Rwanda

[Guest]

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[Natasha]

Rwanda

The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Home to approximately 10.1 million people, Rwanda supports the densest population in continental Africa, with most of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture. A verdant country of fertile and hilly terrain, the small republic bears the title "Land of a Thousand Hills" (French: Pays des Mille Collines [pe.i de mil kɔ.lin]; Kinyarwanda: Igihugu cy'Imisozi Igihumbi).

The country has garnered international attention most markedly for the infamous Rwandan Genocide of 1994. Rwanda has applied to become a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and a decision on its application is expected in 2009.

Demographics

Most Rwandans speak Kinyarwanda. Before the arrival of European colonists, there was no written history. Today, the nation is roughly 84% Hutu, 15% Tutsi, and 1% Twa, with smaller minorities of South Asians, Arabs, French, British, and Belgians. The nation is some 56.5% Roman Catholic, 26% Protestant, 11.1% Adventist, and 4.6% Muslim, original beliefs 0.1%, none 1.7% (2001).

Languages

Kinyarwanda (official) universal Bantu vernacular, French (official), English (official), Kiswahili (Swahili) used in commercial centres.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwanda
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/rw-flag.html

[Natasha]

Parc National des Volcans

Rwanda boasts a wide variety of wildlife. The Parc National des Volcans, in northern Rwanda is home to the world’s largest number of endangered mountain gorillas. Numbering in the hundreds, the gorillas live in a protected area, free from poachers. The gorillas can be viewed in their natural mountain habitats at a fairly close range.

"In the heart of Central Africa, so high up that you shiver more than you sweat," wrote the eminent primatologist Dian Fossey, "are great, old volcanoes towering up almost 15,000 feet, and nearly covered with rich, green rainforest - the Virungas". Situated in the far northwest of Rwanda, the Parc des Volcans protects the steep slopes of this magnificent mountain range - home of the rare mountain gorilla - and the rich mosaic of montane ecosystems, which embrace evergreen and bamboo forest, open grassland, swamp and heath.

An exhilarating trek through the cultivated foothills of the Virungas offers stirring views in all directions. Then, abruptly, the trail enters the national park, immersing trekkers in the mysterious intimacy of the rainforest, alive with the calls of colourful birds and chattering of the rare golden monkey, and littered with fresh spoor of the mountains’ elusive populations of buffalo and elephant. Through gaps in the forest canopy, the magnificent peaks are glimpsed, easily accessible and among the highest in Africa, beckoning an ascent.

The bustling market town of Ruhengeri has a memorable setting at the base of the Virungas. On the outskirts of town, the natural bridge at Musanze - a solidified lava flow - is a fascinating relic of the volcanic activity that shaped this scenic area. Also within easy day tripping distance of Ruhengeri are the seldom visited but lovely Lakes Burera, Ruhondo and Karago. Ruhengeri offers a good selection of reasonably-priced small hotels and guest houses, including the newly renovated hotel Gorilla's Nest. Visitors could also base themselves in Gisenyi or Kigali and - with an early start - head to the Parc des Volcans and Ruhengeri as a day trip.

http://www.rwandatourism.com/parks.htm
http://www.gov.rw/government/tourismp.html
http://www.berggorilla.org/english/gjournal/volcans.html

[P, B and J]

An excellent and really interesting 3 page article and documentary video from The Washington Post.

Women Rise in Rwanda's Economic Revival
By Anthony Faiola
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, May 16, 2008
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/05/15/ST2008051504314.html

[P, B and J]

Rwanda Vision 2020

[...]
Where did Vision 2020 come from?
Vision 2020 is a result of a national consultative process that took place 1998-99 led by the Office of the President. Questions were raised at that time: How do Rwandan envisage their future? What kind of society do they want to become? How can they construct a united and inclusive Rwandan identity? What are the transformations needed to emerge from a deeply unsatisfactory social and economic situation? A broad consensus emerged on the necessity for Rwandans to clearly define the future of the country themselves. Vision 2020 was subsequently developed as the long term framework for Rwanda’s development. Policies and strategies have since been developed based on the 6 pillars of Vision 2020:

Pillars of the VISION 2020

1. Good governance and a capable state
2. Human resource development and a knowledge based economy
3. A private sector-led economy
4. Infrastructure development
5. Productive and Market Oriented Agriculture
6. Regional and International Economic integration.

Cross-cutting areas of VISION 2020

1. Gender equality
2. Protection of environment and sustainable natural resource management
3. Science and technology, including ICT
[...]

Link to full article: http://www.theeye.co.rw/vision_2020.php

Copyright © 2001- 2008 The Eye Rwanda Limited

Republic of Rwanda Government's Rwanda Vision 2020 (31 page PDF file)
http://www.grandslacs.net/doc/4164.pdf

United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Report for Rwanda
From Recovery to Sustainable Human Development
http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/nationalreports/africa/rwanda/name,3322,en.html (119 page PDF file)

[I haven't read the latter completely yet, but it's full of visuals, charts and stats.]

[P, B and J]

By the way, Natasha, thanks so much for all these Country threads and all the info you found!!! 

[P, B and J]

Oops, forgot something else I wanted to add...

PBS' Frontline: Ghosts of Rwanda is quite comprehensive IMHO.  There is also a Teacher's Guide there and many types of different media are used.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ghosts/

[P, B and J]

By chance I recently came upon a very nicely done and interesting website for youth and teachers!

Réseau In-Terre-Actif homepage (French and English site): http://www.in-terre-actif.com/english/index.php

Info and link to youth-friendly country fact sheets below (There is also a Teacher's Guide)

The Country Fact Sheets are presented to you by the Réseau In-Terre-Actif, and were created in collaboration with the Canadian Government through the Canadian International Development Agency.

The Country Fact Sheets were created for students in their final year of primary school, and is composed of 10 educational guides that each explore a developing nation.

The guides embody an educational approach that encourages action, interaction, and engagement on the part of students as they explore the challenges of international development.

Furthermore, the guides develop in students an awareness of global challenges that encourages critical thinking, and students’ participation in their community.

Note that teachers and educational presenters are free to use the guides in their entirety, or to select and employ sections of the guides to meet their educational objectives.

* http://www.in-terre-actif.com/english/show.php?id=4795

Countries listed:

Benin
Cameroon
Cuba
Haiti
Honduras
Mali
Nicaragua
Rwanda
Senegal
Vietnam

* Each link to a country brings up a colourful and interesting PDF file.  There are also games/activities!  (I'm not sure that I should link directly to the PDF files, but by going to the link marked by the * in the quote above, you will see all 10 countries listed on the same page.  Each country name brings up the respective PDF.)

[DoubleR]

Rwandan President Paul Kagame had a great op-ed piece last week in the Financial Times:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0d1218c8-3b35-11de-ba91-00144feabdc0.html

His support of entrepreneurship and his commitment to providing the infrastructure that fosters entrepreneurship motivates me even more to lend to Kiva borrowers in Rwanda.

Regards,
Ronan

[waywardcats]

An interview with Rwandan President Paul Kagame aired on Fareed Zakaria GPS (CNN) today.

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2009/07/19/gps.rwanda.success.story.cnn.html
Rwandan President Paul Kagame sits down with Fareed to discuss his nation's 15 year journey from genocide to economic growth and autocratic, but stable governance

-Kerry-

[nuc]

This is probably worth mentioning here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13425546
The ICTR has handed out sentences to some of the senior figures of 1994.

Also in the news:
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/global/2011/05/rwandan-president-fights-critical-journalist-twitter/37812/
The FT interview that caused this 'twitter fight' is linked in the Atlantic Wire piece, and is worth reading.