Rebecca Yasmine Mfono Mba, a 23-year-old Gabonese national, left her home country in 2021 to pursue her dream of studying journalism at the Centre d’Études des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information (CESTI) in Senegal (editor’s note: Journalism and Communication school based in Dakar, affiliated with Cheikh Anta Diop University).

Rebecca embraced Senegalese life so much so that she is affectionately known as “the most Senegalese Gabonese.” Immersing herself in the local culture has been a transformative experience, challenging and reshaping her worldview. However, in April 2024, she went through a deeply painful episode, both physically and emotionally, which shook her profoundly. Isolated from her biological family, she found comfort and strength in the support of a second family she formed with her Senegalese friends and community.

Although she has successfully integrated, the incident served as a stark reminder that she is still perceived as a foreigner. As a journalism student, Rebecca views intra-African migration not as a threat, but as a powerful opportunity for exchange and connection. She firmly believes that visa barriers should not hinder the free movement of Africans within the continent.

Today, Rebecca Yasmine Mfono Mba is more than just a student abroad. She is a young woman who has found a second home in Senegal, a place where she hopes to continue growing, living and contributing. For her, Senegal is no longer just a destination – it’s where she envisions building her future.