From Orphanage to Business School: How LivingStone International University Helped Shape a Life of Purpose
Born in Rwanda's Western Province in 1993, Eric lost his entire family during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Yet despite this devastating loss, he refused to let this define his trajectory. Instead, he persevered, guided and strengthened by his new home and family that forever transformed his life and purpose.
At LivingStone International University , Eric discovered that education could be more than knowledge acquisition; it could be a pathway to profound personal transformation and service to others. Foundations of Resilience: The Orphanage Years
Eric's childhood memories are filled with the huge absence of family, a void left by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. At just six months old, he was placed in Orphelinat Noël de Nyundo (ONN) after his mother passed away. A year later, the genocide claimed the lives of his father, two older sisters, and every member of his extended family. With no relatives left, the orphanage became Eric's home.
Eric shares that ONN, the orphanage that became his refuge, offered more than shelter. It became the foundation where he learned resilience and developed the inner strength to carry him through future challenges.
Eric mentions, "Life at ONN taught me resilience in the face of unimaginable loss. Growing up without a family was difficult, but the orphanage gave me a foundation of care and discipline that allowed me to focus on my education." The Turning Point
When the opportunity to pursue higher education arose, Eric was ready to seize it. After finishing secondary school, he was given a chance that he described as "would change the course of his life." He received a scholarship from a non-government organization, His Chase, to study at LivingStone International University in Uganda.
LivingStone International University (LIU), a small private non-profit Christian university established in 2012, aims to transform Africa through Christ-centered higher education. With over 250 students from across Africa, LIU provides a deeply relational learning environment rooted in mentorship and discipleship.
However, transitioning and entering into this new big world did not become easy for Eric. Like many young people who have grown up in hardship, he wrestled with questions of identity, purpose, and meaning. He recalls, "When I arrived at LIU in 2013 to begin a degree in Business Administration, I was unsure of my future."
However, what he encountered at LIU was not just a university but a community of faith, mentorship, and personal transformation. More than an institution of higher learning, Eric shares how LIU offered him a new family, one defined not by blood, but by shared values and a commitment to nurturing spirit-filled leaders and members of society.
According to Eric, it was in this environment that he began to heal, not just intellectually, but spiritually and emotionally.This sense of belonging, reinforced daily by the university community, helped him shed the fear and uncertainty that had once shadowed his future.
Chad Allen, the CFO at LIU from 2013 - 2018, mentions, "LIU aims to direct its students towards God's mission in the world: a mission of creating, healing, building, loving, teaching, serving, and saving. The university's success lies not just in its academic programs but in its ability to cultivate leaders prepared to serve their communities with integrity and compassion." Beyond Graduation: Leadership, Faith, and Giving Back
Graduating from LIU marked the beginning—not the end—of Eric's journey. Armed with a degree in business administration, he returned to Rwanda in 2017 and began working in the banking sector, with positions at Letshego Bank and Access Bank.
Yet Eric shared how the sense of calling that began to stir in him at LIU only grew stronger. Eventually, he left the corporate world to enter full-time ministry. Eric describes this decision as a choice rooted in the clarity, conviction, and purpose he had found during those formative university years.
Eric shares, "The seeds planted at LIU continue to bear fruit—not just in my career but also in how I live my life. My mentor from LIU still walks with me, offering prayer, guidance, and encouragement."
Today, Eric is pursuing postgraduate studies in theology and leadership at Africa College of Theology (ACT), committed to preaching the gospel and discipling others. His story represents one of many similar journeys among LIU's graduates. Regardless of race, ethnic background, upbringing, gender, or physical disability, students are accepted and given equal opportunities to pursue their dreams.
While many universities focus primarily on knowledge transfer, LIU recognizes that true personal development is the balance of intellectual excellence and spiritual maturity, rooted in faith and the word of God.
The ripple effects of this approach extend beyond individual success stories. Graduates like Eric Kubwimana become sparks for change in their communities, using their education not just for personal advancement but for collective benefit and the glory of God.
Eric mentions, "From orphanage to business school, my story is one of grace and transformation. I am a living testament to what is possible when education is grounded in faith and community. LIU didn't just give me a degree. It helped me discover my purpose—and my voice."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Int'l Business Times
11-07-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Camp Mystic Owner Killed By Horrific Floods Was Warning Officials About the River For Decades
The owner of Texas Christian summer camp Camp Mystic died during the state's horrific floods last week, despite repeatedly warning officials about the volatility of the nearby Guadalupe River. Camp owner Dick Eastland ran the youth camp for decades, advocating for a new flood warning system in the area following a flooding incident in 1987 that killed 10 children who had been attending another camp nearby. "The river is beautiful," Eastland told the Austin American-Statesman in 1990. "But you have to respect it." However, the system Eastland had fought for was shut down in 1999, a decade after being installed, due to antiquated technology, reported CNN. Last week, during the disastrous downpour in Texas, the Guadalupe River overflowed and flooded Camp Mystic, leading to the deaths of 27 people at the camp. Eastland was one of the victims, as he was swept away while attempting to rescue campers. Eastland had made attempts to support the implementation of a more modern flood warning system, which would include sirens to warn nearby campers of incoming floods. However, a lack of funding, some local opposition and the absence of adequate state support prevented these measures from coming to fruition. Many of the cabins worst-affected by the flooding last week sat in areas identified by the federal government as most likely to be severely inundated by an overflow from the Guadalupe River. "Camp officials might have not been aware of flood risk when they first built the cabins," before the county even had flood maps, said Anna Serra-Llobet, a University of California-Berkeley researcher who studies flood risk. She further added that officials should have understood that the cabins were in "severe hazard" areas due to recent additional construction. Eastland, who was a figure beloved by his community, has been praised as a hero following his death. "If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for. That's the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched," his grandson George Eastland wrote in an Instagram tribute. Originally published on Latin Times
Int'l Business Times
08-07-2025
- Int'l Business Times
Mitre By Mitre: N. Macedonian Nuns Craft Priceless Holy Headwear
In total silence, Sister Elisaveta stitched the sacred headwear for which her monastery in North Macedonia is renowned throughout the Orthodox world. In her careful hands, the mitre glimmered as if spun from gold. The bulbous silk crown, now repaired, was again fit for a bishop. Nestled between mountains and overlooking a placid lake about 130 kilometres (80 miles) west of Skopje, Saint George the Victorious monastery produces unique headdresses worn by patriarchs around the world. "We are the only one in the world that works with this type of mitre," Sister Efimija told AFP, referring to her workshop of 10 nuns. The sisters work as a team, helped by two novices, each nun perfecting a particular part of the technique. "Each of the sisters has her own assignment in the process," Efimija said, as she watched a colleague make the final touches to her repair work. Some elements of the handmade production are so secret they are known to only a small number of nuns, the 44-year-old said. Originally a home to monks, the monastery was shut by the communist government after World War II and turned into stables. But since it reopened as a convent in 2001, its Christian Orthodox nuns have fashioned 1,700 incredibly detailed mitres, Efimija said. Although mitres are worn by the Catholic pope, and by bishops and some abbots from several Christian denominations, those made at Saint George are reserved for higher-ranking priests in the Christian Orthodox Church. Exceptionally, the nuns crafted a special headdress for the late pope Francis, which took five months to finish. It was gifted to Francis by a North Macedonia state delegation to the Vatican in 2016. He was "pleasantly surprised", Efimija said with pride. Decorated with vibrant colours, gold embroidery and jewels, every mitre weighs between one and two kilograms (2.2 and 4.4 pounds). They take at least four weeks to produce. Some need six months to complete. According to Sister Efimija, the Saint George mitres follow the lavish style of the late Byzantine Empire. But her workshop, with its secret techniques, adds a unique flair. Despite its opulence, the mitre symbolises the crown of thorns that Christians believe was placed on Christ's head during the crucifixion and Sister Efimija said she hoped each would bring humility to its wearer. "If the bishop wears such a priceless object on his head and does not feel the burden of torments borne by contemporary man, then he wears the mitre in vain", she said. Mitres made at St George are reserved for high-ranking priests in the Christian Orthodox Church AFP St George's monastery was turned into stables in in 1945 before reopening as a Christian Orthodox convent AFP
DW
30-06-2025
- DW
How the manosphere is making misogyny mainstream – DW – 06/30/2025
Misogynistic influencers with millions of followers propagate toxic masculinity in what has become known as the manosphere. Misogyny is spreading on social media through the so-called "manosphere." These masculinity influencers, often young, well-educated men, present themselves as victims of feminism and call for their power to be "reclaimed." Young users often come across this content by chance and get hooked. They end up existing in a parallel world full of anger, frustration and toxic ideology. The manosphere is a melting pot for anti-feminist narratives, which, thanks to social media, can spread like wildfire. The content ranges from manipulative dating advice to political demands aimed at weakening the social position of women to outright misogyny. What they all have in common is a fundamental rejection of equality between the sexes. Many videos appear professionally produced. "They are men with microphones, usually in podcast situations, ranting about things like how women should not have a high 'body count' — in other words, that they shouldn't have slept with many men. This manosphere claims to be based on natural and traditional values, but it's actually about oppression," says Tara-Louise Wittwer, an author and video producer (@wastarasagt) who has been working on this topic for many years. "According to this traditional worldview, women are actively chosen by men. This is one of the alpha male's desired motives," says Wittwer. "But the reality here is different: For the most part, a woman can choose someone herself, choose no one at all, choose another woman, or stay alone and perhaps be quite happy at 30 with three cats. That makes these kinds of men angry. They see they are losing power over women." After a few hours scrolling through the world of masculinity influencers, one notices they share a similar perception of the world: Modern society is set against men, and men are therefore at a disadvantage. The desire for old social structures and gender stereotypes dominates these social media channels. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Christian influences, or "Christfluencers," as they are sometimes referred to, who invoke religion to restrict women's rights, propagate the same message. "It's an attempt to shift responsibility. Along the lines of, 'It's not our fault that we oppress women, because God or Jesus said so,' or 'Women are just worth less because of biology, are only allowed to be with a few men, are only allowed to do this and that,'" says Wittwer. More and more women are also jumping on board. "Make him a sandwich" is a hashtag used by women who share the views of the manosphere and the ideology of "natural order" in relation to gender. "These women often highlight that it's their choice to live this dependent life — and that is not to be condemned at all. If a woman says, 'I want to be a traditional housewife, I'm fulfilled by being at home, cooking and having children,' then of course that's fine. Feminists fought for a long time to have this choice," says Wittwer. The problem is that when women are primarily active in the home, they disappear from public life and are unable to help shape [political] decisions and processes. Many of these women who share the ideas of the manosphere also create accounts and promote their lifestyle as the only valid one. "Anyone who doesn't do this is labeled mentally ill and told they need therapy. As is so often the case, feminism is portrayed as an illness," says Wittwer. Wittwer is also active online and regularly produces German-language videos on the topic of equality and solidarity among women. She critically analyzes how patriarchal structures and influencers spread misogynistic content on social media — concise, pointed and with subtle humor. But not everyone likes it. Comments like "but you have everything in Germany," in reference to women's rights in the country, are not uncommon. "Statistics, however, show that every other day, women are killed by their partners or former partners," she points out. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The criticism directed at her doesn't just come from men, but also from the feminist camp. "For some, I'm not radical enough. For example, I don't sympathize with the 4B movement (This radical feminist movement originates in South Korea and opposes marriage to men; women should not have children, romantic relationships, or sex with men: Eds.), partly because I have a husband myself, whom I wouldn't want to be without. It's not about marriage or not marriage. It's about women having choices and being able to decide. Women and men are not identical, but they are of equal value. And many people don't seem to want to understand that. It's about equal rights and equal value." So, it is exactly the opposite of what the followers of the manosphere, whether men or women, want. The increasing popularity of this misogynistic movement poses great danger, with platforms like TikTok and YouTube serving as the perfect breeding grounds. Influencers sell toxic masculinity images as lifestyle tips and disguise hate as "truth." Young men are particularly vulnerable to this content. Social media is creating a new wave of misogynistic narratives that can be socially explosive.
