In a pool of over 5,000 applicants from across East Africa, I was selected to be among 100 young leaders invited to Nairobi, Kenya, to participate in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Cohort 59. I joined the Civic Leadership track, filled with young changemakers from diverse backgrounds, all united by a single mission: to build a better Africa.
I arrived with a vision rooted in the power of words. My project, called Therapoetry, uses poetry as a tool for healing, awareness, and advocacy. It’s a platform where art meets activism, emotions are transformed into dialogue, and silence is broken by verse. To my surprise and deep joy, Therapoetry was ranked first among all cohort projects. That moment reminded me that when used with purpose, creativity is not just art, it’s action.
But YALI wasn’t just about winning, it was about learning. I learned how to design impactful projects, mobilize communities, and lead with integrity. I learned that leadership starts not with a microphone or a title, but with listening deeply and acting with intention.
Shortly after YALI, I was honored to be selected for another incredible opportunity: participating in a program by the African Union’s International Center for Women and Girls’ Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA). This experience expanded my understanding of the power of girls’ education not just as a human right, but as a force that transforms entire societies.
African Union journey
At AU/CIEFFA, I connected with other passionate young advocates who shared a common belief: that when you educate a girl, you empower a generation. The program deepened my commitment to promoting gender equity and gave me new tools to advocate for inclusive education across Rwanda and beyond.
As a poet, actress, and civic leader, I’ve come to understand that these roles are not separate; they are parts of the same voice. Whether on stage, on paper, or in community spaces, I use storytelling as a bridge between pain and healing, ignorance and understanding, silence and action. Through YALI and the African Union, I found both platforms and purpose.
I stand today with greater confidence in my voice, a deeper sense of my vision, and a stronger commitment to building a continent where creativity, leadership, and education are united. Because in the end, leadership is not only about policies and projects. It’s about people. And it begins with believing that your voice, your story, can change the world.
A message to young Rwandans
Don’t wait to be invited to the table, build your own.
You don’t need to be the loudest in the room to lead. Leadership isn’t about titles or perfection’s about taking the first step with courage, even if your voice shakes. I started with a poem and a purpose. You can start with an idea, a question, or a problem you care about.
Apply for programs like YALI. Join youth fellowships, volunteer, and create a project in your community, dream something bold, and back it up with action. You may think you’re not ready, but here’s the truth: no one ever feels 100% ready to lead.
You grow into your purpose as you walk it. What matters is that you start. Whether your voice is in art, tech, farming, activism, or poetry, Africa needs it, and Rwanda needs it. Don’t wait for perfect conditions, don’t wait for someone else to go first, be the spark. Your story matters, your impact is waiting, the time is now, take the first step and keep moving.
