NADIA

Age: 17
From: Northern Province, Musanza District, Muhoza Sector
Grade: Isonga (EY)
ASYV Family: Saint Annibale
Goal: I want to go into tourism, be a tour guide in National Parks, I like English and talking to people
Role Model: St Annibale because he was a very good man who helped people without parents and no money to live
Hobbies: playing basketball, enjoying the company of friends and giving advice and helping others with their problems

Every Saturday morning, the students of each grade participate in Mucaka-Mucaka (moo-CHAK-ah moo-CHAK-ah). Students gather at their grade’s designated meeting spot in the Village at 5:45am (yes, you read that correctly) and begin to run together as a group out of the Village and to one of the nearby towns, Rubona or Bicumbi, with each grade heading to different end points in town. What is so amazing about this run is that it is truly a group endeavor. The students embark on a slow running pace in order to ensure that everyone in the grade (120+ students) are all actually running all together. There is a no man left behind mentality and it is truly inspiring to see and be a part of. Each week, we joined the Enrichment Year (Isonga) grade for Mucaka-Mucaka and found ourselves running alongside Nadia. She was at the front of the pack, where we were also running, as we struggled with the slow group pace (I’m not a runner, not even close – but even I found it difficult at first to run at this turtle’s pace and had to actively hold myself back from running ahead of the group). Nadia caught my attention immediately because, at 5:45 in the morning, she was all smiles. Running at the front of the pack, she was also managing the pace of the group, constantly looking back to make sure that the group was still running together and slowing the runners at the front if needed. She was not afraid to keep Andrew and I in check, telling us to slow down when we found ourselves running a bit too fast and pushing the pace of the group faster than they could handle. It is clear that Nadia is in shape and could have completed the runs in less time, but she is bought into the idea of the Mucaka-Mucaka and each week, as her grade run out through the gates of Agahozo Shalom, she dedicates herself to something bigger; her community.