What is your favorite travel memory?
My favorite travel memory is the day I visited Ndere Cultural Centre in Uganda. I enjoyed seeing the comedian who was also acting as the master of ceremony. He had such funny jokes that the audience almost died from laughter.
The troupe performed the Baganda’s traditional dances with dancing styles from different parts of Uganda and simulated the Rwandan traditional dance “intore” and Burundian drumming. I had fun and also enjoyed their evening barbecue.
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
International experiences are priceless. GEI has taught me that there is no special way of doing great things and exposed me to different life-changing learning opportunities. I have also been informed of fantastic stories that I did not even know about Rwanda, my own country.
I now believe that there are many wonderful things everywhere. I have learned to embrace diversity and realized that, beyond our differences, we are all the same.
I realize now that we can collaborate to create the positive impacts we want to see in our communities.
My driving force is my desire to positively impact people and no longer limited to my immediate environment. GEI is a nice experience for both my professional development and my personal life outside work.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
All GEI programs are great. Each of them has a specific purpose with learning and exchange opportunities. If I am to choose one, I would love to go on an internship program such as the Global Mental Health Internships in Rwanda. The internship programs help international students to learn from our local organizations in their academic fields and immerse themselves in a different culture and developing country.
In addition, it is a nice experience for both local hosts and international students to exchange ideas and get exposed to new practical skills, new cultures, and a different working environment in their field. The internship model definitely provides students the opportunity to develop practical skills.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
Everybody deserves a travel learning opportunity. GEI has been successful in engaging international students and professionals in different learning and exchange programs in developing countries and showcasing the work being done by those countries towards sustainable development.
This is the unique opportunity to learn from developing countries and share experiences through study abroad and volunteering programs. I always feel proud of my team whenever I think of the many times I see my superiors working extra hours without complaining and always focusing on how to make possible arrangements to satisfy our clients’ needs and get the work done well. Their commitment to work, courage and their will to help and serve are impressive.