Standing With Vulnerable Young People: Gains From My Visit to Huye

It was on 12 September 2026 when I arrived in Huye District, Mukura Sector, as part of my internship experience. It was my first time visiting Huye, and I was grateful for the opportunity to step outside my usual environment and experience community work in a practical setting.

During the visit, I encountered young people living in circumstances that reminded me of the importance of compassion, community support, and service. I saw children with different needs and different backgrounds, and what touched my heart most was realizing that every young person has a story and deserves to be treated with dignity, care, and understanding.

The experience also gave me a deeper appreciation of the work being done by the Salesians and their partners to support children and vulnerable communities. Seeing these efforts in practice helped me understand that community development is not something that can only be learned in a classroom. It requires people who are willing to go into communities, listen, serve, and contribute their time and resources.

What touched me most was seeing how small acts of support can make a meaningful difference. Food, clothing, school materials, and other forms of assistance may appear simple, but for a young person or family experiencing difficulties, such support can bring comfort, encouragement, and hope.

At the same time, the visit taught me that every community has its own realities. The needs of young people are not always the same, and this means that effective community work requires us to listen carefully and understand the people we are serving. This is something I hope to continue learning during my internship.

I also learned that supporting vulnerable young people is not only about providing immediate necessities. It is about believing in their potential. Young people need opportunities to learn, develop skills, build confidence, and imagine a better future for themselves.

My time in Huye therefore became more than simply a community visit. It became a learning experience that showed me what leadership looks like in practical and real-life circumstances. As an intern, I am learning that leadership means being willing to listen, observe, serve, collaborate, and learn from the people and communities around us.

I am grateful to the Salesians for the opportunity to witness this work and to learn from their community engagement. The experience has encouraged me to look at vulnerable young people not only through the challenges they face, but also through the potential they carry.

A Call to Stand Together

Vulnerable young people need all of us. They need communities that believe in them, organizations that support them, donors who continue to invest in their wellbeing, and leaders who are willing to listen to their voices.

My experience in Huye reminded me that when people come together with a spirit of service, compassion, and solidarity, they can create meaningful opportunities for young people.

The young people we serve today are the leaders, parents, professionals, entrepreneurs, and community builders of tomorrow. Supporting them is therefore not only an act of kindness it is an investment in the future of our communities.

This experience has strengthened my desire to continue learning, serving, and contributing positively wherever I can. Most importantly, it taught me that sometimes leadership begins simply with seeing someone, listening to them, and choosing to care.

BY: ANSIMA BAGANDA JESSICA

        Student/Intern

         African Leadership University (ALU)

          Kigali-Rwanda