In August 2025, when every volunteer chose their site, I was deployed to Huye-Ruhashya. At first, I worried about living in a new place without family or friends. I wondered how I could integrate into a family that didn’t know me and be welcomed as one of their own.
On September 7th, we arrived at our sites. Upon reaching Huye-Ruhashya, I was warmly welcomed by the community. Different members approached me with love, hugs, and smiles. That moment gave me hope that I would successfully integrate and that my service would end well.
My host family also received me with open hearts. My host mother, host sister, host brother, my baby, and the babysitter welcomed me warmly and showed me my room. That night, we had dinner together, though at first, I felt hesitant to eat freely.
The next morning, I woke up early to do home chores. I mopped the floor and washed dishes, trying to contribute like a responsible member of the household. While I was washing dishes, my host mother came running toward me and said, “You can’t work as a housekeeper; you are a visitor, not a house girl. Always remember this.” I listened attentively, smiled, and replied gently, “Here is my home. I am a child in this home and cannot expect my mother to do chores while I am around. That’s not how I have been taught.” That simple, kind, and respectful response transformed my relationship with the family. From that day on, my host family treated my baby and me as their own, and we became bonded like a family connected by blood.
I remember a day when my baby fell ill with the flu due to a sudden climate change. My host mother and siblings were more worried than I was. They postponed all their activities just to stay by her side and check on her constantly. I felt deeply grateful, thinking, “God sent them to me as a family I never had before.”
My host mother shared her childhood with me. She grew up orphaned at age five and lived with her uncle’s family, where she was treated like an outsider. She said, “I decided no one under my care would ever experience what I went through.” Her words stayed with me and deepened my respect and love for her.
On the day I moved out from my host family, she pleaded for me to stay, saying, “You can’t go; you have to live with us.” Although it was hard to decide, I eventually moved into my own rented house. Nevertheless, I continued integration activities, and through these interactions, community members showed me love. Some considered me their child, others a sister, and many became friends. This made mobilizing youth and forming a purposeful youth savings group easier. Together, we carried out various community activities, and my service has since flourished.
Wherever you are, always be kind, humble, and approachable. A small act of kindness can open doors that education alone cannot. Knowledge without values is nothing; true impact comes from combining skill with compassion.
