I want to share this article written by my intern, Melissa Ingabire. She has been with me since June, and has helped us with both organizing of the Itafari office, and my personal office, and supporting us in our great work.

Reflections by Melissa Ingabire, Itafari Intern 2014

“Itafari is a gift to the people of Rwanda as Rwanda is a gift to me!”

~ Victoria Trabosh

Ten trips to Rwanda in nine years, and Trabosh is still moving forward. Over the last decade Itafari made a significant difference with the people of Rwanda.

Kigali Parents Secondary School is a dream of Principal Charles Mutazihana who started Kigali Parents Primary School in the 1990s. Itafari supports his vision and donates heavily to their program. Itafari was instrumental in getting the Secondary School started, though the project is headed by Kigali Parents Primary School.  Principal Charles has told Victoria that without Itafari’s support they wouldn’t have received the financing they needed.

The anticipated opening of the school is Spring 2015.  This is a project Itafari is particularly proud of because they believe that to support education is crucial to restoring Rwanda and in line with Rwanda’s Vision 2020 plan.

“The eradication of poverty will be through education. Never have I ever seen a child more eager to learn than in Rwanda,” says co-founder Victoria. “I know that I am meeting the future leaders of the world, not just the country of Rwanda.”

The people of Rwanda have not let the devastation of the 1994 genocide define them.  This is a country and people who don’t need your pity. Rather they want your compassion so that you will not share their grief, but take action and support them in building dreams for their country, families and themselves.

“What keeps me motivated? The people of Rwanda,” Victoria says without hesitation. “I am a busy woman, but whenever I am tired I see the faces of people that put their trust in me. I believe in their vision and know Itafari must continue to support them and their dreams. As a parent, grandmother, and woman seeing my contribution live beyond me is one of the most satisfying things in the world.”

I am the author of this article, Melissa Ingabire.  I am Rwandese American. Though I was born in Rwanda, my knowledge of the country is limited because I came to America when I was one years old. I will never truly know the circumstances my people live in, or their struggle. Naturally I feel an allegiance to them, to do something to help, which is also an expectation.  Rwandans take pride in caring for their own. If you are dirt poor you will feed a starving child even if you can barely feed your own.

I began interning for Victoria just this summer, but I have know her as my muzungu (white) grandma for almost my entire life. We met ten years ago when Itafari was just starting.

I am astounded that this is the same woman who ten years ago didn’t even know where Rwanda was. The same woman who used to come into my home once a week for Kinyarwanda (one of the languages spoken in Rwanda) lessons from my Mom. She had no connections to the country but a desire to help the people of Rwanda, my people.

And therein lies wisdom. You don’t need to know the people, you don’t need to know the language, you don’t even need to know where the country is. Just hold compassion in your heart and be willing to help them, not pity them.  The people of Rwanda do not want pity or charity. What they do want is your support in helping build a school to educate their children, which will make a much greater impact in their lives than any handout.