Our work in the community would be physically impossible were it not for our smart, resourceful, and hard-working interns, Parfait and Hervé. Get to know them a little better:
Feature Photo: Parfait (left) and Hervé (right) on the construction site
Parfait Turahirwa
Parfait, tell us a little about yourself.
I am 24 years old and my birthday is on October 30th. I live in Kigali with my parents, two brothers, one sister, a dog, and a cat. My mother is a businesswoman and my father is an engineer and runs his own company. My father has been my inspiration to become an engineer.
What does a typical day look like for you?
On a typical day I wake up at 5:30am to get ready for school. My dad drives me to school where I take classes from 8am to 2pm. My favorite classes are about construction techniques. I am also the Class President and really involved in all aspects of school.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time I like to hang out with friends at home or at the nightclub, Ozone.
How has your EWB experience been so far? And anything to say to rest of the EWB team?
I have really enjoyed participating in the EWB internship and learning how EWB projects work. To the EWB volunteers back in NY, I would say that what you are doing is good for the country, keep it up!
Lastly, what is your favorite food?
Macaroni
Hervé Ineza
Hervé, tell us a little about yourself.
I am 20 years old and my birthday is on July 5th. I live in Kigali with my parents and two older brothers. I have total of four older brothers, the other two moved out of my parents house. My mother is the director of an international Catholic radio station and my father is the director of a technical school run by a German NGO. I decided to study engineering because I liked math and science. I attended secondary school in Nairobi, Kenya.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I wake up at 7am to get ready for school. I take a motorbike taxi in the morning and the bus back in the afternoon. My favorite university classes are about structural engineering.
What do you do in your free time?
In my spare time I work on assignments and go to a writing club, where I writes short stories in English.
How has your EWB experience been so far? And anything to say to rest of the EWB team?
I have learned a lot during the EWB internship, like using a laser to do surveying. To the other NYC based EWB volunteers, I say, you’re doing a good job and to keep up the work in other countries that need help.
Lastly, what is your favorite food?
My favorite food is avocado.