ONLY RISE: My Journey, My Voice, My Rwanda

There’s a fire that lives in me. A quiet, steady kind of fire—born from where I come from, shaped by what I’ve seen, and fueled by what I believe must change.

I come from Rwanda. A place that carries both deep wounds and deep strength. I was raised in a country that had every reason to give up—but chose to rise instead. And that spirit—that choice to rise—is something I hold close in everything I do.

I didn’t grow up surrounded by ease. What I had was hunger. A hunger for more. For better. A hunger to solve the kind of problems that don’t make it into headlines but affect real people.

That’s where my path began. Not from a clear plan, but from a feeling. A refusal to stay still. A decision to roll up my sleeves and start shaping the world I wanted to see.

I’ve always believed in the power of *Kwisobanukirwa*—a deep understanding of your own worth. That dignity is something we’re born with, not something we have to earn. And even when life tries to take it from us, we can hold on to it. That belief became my fuel. My foundation.

I use design as my tool, but what I’m really working with is dignity. I don’t care about trends or applause. I care about people. About real stories. About creating things that make others feel seen, respected, and empowered. I believe design should be simple, human, and honest. It shouldn’t feel distant or unreachable. It should be something that meets people where they are.

I’m here to build, To create a legacy that starts from the ground, from the everyday, from home. I represent a generation of young Rwandans who are not waiting to be discovered. We’re already doing the work. We’re already rising.

And when I say *Only Rise*, I mean it with my whole soul. I’ve lived it. I’m still living it. It’s not just a phrase—it’s a promise I made to myself. That no matter what comes, I will rise—and I’ll bring others with me.

I’m building something from fire and faith. From dignity. From the story of a girl who believed she could create something different—not because the world was ready, but because she was.

And if you’re reading this, maybe you’re feeling it too.

So here’s what I’ll always say:

Rise. No matter what. Only rise.