Day 1-2: The Journey Begins
Rwanda 2026 | Leadership Beyond Boarders
Tuesday - Wednesday, April 12th - 13th, 2026
Some journeys begin when you arrive at your destination. Others begin the moment you step away from what is familiar.
For me, the journey to Rwanda started long before I packed a suitcase or stepped foot in an airport. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to visit Africa. There was a curiosity about its history, the people, the cultures, and most importantly, a desire to better understand where I come from.
Over the years, I often imagined what the first trip might look like. Yet life has a way of reminding us that some opportunities arrive not when we expect them, but when we are ready for them. Looking back now, I can clearly see that this journey happened in God’s timing.
As a current MBA candidate at Mercer University, pursuing a concentration in Integrative Business, I was presented with an incredible opportunity through Mercer on Mission. From the moment I learned about the program, I felt an immediate connection to its purpose. The opportunity aligned so closely with my personal values, professional aspirations, and desire to serve others that I knew it was something I had to pursue.
One of the reasons I chose the Integrative Business concentration is because its focuses on understanding how people, organizations, communities, and systems work together to create meaningful outcomes. Throughout my studies, I have explored topics such as leadership, economics, accounting, international business, supply chain, accounting, organizational behavior, and strategy. nMore importantly I have learned that the most impactful solutions often emerge when we view challenges through multiple perspectives rather than a single lens.
That philosophy closely mirrors how I approach life. I have always been passionate about service, volunteerism, education, leadership, and learning from others. I believe each person has a story worth hearing and something valuable to teach, regardless of their background, profession, education level, or life experience. Some of life’s greatest lessons come from being willing to listen and learn.
Mercer On Mission represented the perfect intersection of those passions. It offered an opportunity to travel, serve, learn, teach, and immerse myself in culture different from my own while working alongside people whose experiences and perspectives could challenge and expand my understanding of the world. Rather than simply studying concepts like leadership, economic development, and social impact in the classroom, I would have the opportunity to practice.
When I recieved notice that I had been accepted into the program, I was overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude. What began as a dream of one day visiting Africa was becoming a reality, and I knew this journey would be about much more than travel.
As the departure date approached, the trip became increasingly personal. Like many African Americans, there are parts of my family history that are difficult to trace beyond a certain point. Over the years, I have spent time researching my ancestry and learning more about my family’s origins, hoping to better understand the story that existed long before my own.
As I prepare for this journey, I revisit my ancestry results and am intrigued to learn more about my connections to the Bantu people, one of the largest ethnoliguistic groups in Africa. The Bantu migration shaped much of Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, and their influence can be seen throughout the region, including Rwanda. While ancestry results cannot tell the complete story of a person’s heritage, the connection adds another layer of meaning to this experience.
For me, Rwanda is no longer simply a destination on a map. It represents an opportunity to stand on a continent that has played a role in the story of my ancestors and to experience firsthand some of the cultures, traditions, and histories that have influenced generations of people across Africa.
This trip feels larger than travel. It feels like an opportunity to deepen my understanding of identity, culture, and community. It’s a chance to learn from people whose experiences are different from my own, while embracing the connections that unite us across geography, history, and generations.
I find myself reflecting on the purpose of our visit. We are traveling to Rwanda, a country that has experienced both unimaginable tragedy and extraordinary transformation. During our time here, we will have the privilege of meeting individuals whose lives have been impacted by the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi, as well as a new generation working to shape Rwanda’s future.
I feel a responsibility to approach this experience with humility, to listen more than I speak, to learn more than I teach, and to honor the stories of the people that I meet along the way.
Departure
April 12th - 13th, 2026
Our travel route takes us from Atlanta to Chicago, Chicago to Brussels, and finally Brussels to Kigali, spending more than 30 hours traveling across continents, time zones, and cultures. With each flight, I noticed subtle changes in the environment around me. The languages spoken, the accents heard over conversations, the food served, the passengers boarding the aircraft, and even the pace and style of service all reflected the diversity of the world beyond my everyday experiences. Each stop reminded me that, through globalization, the world is incredibly connected. Within a matter of hours, we could travel thousands of miles and find ourselves immersed in entirely different cultures, histories, and ways of life.
As I sat on the plane reflecting on the journey ahead, I found myself overwhelmed with gratitude. For many years, I had dreamed of visiting Africa. The thing felt intentional. What had once seemed like a distant aspiration had become a reality.
Day 2 - 8pm RST, We landed in Kigali! I sensed that Rwanda would leave a lasting impact on me.
