I have been seeking the opportunity to return to the continent of Africa ever since my return from Kenya at the end of December 2012, and, with hard work and support from my family and friends I've landed one of my dream jobs: Program Manager of a nonprofit based in Africa!
Specifically, I now work for Kids Play International, an organization that aims to promote gender equality and empower kids through coed sports in Rwanda. Using sport as a catalyst for social change means more to me now than it would have a few years ago, because I discovered my love of coed competitive sports when I joined Beehive Sport and Social Club. Beehive exposed me to sports I never considered trying, such as flag football, softball, and dodgeball. I considered myself uncoordinated and incapable of taking on any sport that introduced a ball into the basic format, but Beehive encouraged me to try new things by introducing me to people who didn't judge my mistakes and whose cheering gave me the confidence I needed to step up and perform.
This will be a major challenge, as I have always been a very social person and I will be spending a lot of time alone. But, I love myself and am ready to see this as an opportunity for personal growth (as well as professional growth). I'm loading lots of books onto my kindle, I've updated my music collection, and I'm bringing 2 of my favorite board games (for when I meet a friend who would like to play). I look forward to living simply and spending time with kids who don't spend hours playing video games, or using the computer, or using phone apps.
At some point this year, I'd like to travel to Tanzania (a country which borders Rwanda) to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and take a shorter trip to Northern Rwanda to see where the largest long-haired gorilla population in the world resides. But the place I am most excited to spend my time at is not these cool tourist attractions, but in the rural villages meeting the locals and doing my best to learn the native tongue there (Kinyarwanda).
I have so much more to share about my job with Kids Play International (KPI) in the village of Gatagara, Rwanda, but I hope this blog gets you excited to read my forthcoming blogs and share this adventure with me!
~Stacy Gray
