History and Overview

Hanga Ahazaza logo

Launched in 2018, the Cornell Hanga Ahazaza Initiative received a grant of $5 million from the Mastercard Foundation to provide educational training for professionals in the hospitality and tourism sectors in Rwanda via eCornell online courses, virtual events, and executive education programming. The goal: to provide youth in Rwanda with world class training from the Nolan School of Hotel Administration, accelerating their upskilling, economic mobility, and marketability in these two important economic sectors.

Seven years later, we had twice met our deliverables under budget, expanding the program to 2025, exceeding our target goals:

  • 1,444 Certificate Completions, including:
    • 1,048 Hospitality Management certificates
    • 315 On-demand Tourism program certificates
    • 81 Customer Service certificates
  • 44 Train-the Trainer opportunities for Rwanda TVET Board
  • Created a teaching case study on Sustainable Tourism in Rwanda
  • Produced “Rwandan Hospitality and Disability Accommodations
  • Trained 75 new and aspiring entrepreneurs in a workshop titled, “The Entrepreneurial Process: From Start-up to Success.”

During the project tenure, we maintained an office space in Kigali and hired three Rwandan staff to support our students.

Three graduate women in Rwanda.

Kim only 2021 crop

"Being a part of the Hanga Ahazaza Initiative—a project that empowers individuals and transforms communities—has been the most impactful chapter of my career. I’m deeply grateful to have worked with Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and the Mastercard Foundation, as both organizations prioritize social impact and invest in sustainable change. Together, we’ve worked to create opportunities, build capacity, and support the next generation of changemakers. Thank you to all involved for your passion, partnership, and unwavering commitment to making a difference. Here’s to continuing the journey of purpose-driven work and lifelong learning!"

Kim Szpiro, Associate Director, Hanga Ahazaza Initiative

The Cornell Hanga Ahazaza Story

Reflections


Impact Stories

Nice Uwase

Nice worked through the ranks from receptionist to Commercial Director of the Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Center in Kigali.Now a General Manager in the Radisson Group, she credits Cornell with introducing her to a professional community.

 

Phiona Wafulah

Phiona’s experience in the Cornell program helped her to develop her leadership and decision-making skills. “It’s not just about being good at what you’re working on, but helping your colleagues to achieve what they want to do.”

Cecile Isimbi Dusabe

Cecile believes in lifelong learning and self-improvement. Through the Cornell program, she experienced a transformation in her confidence and people-focused leadership.

Rose Mungwasingizwe

Rose created her Cloud Kitchen from home in 2020. Completing the Cornell program in 2022, Rose has improved her staff management, customer relations, and business strategy. Rose intends to open new locations, and to offer work opportunities to people rebuilding their lives.

Benjamin Mutabazi

Benjamin says that Cornell training expanded his leadership and communication skills, as well as his understanding of marketing. Since completing the program, he’s been promoted to guest house manager. He hopes to own his own hotel one day.

Adelphine Abewe

Adelphine owns an indoor plant company #elamorgardenkigali, and hopes to open a restaurant and boutique hotel aimed at providing opportunities for young women.

Scovia Mutoni

Scovia is Co-Founder of Transinvest Tours & Travel, Ltd. A graduate of the Hanga Ahazaza program, Scovia says, “I ensure that I am continually updated about global trends in this industry. I always look out for opportunities.”


Certificate programs delivered between 2019 and 2025

The Hospitality Management program provided free-of-charge upskill training to managers and supervisors in the hospitality and tourism industry and included curriculum in Service Excellence, Leadership, Operations, Marketing, Accounting and more.

Our On-Demand Program in Service Excellence and Tourism consisted of 18 asynchronous lessons over 1-3 months on topics in Service Excellence, Servant Leadership, and Understanding the Behaviors of Others. These lessons were appropriate for individuals in entry-level positions.

The Professional Development Program (PDP) for Rwandan Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) upskilled over 30 educators alongside business professionals. Taught by Cornell faculty in Kigali and in Ithaca, NY, the PDP offered participants opportunities to explore current industry developments in a peer-learning environment.

The Customer Service Program was ideal for anyone wishing to elevate their customer service. The program included curriculum in Service Excellence, Leadership, Guest Loyalty and Emotional Intelligence. We also offered the optional virtual workshop in Serving Clients with Disabilities.

Additional Learning Resources Created:

Virtual workshop in Serving Clients with Disabilities, “Rwandan Hospitality and Disability Accommodations

In-person Entrepreneurs workshop, “The Entrepreneurial Process: From Start-up to Success,” held in Kigali in June 2025.

Teaching case: Managing Conservation and Tourism: Rwanda Development Board (RDB). To answer a deficit in global-south based business cases for education, Megan Epler-Wood and professor Mark Milstein co-authored a case study exploring the challenges associated with the management of tourism and conservation in Rwanda. Focused on Rwanda’s three major national parks, the case facilitates learning among students interested in business decision-making, policy, leadership, conservation, and tourism. In November 2023, Epler-Wood and Milstein presented an educator’s workshop at the African Leadership University campus in Kigali, Rwanda.

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Cornell Hanga Ahazaza Milestones

2017

Cornell applied for and received a Mastercard Foundation grant.

2018

Certificate in Hospitality Management program launched, providing upskill training to managers and supervisors.
First group of TVET trainers attended the Nolan School’s Professional Development Program.

2019

First certificate completion ceremony held in August. Brought second cohort of TVET trainers to the Nolan School's Professional Development Program.

2020

Adapted to high demand amid COVID lockdowns by modifying coursework in collaboration with eCornell and the Rwanda Chamber of Commerce, reaching additional students. Launched the On-Demand Tourism Program.

Cornell Hanga Ahazaza Milestones (copy)

2021

Increased enrollment. Held our first certificate ceremony since COVID, which included over 400 graduates.

2022

Met goal of training over 1250 individuals in online programs.
Brought third group of TVET trainers to Ithaca in June.
Began work on a case study related to Sustainable Practices in Ecotourism in Rwanda. Held third certificate ceremony for graduates.

2023

Worked with Rwanda Development Board and Rwanda Chamber of Tourism to create and present case study at the Business of Conservation and World Travel Conference, plus a workshop for educators in Rwanda.
Final group of TVET trainers and industry professionals attended a workshop on Food and Beverage Management in Kigali.
Fourth certificate ceremony held.

2024 & 2025

2024: Cornell received a No-Cost Extension to provide additional online training. First cohorts in Hospitality Management and Customer Service launched in December.

2025: Final cohorts launched in January. Disability Inclusion in Hospitality and Tourism in Rwanda webcast launched in June.
One-day in-person entrepreneurship workshop held in June.
Final certificate ceremony held in June.
 

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Cornell Hanga Ahazaza Project Teams

Program Administrators

Rohit Verma, Initial Principal Investigator, 2017-2019
Linda Barrington, Principal Investigator, 2019-2025
Jenn Mayo, Senior Director of External Relations, 2017-2020
Nikki Fredenberg, Project Lead, 2018-2019
Kim Szpiro, Project Lead, 2019-2025
Jordan Lang, Project Coordinator, 2024-25

Faculty

Team in Kigali, Rwanda

Henry Hakundwumukiza, Rwanda-based instructor, 2019-2025
Evelyn Kahinju Karamagi, Project manager, 2020-2023
Vianney Gasarasi, Rwanda-based instructor, 2021-2025


About the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business

Cornell SC Johnson College of Business logo

Cornell University has created a reimagined model for business education that reflects the future of business itself: flexible, collaborative, and cross-disciplinary. The Cornell SC Johnson College of Business unites the strengths of three business schools — Cornell Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration, Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, and the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management — so that every student can benefit from the combined power of business at Cornell: more degrees, faculty, resources, and expertise. Whether the focus is creating great customer experiences, solving real-world challenges, or deeply immersing in a particular industry, each of our schools offer something unique and meaningful.


About the Mastercard Foundation

mastercard foundation logo

The Mastercard Foundation seeks a world where everyone has the opportunity to learn and prosper. The Foundation’s work is guided by its mission to advance learning and promote financial inclusion for people living in poverty.

One of the largest foundations in the world, it works almost exclusively in Africa. It was created in 2006 by Mastercard International and operates independently under the governance of its own Board of Directors. The Foundation is based in Toronto, Canada.


Our Land Grant Mission

Linda-with-grad-man-

“In 1868, Ezra Cornell founded our University with the aspiration to build a place ‘where any person can find instruction in any study.’ In 1936, Cornell created the first university office in the U.S. for international students. Today, Cornell staff and faculty come from 90 countries, and our students from 116. With the support of the Mastercard Foundation, we’ve been able to bring Cornell to Rwanda. Through our eCornell and blended-learning certificates, we’ve been able to extend Ezra Cornell’s aspiration even further than he envisioned, and the hard work and enthusiasm of our Rwandan professional student-colleagues’ made that happen.”

Linda Barrington, Associate Dean for Strategy and Societal Impact, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business