“We may speak different languages and have different life experiences but at the end of the day we’re all so alike.”

I was at Lycée de Ruhango Ikirezi TVET college, where I helped my tandem team partner provide Sage 100 and QuickBooks software training for the accounting teaching staff. My main tasks were to prepare and revise the training documents and draw up exercises and example questions. I also helped show the teachers how to use the software during the training sessions.

I’d learned about bookkeeping and accounting as a student, obviously, but I didn’t have much hands-on experience. In particular, I’d never used accounting software. So there was a lot for me to learn too. But with my tandem team partner’s help and the theoretical knowledge I’d gained at uni, it didn’t take long to get to grips with the software.

I’d also worked in teaching in the past so I was able to give a few tips about that. Apart from that, one of the most popular topics in my conversations with my colleagues was the differences between Rwanda and Germany. Things like how schooling works and what’s considered particularly important.

I’m fascinated by other cultures. But as a tourist you rarely get a chance to immerse yourself in the lives the locals live and have in-depth conversations with them. That’s why I was eager to do an international placement before I finished university. The AGYO gave me the opportunity to do that while also making a long-lasting contribution to development cooperation work.

How clean the country is. People in Rwanda are really aware of the need for cleanliness and climate protection. Plastic packaging is banned, for instance, and there’s an event called “Umuganda” on the last Saturday of the month. Everyone does something to help keep the country clean. Even the buses don’t run because absolutely everyone does their bit to help improve the country. We in Germany could take a leaf out of their book!

Barbara has a lot of experience in software training. So it was always interesting to hear about that and I benefited from her practical experience and what she was able to tell me.

Don’t be afraid of the unknown! With the AGYO and an SES expert at your side, you’ll be equipped for anything and I guarantee you’ll be welcomed with open arms. The locals will be eager to meet you and both sides can learn so much from one another.

1. How to deliver software training successfully.
2. You can overcome any situation by being friendly and optimistic.
3. We may speak different languages and have different life experiences but at the end of the day we’re all so alike.

The people I met are all so hard-working and ambitious. But they’re also full of joy and optimism and always eager to help each other. Rwanda has a very young population and those traits are certain to help them take their country far. I will definitely never forget their beaming faces.