he saved his earnings to purchase a desktop computer, which he now uses at home to practice and hone the more advanced skills he’s learning as a student at KIST. Like other ORI students studying IT, Janvier hopes that his hard work will eventually lead to a rewarding career in the industry. But he also likes to keep the big picture in mind. Janvier foresees a promising future for Rwanda and he hopes to contribute to its progress:

“Rwanda is known for the genocide, but that will change. It is an extraordinary country with extraordinary people and in the future it will be well known for its progress. I want to help in this process through my computer science skills.”

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