When I first told my family and friends that I was going to pack up my life, quit my job, and move to Rwanda for eight months to work with a non-profit organization, they thought I was just summarizing the plot of HBO’s newest documentary series. When you say it out loud, it does sound a bit crazy. At first. But after giving them a bit more information and explaining the organization’s mission, they came to the same conclusion that I did: I was meant to do this.
Upon arriving in Rwanda at seven o’clock in the morning, running on five hours of plane sleep, I was greeted by warm air and warmer people. Every single person I made eye contact with had a smile on their face, happy to share it with me. People approached me to shake my hand and ask my name. Seven different people came up to me to offer a ride, even when I told them I already had one waiting for me. After managing to lug my two giant suitcases outside and into the car, the drive to Kigali started. The stay in Kigali was brief, only about five days or so. I had no intention of living in the city, since I already knew I wanted to live close to the courts. Despite my lack of appreciation for city life, Kigali was great. The most memorable stop was at Pup Cafe, which is exactly what it sounds like. It is half cafe and half doggy day care, combining my two great loves: food and animals. I ordered perhaps the best chicken and waffles I’ve ever had and threw a toy for the dogs to chase all in one sitting.
When we left Kigali, our next scheduled stop was in Bugesera to visit the two courts there. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect when I heard the words “basketball court” and “village” in the same sentence, but as soon as we arrived at the first court in Rilima, I knew I had made the right decision in coming to Rwanda. Before I even stepped fully out of the car, three young children came running towards me, arms ready for a hug and toothy grins plastered on their faces. Every person at the court was beyond excited to meet me and the other fellows. The women all repeated my name back to me and were super pleased when I confirmed that they had in fact said it correctly. Meeting the coaches and realizing these were going to be my “coworkers” for the next eight months made me feel relieved and excited at the same time.
Our last stop was Rwinkwavu, a village in Kayonza District. I probably should not have been as excited as I was to see cows and goats on both sides of the street for miles. But I have no shame in admitting that I audibly yelled “cow!” when we saw the first one. The other people in the car were less than enthused when I pointed out the twentieth cow, but I could not have been more stoked. That is, until I saw the first goat. I pointed out ten goats on the drive, but decided to spare the other passengers and not point out the next hundred. As soon as we got to the house in Rwink, I knew I was home.
If you had asked me in November what my goals were for this trip, I probably would have made a smart aleck comment and said, “My goal is to survive the lions, elephants, and rhinos.” But now, my goals here are crystal clear. I want the coaches here to trust me, both on and off the court. I know they have a lot to teach me and vice versa, so I can’t wait to see how much my basketball knowledge grows while I’m here. I want to prove that I belong here and that Shooting Touch made the right decision in picking me to be the Basketball Operations Fellow. I plan to do everything I can to help this organization grow, and while that may sound overly ambitious now, I know I will be given ample opportunity to do so.
My last goal is probably the most important one, because it applies to every area of my life. I want to become a better listener and learner. I know that I am an outsider in this country and I can learn something from every person I interact with, if I give them space and time to teach me. I want people to feel like they can come to me when they need to talk, no matter what the issue is. And I want to learn as much as I possibly can about basketball in Rwanda. While the rules of the game are universal, there are a myriad of styles, paces, and attitudes that I will get to experience while I’m here. I know I will have good and bad days, just as everyone does. But I know that if I’m having a hard time, I can walk less than a mile in any direction and see enough cows and goats to make any day better.
ABOUT MADISON KNIGHT
Madison recently graduated from California Lutheran University in May 2023 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management. Before joining Shooting Touch, she held the position of girls’ high school basketball coach at Castaic High School in Castaic, California. As a Rwanda Fellow, Madison is particularly enthusiastic about the practical insights she will acquire in the realm of basketball and the opportunity to delve into diverse cultures during her time in Africa.