Gratitude has long been a guiding daily practice in my life, so it seems only fitting to begin this fellowship there. As I write this blog, sitting in Rwanda - a place that captured my heart nearly two years ago when I first visited through a cross-cultural leadership program - I can't help but feel overwhelmed with gratitude. The table I'm sitting at right now is the same one where I journaled about my hopes to return one day and work with this very special organization, Shooting Touch. That day has come, and this time, rather than visiting for a few weeks, I will be making my home here for the next eight months as Shooting Touch's Health Operations Fellow.
Being back in Rwanda these past few weeks has felt so familiar that, in some ways, it feels as if no time has passed. The endless hills, countless banana trees, fresh local coffee, warm breeze, vibrant culture, massive Kigali roundabouts, welcoming bus conversations, kindness of strangers, and the power of sport throughout communities all remain just as I remembered. While much feels the same, there is also so much new to learn and explore, and I am both excited and deeply grateful for that.
In the weeks at home in Missouri before I packed up and moved here, amid the chaos of moving back from Tennessee, visiting family and friends, and preparing for the journey ahead, I found myself constantly reflecting on how grateful I am for all the unexpected opportunities that have come into my life over the past few years. Those moments ultimately led me here, stepping once again into the unknown with the chance to learn, grow, and connect with people and communities on the other side of the world. I am humbled by the spaces I have been invited into and the experiences that have stretched me, broadened my perspective, and guided me to this next chapter. I am endlessly grateful for the people who have encouraged me, supported me, and helped me dream bigger than I ever thought I could.
Looking back, my path to Shooting Touch was shaped by a series of moments that required jumping into uncertainty and giving my all, even when I didn’t know where that would lead. Those chances didn’t always unfold as planned, but they consistently brought me exactly where I was meant to be. One of those places was a classroom I could have never imagined myself in – a leadership development program for student-athletes at the University of Tennessee called VOLeaders. It was there that I was first introduced to the sport-for-development model and learned how sport could be used to empower communities, bridge divides, and create sustainable social impact. While I had experienced firsthand how sports build confidence, foster connection, create opportunities and encourage growth, this class expanded my understanding of how sport can reach beyond individual teams and into global change.
It was in that same classroom that I was first introduced to Shooting Touch (ST), which was taught as a model example of sport-for-development. We learned how ST was using basketball as a tool to deliver multifaceted health programming for women and children through intentional, community-centered approaches. With my growing interest in global health and sustainable development, I was immediately drawn to this model and fascinated by how sport could be used to create a healthier, more equitable world.
That interest only deepened after having the opportunity to travel abroad that summer and partner with multiple sport-for-development organizations in three countries throughout Africa – including Shooting Touch in Rwanda. The organization, its mission, and the communities it serves left a lasting impression and a quiet calling to return one day, and I’m blessed to say that day has come.
Photo from my previous visit to Shooting Touch in 2023
Three weeks ago, I sat in the St. Louis airport, anxiously awaiting two days of travel and all that the next few months might hold. Four delayed flights later (but no missed connections!) , I arrived in Kigali with Lily, our Marketing and Development Fellow, whom I met up with along the way. We were greeted by Chloe, who manages the Fellowship Program, and despite our jet-lagged state, we quickly found ourselves diving into a conversation about birding in Rwanda, which I’ve learned is apparently an essential skill while living here and something I’m sure I’ll explore more in another blog. Soon after, Courtney, our returning fellow from the 2025 cohort, joined us, and just like that, our new cohort was complete.
Our fellowship cohort (from right to left)- Courtney (Coco), Lily, and Me
Our first few days were spent finding our footing in Kigali and navigating the essentials: visas, SIM cards, locating the Rwandan “Chipotle,” and other orientation logistics. We also dedicated a great deal of time to conversation and reflection, discussing what brought us here, our roles within Shooting Touch, our goals for the fellowship, and what it means to live and work in Rwanda.
We then began visiting each of our courts, where we were welcomed with open arms. We sang, danced, cheered, and played plenty of basketball. The energy at every court was incredible. At one court in particular, Rukara, women took turns sharing how Shooting Touch has impacted their lives by bringing them together, improving their health outcomes, creating opportunities, and fostering confidence and freedom. Listening to their stories was a powerful reminder that the impact of this work is felt every single day in the communities ST serves.
Our first visit to the Rukara court, where we were warmly welcomed by hundreds of Shooting Touch women
Even as someone without a strong basketball background, I’ve found deep meaning in stepping onto the court each day. Playing alongside our women and children continues to remind me that sport is not just about perfection or performance, but about connection. Basketball creates space for shared joy, trust, and belonging – no matter skill level. Through simply playing together, barriers fall, relationships grow, and community is built.
Visiting different courts and seeing their unique dynamics has also reinforced how important it is for this work to be led by the communities themselves, as even within the same region, each community experiences different challenges and holds different strengths.The people within those communities will always know the best solutions, so our role is to listen, to learn, and to walk alongside through sharing knowledge, supporting existing systems, and working together to fill gaps.
The Shooting Touch I am joining today is one built over the past decade and a half by countless coaches, staff members, community leaders, fellows, donors, and most importantly our dedicated beneficiaries who all have poured their hearts into its mission. The trust that exists within these communities has been built intentionally, year by year, through showing up. I am deeply humbled to step into this legacy and to learn from all who have come before me.
As I settle into my new routine here and begin working alongside our coaches, communities and staff members, I continue to find myself filled with gratitude – for the moments that brought me here, the people who have guided me, and the communities I am privileged to learn from. Each day brings lessons, connections, and moments of joy, and I look forward to sharing all these moments with you along the way.