Human-centred design is a field that combines 8 mindsets: Empathy, Optimism, Creative Confidence, Emotional Intelligence, Learn from failure, Make it, Iterate and Embrace ambiguity.

On the flight to Kigali, a couple of uncertainties ran through my mind, mostly because I was yet to learn the full details about the activities for the CcHUB Design Lab Traineeship. The just-concluded one-week-long line up of activities has given an entire meaning to the word “Immersive”. Let’s take a dive. 

Our first challenge was to come up with a journey for people who might want to move from being Not-Empathetic to being Empathetic. Each group came up with unique paths which all had a degree of connection. We also generated a phrase cloud for the mindsets by writing out which phrases stuck out to us more. Mantras such as “I am Enough”, “Connection”, “Life is by Design”, and “Fear is a Scam” became watchwords to live by.

Every day was like a therapy session where we combined our real-life experiences with each mindset. On a personal level, I learnt some deep stuff about myself. I figured out what to do to change the things I didn’t like and uncovered hidden truths about my thought patterns; the reason I think the way I do and better ways to get along with people.

The Optimism Session largely showed us that internal strength in the face of adversity was the key to success. The general theme was that adversity was sure but our response to it makes all the difference. Sometimes, you know some of these things in your subconscious mind but you never really know or use them consciously. The entire week focused on making deliberate attempt to consciously imbibe these mindsets, especially as it relates to problem-solving. 

Okay, it wasn’t all therapy.

We were given the book “CREATIVE CONFIDENCE: Unleashing the creative potential within us all” by Tom Kelly and David Kelly. The challenge was to complete the book in one day and make a presentation on our key takeaways. It was challenging but I was glad when I finished the book just in time. I picked out a lot of things and I’m definitely reading the book again (Thankfully, we each own a copy).

On Emotional Intelligence, I have never being to group therapy, but I’m pretty sure that would pass for Group therapy. We engaged in the 16 personalities test and dissected each personality type in an attempt to help each participant understand themselves and each other.

So, my findings led me to deduce that I’m 92% introverted, however, my colleagues think my interactions are great for an introverted person. This makes me happy to know that the work I had been putting into my self-development is paying off and showing obvious progress. 

High profile visits

Patrick Buchana Nsenga, founder of “Tap n Go”, a startup company reimagining the public transport system in Rwanda paid us a visit and I was enthralled about his calmness and humility which can only come from being emotionally-centred and having a deep understanding of the problem he is trying to solve. His journey is an epiphany that the solution needs to be customized for Rwanda and its unique peculiarities.

It reiterated my belief that only Africans in Africa can truly solve Africa’s problems. It also exposed the reality that Africa is too fragmented and if we are to achieve significant development, both for our startup companies and economic development generally, we need more open borders. 

Dr Pacifique Ndishimye, one of the division leads from Rwandan Biomedical Centre  graced us with his presence as well. He showed us how the Rwandan government in partnership with its communities take innovation to the grassroots. We saw how the communities are engaged and how programs are designed to gain maximum adoption. We saw different developmental metrics and how Rwanda was able to achieve high growth.

For example, the HIV program (90:90:90) – where it is proposed that 90% of people infected with the virus should be aware, 90% of the aware should be receiving treatment and 90% of the treated should have their viral loads at undetectable levels. Rwanda proudly has achieved 80:80:80!

Impressive stats on their immunization programs as well where they have achieved 98% coverage for the most current vaccines available. Health insurance is also at >90% coverage. We also learnt they have some of Africa’s most advanced research genomic and molecular medicine centres.

Adrian Jankowiak (founder of the Nairobi Design Week) also visited. We visited the biggest example of human-centred design in the history of the world – The Rwandan Genocide Memorial Center where we had an immersive experience. All elements of human-centred design came into play for designing the conflict resolution that led to peace.

First, they customized the justice system to include a mix of traditional and community-based justice system called “Gacaca”. These helped many people seek closure for their loved ones burying them in a more dignified manner. It also helped some of the perpetrators of the genocide seek forgiveness and reconciliation. I now strongly believe that every country that has had a dark past must have a Memorial Center with such immersive experience so that the future generations will understand where their history and never repeat the divisive mistakes of the past.

Open borders and the mantra that ‘we are one body, one continent and are closer than we think we are‘ should be the 21st-century gospel and historical centres and museums about our struggles with slavery, colonization and subsequent systematic suppression should be erected everywhere to remind us that Africans are responsible for African development.

In summary, I am grateful to CcHUB and all partner bodies including the Gates Foundation, Clinton Health Access Initiative, Rwandan Government for this program and the platform it is creating for young Africans to be the change the continent needs. I am super grateful to be part of the first cohort of the program and I believe we will create solutions that the world is going to understudy.

Yes, We Are Enough.