My name is Kenneth Santha, I am a third year Nursing student at Youngstown State University on track to complete my BSN degree. From a young age, I have always wished to make the world a better place. As a nursing student, I believe it is my duty not only to serve my local community but also to reach out and help others around the world. This May, I have the incredible opportunity to join six fellow nursing students, seven social work students, and our mentors, Dr. Woods and Dr. Shortreed, on a service mission to Rwanda, Africa. For two weeks, we will live in Kigali, the capital city, and work alongside local communities to strengthen health and social support systems. What inspired me to take this journey is the desire to step outside my American life, where things sometimes come too easily, and to connect with others in meaningful ways. I want to help where and when I am needed most, learning from the resilience of the people I meet and bringing those lessons back home to enrich my practice as a future nurse. This experience will shape the kind of nurse I become, one who sees every patient not just as a case, but as a person whose story deserves dignity and care.

Last year’s team made a lasting impact by providing health assessments, delivering medical equipment, and even gifting a cow to a village, transforming food security and livelihoods. This year, our team hopes to continue that legacy of compassion and adaptability. Together, our group blends medical knowledge with social support, ensuring we meet both health and human needs. The diversity of our team allows us to approach service holistically, addressing not only physical health but also the social and emotional well-being of the communities we encounter. Your support will help cover the essential costs of this trip, such as vaccines, flights, room, food, safe drinking water, travel insurance, and any unexpected expenses that may arise. It may also help us bring much-needed resources to the communities we serve. Your generosity could mean a child receives their first health assessment, a family gains access to clean water, or a village finds new hope. This journey will not only change my life for the better but also give me the chance to be a positive force in someone else’s life. The resilience and wisdom of the Rwandan people will inspire how I care for patients here at home, making this mission a gift that keeps giving. Your support is more than a donation; it is a hand extended across continents. Thank you for believing in this mission. Together, we can make the world a little brighter.