Rwanda

July, 2009

This site is a brief accounting of my trip to Rwanda. There were two teams. Carolyn led the team working with youth, Kids4Kids. This group sponsors children in Rwanda and Kenya. They met with the children and attended youth conferences. I was with Rachael's team, working with farmers who had cows to help teach basic animal husbandry and support the food security program. The food security program is designed to help subsistence farmers develop modern farming, leading to better crops, better milk production, better health and prosperity for the families. Associated with the food security program are a veterinarian, an agronomist, and a social worker. These people work together with local people to improve their lives through education and support.

Rwanda is one of the most beautiful countries there is. It is all rolling hills and agriculture. The people are incredible. They care deeply about their families, their neighbors, their country. They work together in so many ways, sharing resources, ideas, and knowledge. In one aid program, people are given cows. They then give the calf to a neighbor. Associations abound where people work together. We worked with several sectors in the Food Security program and with APAP, a group of farmers in the Kigeme region working to improve their dairy cattle.

Scenery - Rwanda is the Land of 1000 Hills and an absolutely most beautiful country!

Cows - I was part of the team working with farmers on animal husbandry

Learning Spaces - We were there to teach but I feel we learned as much as we taught

Genocide Memorials - We always say, "Never forget." Will we forget again the next time?

Churches and Music - This country lives and sings it's faith

People - Wonderful people we met

 

Walking in the Ki Bilizi Sector

In the Land of 1000 Hills you walk along one hill, looking out over the valley to the next hill. It is absolutely beautiful.

 

Walking in the Kameger Sector

Women harvesting wheat

 

Kigeme

View of the village from the Primary School

The centre of the village from the road. The Kigeme Cathedral is in the background

Looking up the hill along the main road

Looking at the Saloon with the Hair Salon in behind

 

Kigali

Not the most beautiful place but growing rapidly

 

The Boarder with the Republic of the Congo

Lake Kivu, looking toward Uganda