By: Victoria Trabosh

I never set out to become a humanitarian. I wasn’t looking for a cause. But sometimes, life opens a door you didn’t know was there and once you step through, you’re never the same.

I’m a certified executive coach, international speaker, bestselling author, and creator of the AdFARsity™ framework. With over 40 years of leadership experience, I’ve trained changemakers from boardrooms to global summits. But no board meeting, keynote, or coaching session has ever moved me the way Rwanda did.

One Word Changed Everything

Back in 2004, I attended a World Vision luncheon in Portland, Oregon. I walked in expecting to learn about global aid programs. Instead, I met a woman named Rita Ngarambe, a Rwandan leader running a microfinance program for genocide survivors. When I introduced myself, she responded with a phrase that felt less like conversation and more like destiny: “I will be your mother.”

In that moment something shifted. We spoke about purpose, hope, and the cost of waiting for change, for justice, for healing. When she invited me to Rwanda, I said yes before logic could argue.

Bricks and Breakthroughs

To prepare for my first trip, I hosted a fundraiser called Brick by Brick. There was no fancy dinner, just a dessert buffet, 200 donated DVDs of Hotel Rwanda, and a crowd of women ready to listen and act. By the end of the night, we raised $23,000. Every guest left with a brick, a literal reminder of both the burdens people carry and the hope we can build together.

Later that year, I stood on Rwandan soil with Rita. I saw firsthand how microloans were lifting women out of poverty. How child-headed households were raising goats to survive. How joy persisted despite unfathomable loss. I returned home transformed.

The Itafari Years

In 2005, I co-founded the Itafari Foundation, named after the Kinyarwanda word for “brick.” Our goal was simple: listen to what Rwandans said they needed and support them in building their vision. Over the next 11 years, we funded:

• Microfinance programs for women entrepreneurs
• Child sponsorships
• Goat cooperatives
• High school construction
• Import of artisan crafts to support local economies

We raised over $1.5 million with zero paid staff and less than 6% in overhead. It wasn’t charity, it was partnership. And in 2016, we closed the foundation intentionally. Our mission had been fulfilled. I believe in completing things well.

Rwanda Then and Now

Since that first trip, I’ve visited Rwanda 13 times. I’ve cried at genocide memorials and danced with women in cooperatives. I’ve spoken at the United Nations on Rwandan Remembrance Day. I’ve walked alongside people who refused to be defined by their pain.

Today, Rwanda is a beacon of progress. It’s the safest country in Africa, offers free education through grade 12, and leads the world in female parliamentary representation. It’s rolling out digital infrastructure in rural villages and has one of the cleanest capital cities on the continent.

What Rwanda Taught Me About Coaching

Many people know me for my leadership coaching. What they don’t always realize is how much of that wisdom came from Rwanda. The AdFARsity™ framework I developed is rooted in awareness, resilience, and aligned action and was directly shaped by what I saw and felt there.

I teach leaders how to finish well. Rwanda taught me what that truly means.
I teach the power of presence. Rwanda showed me how to hold space for grief and still stand tall in joy. 

I teach bold vision. Rwanda lives it.

An Invitation to Go Deeper

In October 2025, I’ll return to Rwanda, and this time, I’m inviting others to come with me. We’re designing a leadership journey that’s more than cultural immersion. It’s an opportunity to listen deeply, connect meaningfully, and grow personally. We’ll meet with community leaders, explore cooperatives, visit sacred sites, and even trek into the forest to see the famed mountain gorillas.

This isn’t about saving anyone. It’s about expanding what’s possible within ourselves.

The Legacy We Choose

When people ask me what Rwanda gave me, I always say the same thing: it rewired my soul. It showed me what transformation looks like, not in theory, but in people, brick by brick. It reminded me that no matter what you’ve been through, your future is not defined by your past.

Leadership, to me, isn’t about titles or accomplishments. It’s about showing up when it’s inconvenient. Listening when it’s uncomfortable. And building something that lasts, even if your name is never on the plaque.

So I ask you: Where is life inviting you to listen more deeply? To say yes, even before you know the map?

Rwanda was that invitation for me. Maybe it’s yours, too.

About Victoria Trabosh

Victoria Trabosh is a transformational coach, international speaker, and bestselling author with over 40 years of leadership experience. She’s the creator of the AdFARsity™ framework and co-founder of the Itafari Foundation, which raised $1.5 million for Rwandan-led initiatives. She has spoken at the United Nations and leads global leadership journeys rooted in purpose and impact.

Learn more at victoriatrabosh.com | Tour details: rwanda2025.com