Before joining CorpsAfrica, I used to believe it took months, sometimes even years, to feel comfortable in a new environment. Many of my friends felt the same way. From high school to university, integrating into a new space always required patience and time. It felt manageable because we were surrounded by people of our own age.
But transitioning from the Eastern Province to Nyamagabe in the Southern Province was an entirely different experience. It wasn’t just a new district; it was an unfamiliar world. I had never been there before, and suddenly I had to live among people of all ages: children, youth, adults, and elders. The cultural nuances, social expectations, and even the landscape were different from everything I knew.
Imagine being placed in a community you’ve never visited, with traditions you’ve never practiced, and terrain that looks nothing like home. How would you handle it?
As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, this was the challenge I embraced. And it’s in this process that I realized just how impactful the 45 days of Pre-Service Training had been. When I arrived in Nyamagabe, I was greeted first by the mountains—real, towering, endless hills. To someone raised on the flat plains of the East, it felt like stepping into a new dimension.
At first, the adjustment seemed overwhelming. But then I met the people: warm, welcoming, and genuinely joyful. Their hospitality immediately stood out. They spoke with openness, laughed freely, and treated me with a level of kindness that made the transition easier than I expected.
That’s when I understood what needed to be done. If I wanted to feel at home, I had to intentionally become part of the community. I made conscious choices. I listened actively, showed humility and openness, placed myself in their perspective, shared meals, stories, and everyday moments, and embraced the culture and rhythm of the community.
Of course, the journey wasn’t without challenges. There were moments of uncertainty and days when adapting felt heavier than climbing the Nyamagabe hills. But I chose resilience, patience, and consistency. With time, everything started to align.
Today, I feel deeply connected to Nyamagabe. Everywhere I go, I am welcomed like a son returning home. Children greet me with excitement, adults with warmth, and the entire community with a sense of belonging that goes beyond words.
Looking back, I have gained more than just a placement site; I have gained an extended family many families, in fact. From the wide landscapes of the East to the mountainous beauty of the South, I learned that belonging is created through intention, humility, and human connection. Home is not always the place you come from; sometimes it’s the place that opens its heart to you.
