July 2015 marked 5 years since I returned home to an opportunity to be part of shaping Rwanda’s Technology future.   Having spent 2 years of my life studying our ICT plans, Vision 2020, and various poverty reduction initiatives for my graduate school thesis, this was an opportunity of a lifetime, which served as a great beginning of a career in economic development and  has offered me the greatest life lessons.   I want to share my best lessons to date, in several parts, and hope you or someone you know will find them helpful.

Lesson 1:

Resilience is one of the greatest ingredients of success.

In 2007, during a summer visit home, I was inspired by the Rwanda I found after 10 years away, one I’d vowed never to return.   I was particularly inspired by the work #GahayaLinks was doing with over 3000 women at that time and one thing stood out – Resilience.   The ability of genocide widows to work alongside women whose husbands had killed their families was simply amazing.  Watching them work with my mother and aunt, caring for one another’s wellbeing, holding each other accountable for the sake of their families is indescribable – my first lesson in resilience.

Rwandans are the most resilient people I’ve encountered because after the genocide against the Tutsi, we live and work side by side to build our country.  This could only be possible with a resilient leader who managed to mobilize and inspire Rwandans  toward unity and reconciliation, which has allowed us to keep the peace.  Our achievements todate are the greatest testament of resilience.

You will need resilience to be successful in Rwanda because your goals and passions aren’t always shared; your heart to serve will be met by those simply here to collect a paycheck; your push for positive change may be frowned upon by most and they may work to discredit you or worse tarnish you;  you may make 1 or 2 mistakes which few if any will correct –
Some people may turn against you for them as a result and be used against you; your sense of urgency to achieve Rwanda’s goals means nothing if the person on the other side of the table couldn’t be bothered and so on and so forth.

Resilience enables you to rise above anything thrown at you. and help Resilience enables you to be a voice or amplify the voices of many that need you to do so.  Resilience keeps your heart from hardening and ensures you don’t catch the ugliness around you.  Resilience allows you to work your hardest to achieve results because the country needs you to.  Resilience allows you achieve anything even when others ensure you get no credit for it.  Resilience allows you to only keep people who inspire the best in you around you.  Most importantly, resilience gives you peace of mind each night because you will have done your best to deliver for your country.

I’ve heard President Kagame say, “…if you can’t beat them, fight them.” Every day may present challenges and most will be caused by people you work with/for, people you love, people from anywhere – this is the reality.  Resilience is your best asset because it inspires – enables you to stay the course, and gives you strength to FIGHT for what is good, no matter what!

I pray you have courage and remain resilient through it ALL.