Rwanda
Rwanda
Birambye International has grown passionate for the culture and people of Rwanda. Several members have worked in the country in the past five years to rebuild the capital of Kigali. Birambye members commitment in the country will lead to a lasting relationship with our endearing friends and colleagues of Rwanda. Thank you Rwanda for showing us your beauty and sharing your communities with Birambye
Background
Rwanda is the most densely populated African country and one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 158th out of 175 in the United National Human Development report, with a per capita annual income of around $300. During the 1994 war and genocide in Rwanda, between 800,000 and 1,000,000 Tutsis were killed. Tens of thousands of children lost parents and were themselves victims of horrific violence; women and girls were systematically raped. Many children witnessed family members tortured and murdered, and many orphans still suffer from the trauma they witnessed at a young age. Due to continued displacement of the population during and following the genocide, as well as the impact of AIDS on the adult population, the number of orphans has continued to increase. Today, Rwanda has one of the highest percentages of orphans in the world, with more than 1.26 million orphans in a total population of 8.9 million. In addition to orphans are the students of Rwanda that represented the future and whose lives were also turned upside down.
Current Life
Since 2005, Rwanda has accelerated it’s reconstruction by leaps and bounds; in fact, Kigali is far and away the fastest growing city
in Africa by percentage of population according to the Economist 2008. Opportunities are increasing due to good government and
rule and a common vision for the country, Vision 2020 (see downloadable history above). Yet nearly 90 percent of the population
relies on agriculture for a living, in a land constantly constrained by its borders and a growing population. As a consequence, the
future of Rwanda depends on the education of its people – thus powering the rebuild of Rwanda by human power.
Education
Secondary school and university are relatively expensive, and have signi cant tuition fees in both private and public institutions; thus
eliminating many hopeful students for lack of funding. Opportunities are few and therefore areas such as engineering, agriculture,
construction, medicine, and tourism are highly promoted. An overview of the school system in Rwanda consists of Kindergarten,
Primary school, Secondary School, and University.
- Kindergarten is not mandatory and all facilities are private and charge a small fee. They quite often provide very little educational value, and are scarcely attended.
- Primary school is the equivalent of grades 1-6 in the United States and is free to all citizens, and teaches a variety of subjects, stressing the French and English languages. Children often pass through these grades uncontested. Those that wish to enter into a public Secondary school (which is often superior) must take a national exam (unless having the ability to pay for a private school). Very few students are able to pass this exam.
- Secondary school is the equivalent of grades 7-12 in the United States. All schools have a tuition fee, and most are boarding schools. Therefore even if a child passes the entry exam they may not be able to attend for lack of funds. Forms 4-6 (our grades 10-12) focus around a specific subject; chemistry, accounting, etc. Once a student has chosen a field, it is very difficult to change direction, even in university.
- University education is a privileged opportunity in Rwanda, and cherished greatly. Offered only to those who can pay or performed exceptionally in Secondary school, almost all graduates find success in their later life. A student must again pass an exam upon completing secondary school, much like America’s ACT. Acceptance based on this score is often enforced, regardless of financial capabilities.
Tourism
Tourism in Rwanda is becoming a large source of income for many travel operators and business owners. The official contact is the
Office of Rwandan Tourism and National Parks (ORTPN). The contact details are:
Offce Rwandaise du Tourisme et des
Parcs Nationaux (ORTPN)
The Rwanda Tourism Board
Boulevard de la Révolution n° 1
PO Box 905
Kigali, Rwanda
Tel (250) 576514 or 573396
Fax (250) 576515
Email: webmaster@rwandatourism.com
