Youth Leadership and Local Impact: A Journey to Rwanda

Small, Local, Personal 

I used to think that “making a difference” was just a phrase people said, or something only adults with money, influence, or a platform could accomplish. But over my two years working as a member of the Youth Advisory Board with GO Campaign, I learned that real change is made by Local Heroes, those who quietly, without fanfare, make their communities a better, stronger, and safer place. GO Campaign taught me to look for the Local Heroes, to support them, and to emulate the qualities they embody so that I, too, can be a Local Hero. Local Heroes are the real power brokers in communities all over the world. They come in all forms and all backgrounds but share a philosophy -- change starts small, stays local, and is personal. 

This realization is what’s taking me to Rwanda this summer. 

Over my time with GO Campaign, I was inspired by individuals within under-resourced and marginalized communities who against all odds made a real, tangible difference in their communities. It was not always the big international groups with massive budgets that made the most difference, but the smaller, often overlooked efforts, rooted in relationships that were the real change makers. Each Local Hero we learned about was a part of the very community they served. They understood the community. They listened. They built trust. They thought creatively. They sacrificed. I learned that it is not about posturing about solutions from a distance; it’s about showing up, learning, and contributing in ways that actually matter to the people involved. 

This summer, I’ll be working with a bishop in Rwanda who is focused on educating children in his community. Education is not just about academics; for these children, it is about opportunity, stability, and hope in places where those things are often uncertain. The bishop is just like the Local Heroes that GO Campaign taught me to look for – he is the kind of local leader that creates a ripple effect that extends far beyond any classroom. I will be immersed in the community, living among the boarding students at the school along with being fully immersed in the culture, food, history of Rwanda. 

I think there is a tendency, especially among young people, to feel like we need to wait to “make a difference.” Imposture syndrome is real; we tend to think that older, more qualified, more experienced people should lead the way. However, I think that it is the opposite. Young people have curiosity, openness, and willingness to step into unfamiliar spaces and take chances unsaddled by the burden of the way things have always been done. We are uniquely situated to “make a difference.” I don’t have to lead a nonprofit or start a global movement. “Making a difference” can be as simple as showing up, asking questions, and being willing to learn from people whose experiences are very different from your own. 

This trip is exactly that for me. And with every step, I will remember that change starts small, stays local, and is personal.