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Learning to Stop, Learning to Start Again
On April 30th, 2024, I started my first driving class in Italy. It was a big step, not because I didn’t know how to drive, but because I had to begin from zero. Despite having driven for over 15 years in Malawi and holding a license there, the Italian government didn’t recognize it. A friend… Continue reading
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The Power Dynamics of Giving and Receiving
Watching the conversation last week between Donald Trump, his Vice President, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, I couldn’t help but reflect on the unequal power dynamics between those who give and those who receive. The world often expects recipients of aid to remain silent, humble to the point of invisibility. A donor’s generosity is rarely… Continue reading
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The Imperfect Fighters
I had the privilege of spending a powerful day at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, surrounded by inspiring human rights defenders from across the world. Outside the conference center, hundreds of Iranians had gathered, waving flags and chanting in solidarity with their Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi. Their passion was electrifying, but it… Continue reading
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Who Funds the War Between Us?
About ten years ago, a friend gave me a copy of Against All Hope: Hope for Africa. I remember reading it and breaking down in tears not because it revealed anything new, but because it confirmed what I had always known: Africa has everything it needs to thrive, yet we remain the richest beggars on… Continue reading
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31st December: A Day of Cows, Community, and Celebration
As a child in the refugee settlement of Kenya Tanganyika in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 31st December was the day when our little corner of the world turned into a festival of joy. It wasn’t just the end of the year; it was the culmination of months of effort and the highlight of my… Continue reading
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Christmas: A Season for Everyone
Christmas is a time when the world collectively pauses to celebrate. It is the most followed and commercialized season on Earth, transcending borders, beliefs, and backgrounds. Yet at its core, Christmas is a profound reminder of a story that changed history, a story about Jesus, the refugee Son of God. Born in a humble manger,… Continue reading
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Eloquent in public, chaotic in practice
Two days ago, on October 17th, I reported for the opening ceremony of the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Banjul, Gambia. As delegates from across Africa; government officials, civil society organizations, media, and international agencies gathered to collect their name tags, what should have been a simple… Continue reading
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Let me know how I can help
In 2006, I experienced for the first time the well-meaning but often harmful phrase, “Let me know how I can help.” I had just begun working on a non-profit to support refugees, driven by passion and a pressing need to make a difference. After sharing my vision with a young missionary, she was moved by… Continue reading
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A visit from a mother who didn’t give me life
Yesterday, I said goodbye to someone incredibly special, a mother figure, a family member, though we share no DNA. She was the first person to visit me and my family since we escaped from Malawi, and her presence meant more than words could express. In 2007, during one of her regular trips to Malawi with… Continue reading
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The three lenses of wisdom
Yesterday, my pastor introduced a new series titled “Get Smart,” inspired by the book of Proverbs. While she explored various paths to gaining wisdom, it was her mention of three particular words: insight, foresight, and hindsight that truly resonated with me. These concepts lingered in my mind long after the sermon ended, prompting deeper reflection.… Continue reading
Thriving Through Trials 