The day of deployment came faster than I expected. After weeks of training at Amakuza Training Center, I stood beside my fellow Gicumbi Volunteers excited, nervous, and filled with anticipation. The bus ride was full of life. Laughter, funny stories, and playful drama echoed through the aisles as we made a quick stop at Nyirangarama for refreshments. Everything felt like a celebration, a beginning of something bigger than us.
But the moment we approached our respective deployment sites, the atmosphere slowly shifted. One by one, Volunteers got off the bus in Miyove, receiving warm welcomes from their host families. I clapped and smiled for others, yet inside, something unsettled me. Excitement suddenly turned into fear. When our Volunteer Liaison, Josiane, turned and said, “Divin, it’s your time. Your host parents are there waiting for you.”
My heart skipped. A strange silence took over the noise inside me. I stepped off the bus, unsure of what would come next. Then came the first hug. My host father’s arms opened wide with warmth and certainty. “Welcome home,” he said. The fear eased.
My first day in my host family started before the sun fully rose. I joined my host brother Achile to collect grass for the cows. Although my host parents initially insisted I rest, I wanted to show that I was ready to be part of their daily life. So together, we headed out into the fresh morning fields.
With a bundle of grass in my hands and a motivated heart, I was fully in the moment until I noticed something moving near my feet. A reptile slid across the grass I was cutting, and instantly every muscle in my body jumped into alarm. I was convinced it was a snake, and fear took over so quickly that my reaction made Achile burst into laughter.
“This is normal,” he said while still giggling. “You’ll get used to them.”
I laughed along, even though my heart was still racing. That moment broke the ice. It was the first of many shared jokes and lessons that would fill our day.
We carried the grass back home, where the house grew louder with conversations, laughter, and curiosity. The more we talked, the lighter everything felt. It was no longer the home of strangers, it was becoming mine too.
Later, as evening settled over the village, my other host brother, Joseph, came to me with his P6 schoolbook. “Can you help me with my homework?” he asked. We worked through questions together, and I explained each solution carefully. When we finished, he looked at me with a bright idea loading in his eyes.
“Can you consider asking for a job at my school so that you can be my mathematics teacher in P6 A at Ikirezi Nursery and Primary School? Then I will see you in class every day.”
It melted my heart. The night before, I had told him I was a CorpsAfrica Volunteer here to serve, learn, and support the community. Yet in his mind, he had already identified a perfect job for me based on our short time together. I smiled and replied, “I was born to be a volunteer. That is my first mission here.” His giggles filled the room again, a sound I realized I was growing to love.
Those first hours filled with fear, discovery, humor, and connection set the tone for everything ahead. What began as a lonely step off a bus turned into a welcome into a family. What began as doubt turned into belonging. I came to serve, to learn, and to grow, but I already feel I am receiving far more than I could ever give.
This isn’t just my placement, this isn’t just a new environment, this is the start of a life-changing story and this is only the beginning.
