Olivia Ishimwe, 3rd year, International Development and Globalization
Country of internship: Rwanda
Canadian NGO: CECI (Centre d'étude et de coopération internationale)
Local NGO: FAWE Rwanda Chapter (Forum of African Women educationalists)
My internship experience in Rwanda, in the summer of 2024, was a real revelation. Far from being a simple adventure, this trip turned into a deep inner journey, an immersion in a country whose beauty and complexity opened up unsuspected horizons for me.
Arriving in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, plunged me into an environment where every day was a lesson in itself. The first few weeks were truly a constant challenge. The pace of work, time management methods and social interactions were radically different from what I was used to. I had to relearn how to navigate in a new environment and how to be flexible. This period of adaptation, though trying, turned out to be fertile ground for my personal growth. It taught me the importance of patience, the richness of cultural diversity and the value of open-mindedness. Instead of resisting change, I learned to welcome it as a learning opportunity and to embrace local customs.
My involvement as an academic volunteer with CECI at FAWE Rwanda Chapter, The Forum of African Women Educationalists, was a further revelation. FAWE is much more than an organization, it's a real family working to transform the educational landscape for girls in Rwanda. I was personally touched by the tangible impact of their work. Seeing how FAWE gives girls a chance to shine despite the obstacles. For example, discovering the inspiring story of Gakuru Vestine, a resilient and persevering girl who grew up in a modest family of farming parents who didn't believe in the importance of girls' education beyond elementary school. Her twin brother Gato, however, was encouraged by their parents to pursue his studies to higher levels. Despite this, Vestine excelled academically more than her twin. She faced enormous barriers, including the threat of her mother, who demanded that she fail her exams, on pain of taking her own life, so that her daughter would become an orphan and give up her studies. Torn between her personal ambitions and her unconditional love for her mother, she nevertheless continued her studies in secret. Her parents deprived her of food and school supplies as a punishment. In secret, her twin had to tear out sheets of notebooks with blank pages from his own books or manuals to help his sister succeed. However, with her brother now at university and life becoming increasingly difficult for him too, it was increasingly difficult to find the necessary school materials. Despite these major challenges, she managed to continue her studies at the age of 20 thanks to the support of her twin brother and a scholarship from FAWE Rwanda and the Mastercard Foundation. Thanks to the scholarship, she was able to join the Fawe Girls School in Gahini, where she studied mathematics, economics and computer science. Now a graduate in Applied Economics from INES Ruhengeri, Vestine is a determined young woman who encourages other girls to overcome their own obstacles. In my opinion, Vestine's poignant story epitomizes perseverance. Touching stories that inspire hope, like this one, abound thanks to the remarkable efforts of the FAWE Rwanda Chapter.
My internship in Rwanda was also an opportunity to reconnect with a part of myself. Being Burundian, I had left Burundi at the age of 9, leaving behind a language I had almost forgotten. Thanks to my 3-month immersion in Rwanda, I was able to reconnect with my language Kirundi and discover Kinyarwanda, which strengthened my vocabulary and understanding of these languages that were so dear to me. This daily practice with the locals was a deeply gratifying experience, as it not only enabled me to recover much of my lost vocabulary, but also enriched my knowledge of Kinyarwanda.
My adventure was much more than just an internship. It enabled me to develop invaluable skills in time management, risk management and adaptability to the unexpected. Being away from my family and friends for the first time was a leap into the unknown, a real test of courage and independence. Yet every challenge has been an opportunity to grow and evolve as an individual. Despite the ups and downs, I came away from this experience deeply grateful and transformed. I discovered a beautiful country, met unforgettable people and acquired skills that will serve me throughout my life.
In the end, my internship in Rwanda at FAWE not only enriched my professional and academic career, it was a formative adventure that really helped me understand myself better, rediscover part of my heritage and open up to a new vision of the world. For this, I am extremely grateful and proud to have taken this leap into the unknown.