Sarah’s Story

“I used to believe nothing would come out of my life,” Sarah Mylove recalls. “I believed I had nothing valuable to contribute.”

Born in Rwanda, Sarah grew up in a middle-class family, the third of five children. But by the age of thirteen, she had lost both parents, becoming an orphan at a pivotal stage in her life. “As a child, I used to lack confidence due to the conditions I was in. I couldn’t even speak where other people were.”

Today, she is an educator, boldly sharing her knowledge and encouraging students to see their potential.

Rwanda, the country she loves, is a place of resilience and rebuilding. But Sarah is also deeply familiar with the struggles many families face. Reflecting on her childhood, she shares, “There were children who were not confident enough to show their capabilities, many families that were not living well together, financial issues in families, and limited knowledge among parents.”

Having to rely on community members instead of parents growing up, Sarah understands the struggles faced by children without stable support systems. “There are children out of school and parents with limited awareness of what they can do. I could relate to that, but then I discovered that we all have abilities to lead ourselves and shape our lives.”

Even before she recognized it, leadership was part of Sarah’s life. “As a kid, my peers often elected me to represent them in our village or at church, but I never thought I could do it,” she admits. “Lacking parental support, I felt like stepping into leadership would be thinking too highly of myself. But even though I was nervous and shaking, I kept doing it.”

In high school, Sarah encountered Youth Impact Mission (YIM), a youth ministry focused on emerging leaders. She learned about Kurumbuka and its Trek program for young adults through YIM. “Because I still had challenges in my leadership and self-confidence, I believed that joining Trek could grow my abilities and the impact I want to make in the world.”

Her excitement upon joining Trek was immediate. “I was meeting different people with different ideas,” she says, “but most importantly, I found Kurumbuka to be a family that prays. It was drawing me closer to God. From the very first day in class, I felt like something exceptional was going to happen—something that would manifest in different ways and benefit others.”

Trek transformed her understanding of leadership. “Back in high school, I believed a leader was someone who gives orders and others act on them, someone more powerful than everyone else, someone who can’t be advised,” she reflects. “But at Trek, I learned that leadership isn’t about a title. A leader is someone who helps others, who works with others, and who brings ideas together to create change. And most importantly, a good leader prays and invites God into all their plans.”

Trek left a lasting impact on Sarah by shaping her leadership and giving her a place of belonging. “The first thing was being part of a family and gaining parental figures and true brothers and sisters,” she shares. “I used to be sad and isolate myself, but my cohort reminded me that I am capable, valuable, and useful to others. I started believing in myself again.”

Her leadership growth also shaped her career path. “I chose education because I noticed how influential this profession is to communities and the entire nation,” she says. “At Trek, I learned that a teacher is essential to every aspect of life. Regardless of who you are—a leader, a president— everyone needs a teacher. Because of that, I realized I could contribute to the Rwandan society, especially the younger generation with big dreams.”

Beyond teaching, Trek also helped Sarah rediscover her passion for poetry. “When I was young, I had several gifts— singing, acting, writing—but in Trek, we were taught to focus on our greatest strength. In high school, whenever we had poetry competitions, I always excelled and received awards. Because of that, I decided to focus more on poetry. Even after Trek, I continued participating in poetry competitions and realized I needed to give this gift more attention.”

Her poetry even led to new opportunities. Invited to share her work on national television, Sarah was soon asked to become a teacher at a middle school in a rural Rwandan community. “I have a job. I am putting my gifts to good use. I am a good leader who listens to people. I am able to do what I love,” she reflects. “I find myself in a community of students and teachers, and a loving environment. I am no longer lonely as I used to be before joining Trek. Trek helped me discover my purpose.”

Sarah’s impact doesn’t stop in the classroom. Inspired by Trek, she visits families in her community. “I get to visit families where children have dropped out of school and encourage them to return. Being a teacher and my role in the community is an opportunity to fight illiteracy.”

Sarah’s life has been shaped by resilience, from the little girl who used to shake at the thought of leading her peers to the courageous and compassionate leader she is today. “With the leadership training I received, I realized that a great leader is someone who transforms others and helps them grow—to help the most vulnerable in the community and those suffering injustice.”

When sharing her dream for the future, Sarah says, “I want to see a Rwanda where there is no more illiteracy in communities. That is what drives me every day—to see children go to school and help them become confident young people who know their potential.”