When I grew up, my mother told me that because our home was close to the construction site, the Chinese workers often came to hold me and play with me. I grew up drinking the clean water brought by the Chinese engineering team. That water flowed into my blood and became part of my life. Their presence, dedication, and warmth left a deep mark on my path of growth. I liked them very much. Wanting to speak Chinese like them, I even invented my own “Chinese” language. Later, I grew up watching Chinese Kung Fu movies, dreaming that one day I would learn Chinese and martial arts so I could express my love and gratitude to the Chinese people. The kindness they showed me and the water I drank since childhood made China a shining dream in my heart.
II. Growing through this path: Completing my education with China’s support
In 2012, for the first time, a faint light of my childhood dream appeared. At the Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda, Dr. Zeng Guangyu and Kung Fu master Cheng Tao guided me into the world of Kung Fu and the Chinese language. The patience, discipline, and trust shaped not only my movements but also my spirit. Two years later, fate gave me an unexpected gift—I was invited to participate in the “Chinese Bridge” competition held in China (Hunan-Changsha) for the first time in the history of Confucius Institute at University of Rwanda. That competition became a key that opened the door to a life-changing opportunity: in 2014, I won a scholarship to study Chinese Language in Beijing.
Stepping onto Chinese soil for the first time felt like entering a living museum of human civilization. Five thousand years of splendid culture unfolded before my eyes. China not only welcomed me but also embraced me gently. The more I learned, the more deeply I understood that China is not just a country on the map—it is a life epic, passed down through generations, written with resilience and hope. In China, I successfully earned my Chinese proficiency, Master’s, and PhD degrees. I gained not only knowledge but also personal growth. My supervisors taught me the power of knowledge, the meaning of responsibility, and the qualities of acting swiftly and bravely taking responsibility—values that have shaped me for life.
During my postgraduate studies, I established an International Students’ Union with the mission of “international students serving international students.” I hoped that every student struggling with language barriers could receive support. What began as a small act of kindness gradually became a bridge connecting cultures and remains a warm home for students to date.
Yet the moment I truly witnessed the “Chinese spirit” was during the outbreak of COVID-19. I saw firsthand the unity, dedication, and courage of the Chinese people. Inspired by this spirit, I launched a “Doctor’s Kitchen” on campus, cooking and delivering meals to students facing food shortages. It was my small way of expressing gratitude to this second homeland that treated me like its own child.
Studying in China became a journey of my intellectual growth and spiritual transformation. Through Kung Fu and the Chinese language, the dreams of my childhood finally found their wings. The leadership, decisiveness, and action-oriented mindset that China instilled in me have shaped the person I have become today. These priceless gifts from China will forever illuminate the path of my life.
III. Fulfilled through this Mission: Dedicating myself to advancing local Chinese language education
More precious than achievements is the global “circle of friends” I built through Chinese language and Kung Fu. These two treasures of Chinese culture not only taught me knowledge and skills but also served as a golden key that opened the door to others’ hearts. They allowed me to truly enter a community that was once unfamiliar but later became my second home.
After returning to my homeland, Rwanda, I could not bear to see this connection slowly fade with time. I wanted more people to experience the warmth, sense of belonging, and strength that China had given me. Therefore, I founded a Chinese language center in Rwanda, hoping to pass on China’s beauty and build “Chinese Bridges” for more dreamers seeking a path to China.
From the moment I was born, I drank the water brought by Chinese engineers. That water flowed through my childhood and into my very blood. Later, in China, I earned my master’s and doctoral degrees—experiences that shaped and made me who I am today.
From the moment I was born and drank the water brought by Chinese engineers—water that flowed through my childhood and into my bloodstream—to earning my Master’s and PhD degrees in China, which shaped who I am today. Chinese and Kung Fu then became part of my daily life, a living part of my soul. So, when I say the words, “I am the best Made in China,” it is spoken with pride and with gratitude. It is the story of my life’s journey.
Today, my life is inseparable from China. This encounter has changed my destiny—an encounter that will never fade, and that continues to illuminate my future.
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