Leadership Potential Despite Adversity

Cedrick Kimemyi, aged 21, survived the Rwandese genocide with his immediate family at the age of five. Cedrick’s extended family did not survive this brutal uprising , he continues to feel this loss as he makes his way in the world.

Cedrick’s family struggled through years of refugee camps until being resettled in Kenya. A state primary education was followed by secondary education at Starehe Boys Centre in Nairobi sponsored by a couple who gave up smoking to pay his tuition. Unfortunately his refugee status prevented him from studying further.

The school nurse from Ballarat Grammar School, Brenda Ludbrook met Cedrick in Kenya working on a service project building a school for girls. Recognising Cedrics enormous potentional Brenda undertook to find a way to bring him to Australia for a gap year at Ballarat Grammar. Several Rotary Clubs agreed to provide funding towards the costs of bringing Cedrick to Australia, ours being one of them.

Cedrick's ambition is to study nursing as the first step to becoming a doctor. In Australia Cedric is classified as an international student, which is very costly. Despite this all are hoping Tertiary Education can be arranged.