Today, the word apocalypse is typically associated with death, destruction and the end. What many people don’t know is that the original Greek translation of apocalypse means “lifting of the veil,” or bringing out the truth when popular opinion is filled with misconceptions and falsehood. We can’t blame ourselves for our modern interpretation of the word, after all, we humans naturally resist change because it forces us out of our comfort zones. So why bring this up? There are many misconceptions about Rwanda that have a place in history but do not reflect the nation that the Rwandan people have built for themselves today. Kigali is one of the best-kept secrets in Africa, a vibrant, beautiful city with as much character as it has hills. It is a rapidly developing mile high city of two million people with beautiful architecture and booming industries. The people, shy and quiet at first, reveal the brightest smiles when you say hello or share a smile. All it takes is a friendly attitude, and the people will share their incredible stories of struggle and success that always include an incredibly insightful lesson, about their interactions with others, about their culture, their love, their loss and the greater world around them.
We know that knowledge has the power to fundamentally change lives for the best. Yet, we allow ourselves to live our lives in our comfort zone, only pursuing knowledge when we are sure it will not rock our world too much. Before applying for GSBF, I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined myself going to Rwanda, let alone East Africa, it just wasn’t in the plan. Today, I am incredibly grateful that I took the chance to step outside of my comfort zone. This fellowship revealed many truths to me, about Rwanda and myself. While some sort of bias is unavoidable, I went to Rwanda with as few preconceived notions about the country as possible, and I walked away astonished and grateful for the opportunity to have spent so much quality time with people in touch with their humanity. I left with a deeper understanding of my place in the world and developed a much greater appreciation for the opportunities offered to me in this fast pace Valley I call home. Most importantly, I walked away with a brother.
Amani Alexis Simbayobewe, a PICO intern, our co-presenter and translator is one of those people. His story deserves more time than I can offer in this reflection but in short what you need to know is that he has decided to devote his life to pursue a path of community organizing and mentoring street kids to achieve what others never thought they could. He works around the clock but always remains in the moment and indeed hears every word spoken when you have a conversation with him. My time working with Amani in Rwanda and our continued work on his Rukundo Foundation, the first nonprofit started in Rwanda based off the lessons of PICO Rwanda, has fundamentally shifted my hopes and aspirations to include a greater emphasis on community and social impact. When I came back to the United States, I was asked a lot of questions about my experience in Rwanda. Some understood, and many did not. Many people were quick to judge Rwanda when I brought up the experience and had made up their mind about it before I even said a word. They have read their newspapers and textbooks over the years and have written it off as “different.” I could tell them about my experience, but I could say they truly weren’t grasping just how impactful such an experience could be. They weren’t willing to take the first step, to leave their comfort zone even though it was just a conversation, a chance to live vicariously without having to leave their chair.
In a world aided by technology, where borders are disappearing and the problems we face become global rather than national. The subjective reality bubbles that make up our communities, our nations, and our comfort zones are starting to collide on a more frequent basis. The world needs people who are willing to take a step out of their comfort zone, experience other cultures, seek unique local solutions and see the world for the great melting pot it really is. Only after we start thinking both globally and locally can we find the sustainable solutions we need to improve the lives of all and to become men and women working for others.
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