“I knew I wanted to go home. I just didn't know how.”

So many stories about returning to Africa start with this same sentence.

The desire to return to the continent — to reconnect to one's roots, to contribute locally, or simply to find meaning beyond a Western routine — is powerful. But if there's one thing we've learned at Passerelle Africa, it's this: coming back is not a feeling. It is a strategy.

A return without a plan is just a simple change of address

Too often, people embark on “the return” driven by frustration (“I'm tired of the cold”), idealism (“I want to contribute”), or nostalgia (“I miss my country”).

These emotions are legitimate — but they're not a plan.

Africa is not waiting for your return passively. The continent is moving fast. And its labor market, rich in opportunities, also obeys rules that are often implicit. To make a successful comeback, you need clarity. You need direction.

A strategy starts with questions

Before you book a ticket or leave your job abroad, ask yourself the right questions:

• What country am I aiming for — and why?
• What sectors are growing there, and how does my profile fit in?
• What do I need to “unlearn” about local functioning?
• Who do I already know in this ecosystem?
• Do I want to build something — or integrate something?
  
  

The more honest your answers are, the more solid your feedback will be.

It is not a question of answers. It's a question of reference points.

You won't be able to anticipate everything alone — and you don't have to.

This is where mentoring comes into its own. Not as a magic bullet, but as a structure. A mentor is:

• Someone who challenges your preconceived ideas
• Someone who understands implicit codes
• Someone who has already been there — and can guide you
  
  

At Passerelle Africa, each mentee has a unique story. But they all have one thing in common: they did not simply “come back.” They prepared for it.

Returning is not the end. It is the beginning.

You are not going back. You are moving forward, with experience, perspective and intention.

But all of this makes no sense only if you activate it.

Returning home is not the last stop on the journey. It is the moment when your African story is starting again — differently, strategically, with impact.

Do you think you'll be back soon?

If you're ready to take action — not just dream — apply to become a mentee. We'll connect you with someone who has already come the distance.