Sunday, September 18, 2011

A Glimpse of Life in Rwanda


Selecting Fabric in Kimironko Market
Being a former VSO, flexible, adaptable, sensitive and hard working (all the VSO Dimensions) she was able to muck in without any problems. We visited schools, one for a half day Planning Workshop, our District Office with its sloping container truck floor, Lake Muhazi (our own Eastern Province Lake, Akagera of course, the Genocide Memorial Centre, Kigali, Kimironko Market, the sights and sounds of Rwamagana, the local “Solidality Bar”, the Dereva Hotel for a Rwamagana Meal, partook of a “melange” in Centre St Agnes and the aborted trip to Kibuye and lake Kivu.

We had already made contingency plans in case we had to go back and had asked our nearest VSO neighbour, Camilla to take over, if we were not there. As expected, she did a brilliant job and Helen was able to see even more in Kigali and especially Camilla’s Teacher Training College which involved a return trip on a moto over seriuously challenging ground of over an hour each way. Helen, you are a star and for that you are awarded the……

Higher Advanced Rwanda Moto Pillion Rider’s Award

Well Done!

I’ll just let the photos tell the story

Everything you want in Kimironko
Beans Galore!
Sifting Flour

100RWF a bag
Market Day
After going to the market, we went to the Centre Cesar. It's run by a Canadian woman and is a centre for widows and orphans of the genocide. They make artefacts for sale, have a nursery, teach ICT and motor maintenance and sponsor hundreds of children in school.

Widows of the genocide make products for sale in Centre Cesar


Centre Cesar Nursery

To find out more about the Centre Cesar and its work, follow the link below.....In the afternoon, we went on to see the Genocide Memorial Museum in Kigali. Click below for a link to the site. 250,000 Genocide victims are buried there. It is a very tasteful reminder of a very bad time in Rwanda's History 17 years ago, hopefully never to be repeated again.

 
View over Kigali from Memorial Centre
Highest point in Kigali in the centre of town


Kigali Memorial Centre Gardens
Back home on the Rwamagana bus from Kigali
Bus Park Mayhem!

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Hi, hope your enjoy reading about our adventures in Rwanda. We'd love to hear from you. Stephen and Mary