We arrived in Goma with 100 young people, mostly from Eastern Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda, all attending a conference put on by our program for university student leaders - Africa Youth Leadership Forum.  For three days, we listened to inspiring leaders from the region and we discussed topics relevant to becoming better leaders for our communities and nations.

As I met with all these ladies, I was reminded that Rwanda, setting another precedent for the world, is the first and only country to have a majority of women in their parliament.  And so I wondered, is there a link to the peace Rwanda has found and the participation of women in leadership?

Although my Easter traditions have waned over the last few years in my life, this year, over the prolonged Easter weekend, I contemplated the theme of new life, and found my own ways to celebrate it.

If I may be so bold, I would like to predict the future of the newest country in the world.  I'm no fortune teller, but I know I can at least show you, with a high degree of certainty, a few of the people who will be leading South Sudan in the near future.

It was an incredible joy to see where each girl in the Global Grassroots program comes from and I swelled with pride at the difference they are already making in their villages.  The power of seeing our girls gain the confidence to lead in their communities and work with others to find local solutions to local problems nearly brought me to tears with each visit.