We celebrated our last night in Kigali, Rwanda together. It was bittersweet, because even though I was excited to return home to start editing my stories, I did not want to say goodbye to the group. One of the most memorable moments from the evening was when fellow Wana Udobang shared a poem she wrote, titled “The Banquet.” The poem was incredibly moving and encouraged us to be confident, patient and to forgive ourselves so that we can let go of the bitterness that comes from regret. Wana is a Nigeria-based freelance journalist and poet. I’m so grateful to the IWMF for connecting me with her and all the other fellows that were part of this reporting initiative. I learned so much from their experiences and passion for storytelling.

-Luisa Garcia