AIMS - Rwanda
Mission: Environmental Conservation
Project: Scholars cleared the bushes, drains and overgrown pathways in Umuganda in Remera Sector, near the AIMS Rwanda premises
Number of Volunteers: 21
Target group: AIMS neighbouring community
Duration: 1 day
Brief explanation:
“Umuganda”, loosely translated to mean joining hands together to contribute to national development was reintroduced in Rwanda in 1998 as one of the mechanisms to rebuild the country after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The activity engages citizens in development activities and dialogue aimed at promoting harmony in Rwanda.
8 (3 female, 5 male) Cooperative education program students (4 from 20172018) and 4 (20182019) on 29th October 2018 participated in Umuganda in Remera Sector, near the AIMS Rwanda premises. The Cooperative Program students chose to jointly participate in Umuganda for their Annual Day of service.
Students cleared the buses, drains and overgrown pathways in the area. Students also interacted with local leaders during the dialogue session held after the physical activity. On return to the Centre, students cited the following as their takeaways from the activity;
- Students learned more Kinyarwanda words which will make it easier for them to interact with the locals and the Rwandan students/staff at AIMS Rwanda.
- Teamwork was strengthened as they had to collaborate on how to approach the work to de done but also share tools, home and education experiences.
- Students observed the process of mediation as citizens brought up issues in the community and under the guidance of the community leaders, solutions to the issues were worked out.
The debrief discussion on what service means and the impact of service on others and self was postponed to later time when all the Mastercard Foundation Scholars could participate. One Absent Scholars was sick, two are Seventh Day Adventists and three could not make it to the venue in the heavy rain. 2 Scholars are doing their internships outside Rwanda.
