Rwanda

Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. Begin with orientation and reflection on cultural norms, historical context, and the themes that will guide your exploration over the week.

Through a guided city introduction, explore Kigali’s neighborhoods, history, and contemporary life, setting the foundation for learning around leadership, governance, and social change.

Engage with Rwanda’s recent history at the Kigali Genocide Memorial through a self-guided visit, accompanied by reflections shared by a survivor before and after your time on site. Later, connect with a women’s cooperative such as Gahaya Links to learn how traditional crafts create pathways to economic independence. Participate in a hands-on weaving workshop and hear how artistry and entrepreneurship have empowered Rwandan women.

Visit the Ntarama Genocide Memorial with a local historian, deepening your understanding of memory, loss, and place. Continue to a local family farm to learn about Rwanda’s long-horned Inyambo cows and their cultural significance.

In the afternoon, spend time in a Reconciliation Village, where survivors and perpetrators of the genocide live side by side. Through personal testimonies, explore themes of forgiveness, healing, and what reconciliation looks like in everyday life.

Engage with a business incubation space supporting women entrepreneurs. Learn how training, mentorship, and access to capital help women launch and grow small businesses, then meet a local entrepreneur who has benefited directly from these programs.

Later, take part in a gender justice workshop with a men’s network advocating for equality, exploring how shifting norms and shared responsibility support lasting change.

End the day with a cultural performance at the Mille Collines Hotel or cheer on women athletes at a local basketball game.

Travel to Musanze and engage with a cultural village run by former poachers who now share traditional practices through community-based tourism. Learning focuses on alternative livelihoods, conservation, and cultural preservation.

In the afternoon, take part in a wool workshop at a social enterprise where women spin, dye, and weave wool while receiving access to healthcare and childcare, examining how holistic support strengthens economic opportunity.

Hike into Volcanoes National Park to observe golden monkeys in their natural habitat, examining biodiversity and ecosystem balance in the region. Continue to the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to learn about conservation science and research.

Meet with gorilla veterinarians to explore how animal health, ecosystem protection, and community engagement intersect in conservation efforts.

Join a girls’ coalition for a hands-on skills training activity, working alongside young women creating brighter futures in rural communities. Learning centers on leadership, agency, and access to opportunity.

In the afternoon, travel to Akagera National Park and settle into your lodge inside the park. If conditions allow, end the day with stargazing and storytelling under the night sky.

Head out on a safari game drive in Akagera National Park. Depending on the day’s plan, take one extended drive or two shorter ones, with opportunities to observe giraffes, elephants, and lions while learning how conservation and tourism intersect.

Spend the evening relaxing at the lodge, reflecting informally on the week’s experiences.

Begin the day with a boat safari on Lake Ihema before returning to Kigali. Stop for lunch and time to explore local shops before heading to the airport for your evening flight home.