School | History, Arts & Culture
Overview
Expose students to the rich history and culture of Rwanda, both before and after the genocide. Students will learn about Rwanda’s ancient history and traditions juxtaposed with its modern identity as one of the top ten fastest growing economies in Africa, according to the World Economic Forum. Students will also hear primary accounts about the historical events that led up to the 1994 genocide; and how reconciliation and development processes are working to unify this country in a profound way. This program is recommended for students who are 16 years and older.
Why Rwanda?
Rwanda is locally known as the land of a thousand hills, internationally recognized for its Mountain Gorillas, coffee and technology innovation, and most infamously remembered as the country where between 500,000 and one million people were killed in less than 100 days. Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, yet it underwent one of the biggest tragedies in world history. Between the 1870s and 1900s, the Scramble for Africa saw European conquest and colonization create ethnic division based on abstract European notions of ethnography and societal class structure. Eventually, these ethnic class tensions grew and culminated in what became known as the 1994 Rwandan Genocide.
Highlights
- Gain an understanding of human rights on both an international level and in Rwanda through field visits and lectures with practitioners in the fields of development and advocacy
- Learn about Rwanda’s post-genocide reconstruction and development during a Kigali city tour
- Guided visits to Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre, Murambi Memorial Centre, Ntarama and Nyamata
- Study Rwandan ancient history at the National Museum of Rwanda and the King’s Palace
- Cultural experiences with the Musanze community: learn about local fishing methods, visit a Street Children’s Project and learn from a women’s cooperative about the production of sorghum, banana beer and handicrafts made of banana leaves
Local Experiences
- Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Golden Monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Visit Ibyiwacu cultural village to learn about traditional Rwandan dancing, drumming, cooking and singing
- Canoeing on Lake Bulera and Lake Ruhondo
Customize Your Trip
We pride ourselves in our ability to create unique, safe, Transformative Learning Journeys in Africa. Each one of our Educational School Tours are customized according to your interests and requirements. Request a proposal for more info.
Featured Experiences
Kigali Genocide Memorial
Learn about the horrible events of the Rwandan Genocide by visiting this powerful memorial and museum. Here you will have the opportunity to deeply explore one of the most tragic events that shocked the world in recent history. You will come to understand the factors that contributed to an atmosphere of tremendous division and be inspired by the lessons of justice, forgiveness, and restoration that Rwanda has to impart.
Gorilla Encounter
This once-in-a-lifetime experience allows you to share space with the magnificent silverback gorillas, observing them from close distances on highly controlled trekking paths that traverse through their habitat. An encounter with these wild and endangered animals is one that you are not likely to forget.