As SHS’s doors closed behind new Swahili interpreter Gedeon Mugenga, he knew soon that hundreds of other doors would soon be unlocked for himself and students.

Doors of opportunities, connections and deeper understandings, not just for Mugenga but every student in SHS, who had been waiting for a voice similar to theirs.

“Something I noticed is that when a student from the culture that I’m aware of sees me, they’re more comfortable (with me) than with somebody else communicating with them,” Mugenga said.

Fluent in Swahili, Uguadan, English, French and Kinyarwanda, Mugenga focuses on helping students navigate their way through SHS even with a language barrier.

Mugenga’s multilingual skills provide a bridge to students who have struggled to make themselves understood.

Though originally born in Rwanda, Mugenga grew up on the border between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa. Even before Mugenga entered school, he could fluently speak and switch between three languages with his siblings.

“My mom had a rule that when we were speaking Kinyarwanda, she would say, ‘Okay guys, let’s switch (languages), let’s pick something else’,” Mugenga said.

In 2018, when Mugenga was 16 years old, he came to the U.S. After graduating from Kentucky Mountain Bible College, Mugenga got the opportunity to be a ministry intern at Southport’s Church of the Nazarene.

After he joined the church, Mugenga’s boss informed him that SHS needed a new Swahili interpreter, where he sought out to help students.

While somewhat familiar with SHS, Mugenga’s impression of SHS during the first week was eye-opening to him. Seeing all the diversity and mix of cultures that students presented was impressive to him.

“I am finding fulfillment in doing this job. I’m currently serving about 106 kids this week and 50 students that speak Arabic, just to help them,” Mugenga said. “It’s very fulfilling work. I’m loving it. I get to encourage the kids to help them dream big and have plans for the future.”

Mugenga’s role here at SHS has not only brought a positive change in students but also in his colleagues around him.

“It’s nice because if there’s some kind of problem one of our students is facing, we can go to him to help with it or solve it,” social studies teacher Jacob Wormann said. “Without having a Swahili interpreter for about six months, it was a big gap I think we all felt.”

Being an international student himself, Mugenega sees a version of his younger self in the kids he’s teaching. Though Mugenga has only been at SHS for four weeks, his impact has already been seen within the students already.

“We went a long time without an interpreter and I think the students figured out how to do the work without help. But now he’s here,” Spanish interpreter Millie Delgado said. “I know he’s helping kids with their math, science and other classes.”

For Mugenga, it’s more than just interpreting. It’s about making a difference in these students’ lives and helping them find a place where they belong, where they can be seen and heard, something that once seemed impossible for students.

“My first week here, there was a student who was struggling. She was falling asleep in class and didn’t really know what was going on…,” Mugenga said. “I went to visit her class and I saw her and when I spoke her language, she just lightened up and was motivated to do the work that she wasn’t able to do prior to the time I got here.”

For every conversation and translation Mugenga helps provide, he opens doors for students to feel heard and feel like they belong. In just four weeks, Mugenga has helped students find their voice within and build their confidence, helping them improve academically.

“I love the environment, the culture, the staff members and the administration,” Mugenga said. “Southport is very student oriented, and that really makes a big difference when you’re serving. Knowing I’m here to help, not just for the money, but I’m here to help make a difference.”