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Meet Sarah Huguette Kenda-Misenga, An Entrepreneur


Q: What does Empowering Women mean to you?


Sarah: Empowering women, to me, means more than giving someone an opportunity. It means opening a door, walking through it together, and holding it open for the next person. It’s about transforming survival into strength and turning the pain we’ve carried into a platform for others to rise.


I believe that empowerment starts with seeing people as they are — not what society expects them to be. Too often, women are told to “be strong” while their struggles are ignored. But I’ve learned that true empowerment doesn’t mean pretending everything is perfect; it means allowing women to be real, strong, soft, tired, hopeful, healing, and still moving forward.


In my work and community life, empowerment looks like creating spaces where women and youth feel seen and valued. It’s helping a single mother find her confidence again. It’s making sure an immigrant woman’s voice is heard in city meetings. It’s teaching young girls that they can lead, build, and own not later, but now.


For me, empowering women also means representation. As a Congolese woman living in Maine, I carry with me a deep understanding of what it feels like to rebuild your life in a new land, to speak with an accent, to dream in multiple languages. I want my presence in the rooms I enter — whether at Lewiston City Hall or through my business RueDesLey Global Services LLC to quietly remind other women that you belong here too.


Empowerment, at its core, is the courage to believe that our stories even the imperfect ones can light the path for someone else.


Q: How did you get started working in your field?


Sarah: My journey did not begin with a plan; it began with a need to create connection and meaning wherever I found myself.


I started as a young woman with dreams bigger than my circumstances. I came from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a place of both beauty and struggle. After years of rebuilding my life in South Africa and then the United States, I discovered that my greatest strength was not only adapting but also connecting people.


When I moved to Lewiston, Maine, I became involved in community service and local engagement. I found purpose in helping others navigate systems that often felt complicated and distant, especially for immigrants, low-income families, and women trying to rebuild their lives. That work led to my current role as an Administrative Assistant for the City of Lewiston’s Department of Economic and Community Development, where I support programs that help residents and businesses grow.


At the same time, I founded RueDesLey Global Services LLC, a travel- and events-planning company that has evolved into a platform for cultural connection. Today, RueDesLey curates custom journeys, conferences, and retreats that show people they belong anywhere in the world. I plan experiences that go beyond sightseeing — each trip tells a story of discovery, representation, and unity.


Our projects empower women and youth to travel confidently and dream beyond borders. Through partnerships with hotels, tourism boards, and international partners, RueDesLey opens doors for women and entrepreneurs who might never have imagined global opportunities.


I also help organize community events such as the “We Are One / Ubuntu-Pamoja” Youth Cultural Festival and coordinate volunteers for the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival, combining my professional skills, creativity, and passion for unity.


In truth, I did not enter this field — I built my own path within it, using every piece of who I am: my story, my faith, my creativity, and my resilience.


Q: What do you love most about your job? / What are you most proud of?


Sarah: What I love most about my work, whether at City Hall or through RueDesLey Global, is that it allows me to be a bridge between worlds. Every day, I get to translate ideas into action, help people feel included, and show that government, business, and community can work hand in hand when empathy leads the way.


I love the diversity of what I do. One day, I am preparing reports for housing programs and community grants. The next, I am designing event flyers, writing outreach emails, or planning international travel experiences. Sometimes I am mentoring youth; other times I am helping a new entrepreneur understand city processes. Every task, big or small, is connected by one purpose: to make people feel they matter.


I am proud of the work RueDesLey has done in showing that travel can be more than luxury. For us, travel is education, healing, and empowerment. It gives women the confidence to see themselves as part of the global story. I have seen clients rediscover joy after years of struggle simply because they allowed themselves to see the world again.


I am also proud of how far I have come while staying true to my values. I did not have the easiest path. I have been a newcomer, a mother balancing many responsibilities, and a woman who had to prove herself in new spaces. Yet I have turned those experiences into strength.


I am proud that I have built something that reflects who I am — not just a business or a career, but a purpose. RueDesLey is not just about travel; it is about transformation. My community work is not just about programs; it is about people.


I am proud when a youth I have mentored tells me, “You made me believe I could do it.”

I am proud when a colleague says, “You bring calm and positivity to our team.”

And I am proud when women tell me my story made them want to dream again.


My greatest reward is not a title; it is watching someone else find their voice.


Q: What advice would you give to someone considering this line of work?


Sarah: My first advice is: start where you are, with what you have, and who you are.


You do not need to have everything figured out to begin. Many women stop themselves because they think they need permission, perfection, or a certain level of education or status before they can lead. But the truth is, the most powerful work begins from the heart and from service.


If you are interested in community development, event planning, or the travel and hospitality field, lead with empathy and authenticity. Learn the technical skills — budgeting, communication, planning, logistics, and outreach — but remember that people do not follow programs; they follow purpose.


Be prepared to face challenges, especially as a woman or immigrant in leadership spaces. Some people will underestimate you, but let that become your quiet motivation. Speak when you have something meaningful to say, and listen twice as much.


Build relationships before you build projects. The strength of your network, your ability to collaborate, respect others, and show consistency, will carry you farther than any single title ever will.


Also, take care of yourself. In service work and entrepreneurship, it is easy to pour out until you are empty. Empowerment starts within. Rest is not weakness; it is wisdom. Surround yourself with people who remind you of your value when you forget it.


Finally, remember: your story is your power. Do not try to fit in; stand out with purpose. Your background, your accent, and your scars are not barriers; they are your signature.


Q: Anything else you would like to add?


Sarah: Yes. I would like to say thank you.


To every woman who is building quietly, serving others, or holding her family together while dreaming of something more — you are seen.


To the women in government, nonprofits, business, or creative industries who are often the first to arrive and the last to be thanked — your impact matters.


I want to use every platform I have, whether through RueDesLey Global Services, my role at Lewiston City Hall, or the youth and women I mentor, to remind others that leadership does not always wear a suit. Sometimes, it looks like kindness, patience, resilience, and showing up even when you are tired.


I also believe that empowerment must cross borders. My dream is to continue building international bridges between the United States, Africa, and other parts of the world so that women can collaborate, learn, and create opportunities together. Through travel, culture, and community engagement, we can change not only how we see the world but how the world sees us.


If I could summarize my journey in one sentence, it would be this: I may not have had the easiest road, but I turned it into a road others can walk on.


That is what empowerment means to me — not standing on a stage alone, but holding hands with others as we rise together.





 
 
 
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