Day 6: Nyamata Genocide Memorial
Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Today was one of the most emotionally difficult days of this journey.
After visiting the families from MindLeaps, I have not been able to stop thinking about them. Their stories have stayed with me long after we left. As I reflect on their needs and challenges they face, I find myself thinking about how I can continue supporting them beyond this trip. Whether through a scholarship fund, a nonprofit organization, financial literacy programs, or housing assistance, I am beginning to see ways that my professional experience in finance, budgeting, project management, and volunteer work could potentially create a lasting impact. While I do not yet know exactly what that looks like, I know that this experience has planted a seed that will continue to grow long after I return home.
Today we visited the Nyamata Genocide Memorial, one of Rwanda’s memorial sites dedicated to preserving the memory of more than 800,000 people who lost their lives during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. The visit was incredibly difficult to process. Learning how colonial influences contributed to division between the Hutu and Tutsi people provided important historical context, but seeing the physical evidence of the violence made the tragedy feel even more real.
Standing outside the church and see how grenades were used to force entry into a place, a sanctuary, where people sought refuge was heartbreaking. Walking inside, there was a profound sense of sorrow and unrest. The piles of clothing upon the church pews was a powerful reminder that each item belonged to a person with a name, a family, and a future that was taken away. Seeing the remains, skulls, and bones preserved below the church, along with the stories of those who perished, was overwhelming. The memorial honors the victims, but it also confronts visitors with the devastating consequences of hatred, division, and dehumanization.
As difficult as today was, it also reinforced an important lesson about leadership beyond boarders. I found myself thinking deeply about the power of leadership, both its positive and negative potential.
The genocide serves as a devastating example of what can happen when leadership is rooted in division, fear, and the pursuit of power than than the well-being of people. Those in positions of influence used their authority to dehumanize others, fuel hatred, and encouage actions that were not in the best interest of humanity. It is a sobering reminder that leadership is neither inherently good nor bad; rather, its impact is determined by the values and ethics of those who wield it.
At the same time, today’s visit challenged me to consider what responsible leadership should look like. True leadership seeks to unite rather than divide, to elevate rather than oppress, and to create opportunities for others to thrive. It requires empathy, integrity, courage, and a commitment to serving the greater good, even when doing so is difficult. As I think about the families we have met and the communities we visited, I am reminded that leadership is ultimately about people. The kind of leader I aspire to be is one who uses influence to build stronger communities, create pathways for opportunity, and leave people better than I found them.
In many ways, today’s experience reinforced my belief that leadership is not measured by authority or positions, but by the positive impact we have on the lives of others.
