And Thats a Wrap - The NYU Capstone Experience

Jules - Foundation Rwanda's Founder and Executive Director - best describes our productive adventure in her generous FB status post shortly after returning back to New York:

Dear NYU Capstone Foundation Rwanda Team: You interviewed 25 FR mothers, 12 FR students, 4 FR NGO partners & countless possible partners, you traveled to places in Rwanda most have yet to go, you barely slept, you never complained, you advocated for jobs, health, counseling, vocational training and higher education. Together we laughed and we cried. Sam, Sara and I will forever be grateful for this experience and for each one of you. With gratitude. Laura, Shalane, Alyson, Eras and Priscilla. See you all in NYC! x

Its unbelievable the Team has only been here for less than 2 weeks, because considering how much work we’ve accomplished it feels like we’ve been here for over a month. In 13 days (which by the way we worked through 13 days straight with no day off), between our team of five we probably conducted almost 50 interviews, partially due to unexpected interviews set up with potential partners we gained knowledge of while on the ground. 

Along the way we met some of the most inspiring women and were lucky enough to experience both modern and rural living - home-cooked local Rwanda meals from the villages of Kibuye to home-cooked meals in one of the most luxurious houses I never imagined I'd see in the business district of Kigali.

A friend of mine said when I returned from Rwanda she felt there was something different about me. She said she felt as if I glowing with new-found energy, and she's exactly right. There was a point in time that we were heading back to Kigali from our trip to Kibuye, riding in the back of a Toyota 4-wheel drive and bouncing around until we were carsick from the bumpy roads, and having a conversation about where we saw ourselves after graduation. Without a doubt the Capstone experience in Rwanda reaffirmed that working "in the field" is where I'm most alive and where I belong. I want place all my professional energy engaging with communities from cultures most different from me, not behind a desk with no human interaction. So thank you Capstone, but most importantly thank you Foundation Rwanda.