2024 Rwanda Delegation— Esteri Iradukunda
International Relations ‘26
I'm going to Rwanda because it's a country that I'm familiar with, culture, languages, people, and on top of that to get to more of the history. Also going to Rwanda is a career experience because I get to work with teachers and students and that's something that is a part of my career. I'm looking to gain more understanding of the country, how teachers teach, and what experience I will have with them.
June 9, 2024
Coming to Rwanda has been an interesting journey so far. You get to witness love, joy, rejection, forgiveness, peace, and anger. Going through the Genocide Memorial it was one of the toughest journeys so far, you get to cry, feel angry, and hateful of people who committed the Genocide. Later, meeting people who were involved and the victims and how they are living together, you get a lot of questions to ask them, and the answers you get, you feel like it’s not true answers you’re looking for your questions.
Then later we got to go see the early children center and if you ask me what was the experience?? Let me tell it’s felt so good after moaning for the death and sadness. You get to teach kids, teach parents, learn from them and they learn from you. I enjoyed the process, and I can tell you that I saw myself in those kids and those parents. What I loved most about it was how parents were so invested in learning and teaching their children. After that, we went to Urukundo Learning Center where we met Mama and got to learn about her story and her work and how she got to start the Urukundo Learning Center and her future works. After that we got to play with children and let me tell you, being with the children and playing with them, you got to relive your childhood again and it was fantastic. Playing with the children brought joy, happiness, and love, and this program is all about love, forgiveness, and reconciliation so it was beautiful to experience that in Children and parents. After the Urukundo Learning Center then we came back again the next day and this time we were training teachers and us being trained. I loved how teachers were so involved in the learning and how they were excited to teach SBL( Story Based Learning) to their students. I look forward to more of what is to be offered and learning as well.
June 10, 2024
Day 6 in Rwanda. We went to Urukundo Learning Center and had a really fun day there. We got to see the teachers using SBL in their classrooms and it was amazing and beautiful. Honestly speaking today was so great, I was in the kitchen helping the staffs with chores and it’s was incredibly fun and relaxing.
June 11, 2024
Today in Rwanda, we went to the Huye Mountain Coffee. So this place if you’re interested in hiking and see if hiking is for you then come to Huye Mountain Coffee or Rwanda in general, but mostly just try Huye Mountain Coffee first. Going to Huye Mountain Coffee, half way through I was ready to go back home because you definitely get a “Whole workout” but after coming back from Huye Mountain Coffee, it felt really good and got to learn about the coffee and how it got to Rwanda and so more.
June 12, 2024
Day 8 in Rwanda. We went to Canopy walk in Hyungwe National Park. Okay let me walk you through how it looks like, all you need to do is imagine yourself there. So step one , check in, step two, walk down to the canopy for like 30mins going down hill, it’s like a roller coaster when it’s going down, you get to see the beautiful view, monkeys, water, birds and so more. Once you keep going then you get on the canopy that’s where everyone is scared about the height and all that.
But once you get on it, it’s starts feeling better and better, you get to take photos and all that. Then there is a higher canopy which’s way higher and longer but you get to experience the best view and get cute photos. Step 3 going back, now this where gym people put their hard work into actions and this is when people who have heart issues go slower and take many breaks. Going uphill is a whole body workout and heart workout. The steps of going uphill is way more difficultly.
June 15, 2024
Day 11 in Rwanda. Today we spent a day at a rural Rwandan household with Azizi Life. We got to experience what a daily life is with a rural household. It’s really a humbling experience, you get to actually see yourself in those people and how they keep going without no excuse of tiredness. All these women we meet are all in their 40s, 50s,60s ,and 70s. In USA you can imagine what a 70 year old look like and how they won’t be strong enough to do hard jobs. But here in Rwanda household, you think a 60 year old is at least 50 so it’s really exciting and amazing. My life before USA (born in Uganda ) was just like this ladies and I really loved it so going to see these ladies it’s made it feel like home and old memories came back and I was so happy about it.
