When life takes you in a direction, you can’t resist it - you just have to go with the flow, because it’s all part of God’s plan. As I write this blog, taking in the beautiful views of the “land of a thousand hills’ and feeling the gentle breeze, I reflect on how basketball and service have always been a part of my journey, ultimately landing me here in Rwanda. When I was about 10 years old, I went with my mom to volunteer at the church food bank. It was then that I realized how blessed we were to have everything we needed. From that moment, I understood that God blesses us so we can serve others. This understanding shaped my life, leading me to begin volunteering in the healthcare space at age 14 (a dentist's office), and eventually working in patient care at Albany Medical Center during college, before transitioning to College Advising in two Bronx public high schools through the now-defunct NYU CAC program.
Years later, I discovered a passion and talent for digital storytelling, marketing, community building, strategy, and communications - skills I’d always enjoyed but never considered a career path. Opportunities and connections through HuCapital where I served as the Social Media Manager, opened my eyes to the endless possibilities.
Cool shirt on the bus to Myange.
Fellow introduction at the Rukara court practice.
Fast forward to today, and here I am in Rwanda. It’s been a whirlwind three weeks that feel both familiar and different from my home country of Ghana. As I travel through the country visiting the Shooting Touch Rwanda (STR) courts and meeting beneficiaries, I know I made the right choice. Everyone has been incredibly supportive - from my peer Fellows and mentors to the STR staff and coaches. This organization is a shining example of how serving others can create real, lasting change. Learning about Rwanda’s history has only deepened my pride in being part of an initiative focused on gender equality, health, and social change through basketball - a sport that is clearly on the rise, not just in this country but across the continent. I’m excited to keep learning and contributing as we work toward enhancing and expanding the organization’s impact.
Left to right: Courtney, Kojo, Duwe (2025 Fellows), Sam (Director of Communications), Chloe (Director of International Programming & Strategy).
Learning more about the organization and how to best serve the beneficiaries.
Playing ‘Knockout’ with kids at the Mukarange court.
In these first weeks, as our team built camaraderie and dove deeper into our roles, two big questions we touched on have begun to resonate with me:
What do I care about?
The first thoughts that came to mind were health, wellness, and faith.
Health: We only get one body and one life. To love and care for ourselves is to honor that gift.
Wellness: I find myself thinking thought about mental health and how our habits and actions shape the lives we lead. Understanding what drives us is key to living intentionally.
Faith: My faith has carried me through so much, both privately and publicly. Staying grounded in it has been essential to navigating life’s challenges and trusting God’s plan.
How do I vow to deal with newness on this journey?
I made these vows to help me adjust to this new chapter:
Double-check with people to ensure clarity and alignment.
Use my resources, ask questions, and do research to minimize ignorance.
Prioritize learning Kinyarwanda to make communication easier.
Practice patience in all things.
Stay observant of social cues.
Keep my emotions in check and stay grounded.
Lean on my team and be there for them in return.
Trust God.
The stars are fascinating.
Me, excited to continue learning, growing, and contributing.
Sunsets are 10/10.
While this experience is still new, I’m grateful for how well I’ve adjusted and how comfortable I feel as a Fellow. I hope my desire to fulfill my purpose and leave an impact, combined with my vows, will keep me focused for the next seven months of this Fellowship. Talk soon & Turikumwe (we are together)!