Rwanda

Welcome to Rwanda

We are Sonia and Alain and we are proud to be Rwandans. We have been making films about what life is like in Rwanda. Have a look at what we have been up to. Rwanda is often called ‘the Land of a Thousands Hills’ – watch some of the videos we have made and you will see why.

Women

A woman’s status varies by country and region across Africa. In many parts, women struggle against inequality in laws, education, pay and domestic responsibilities.

Women’s health is also at risk from traditional practices such as early marriage. But with better education, girls can make more informed choices, leading to the greater development of African nations.

Development

‘People are the real wealth of a nation.’ This is the belief of the United Nations, whose Millenium Development Goals provide a framework for improving the lives of millions.

It helps when nations are peaceful, stable and growing economically. But where even the poorest countries focus on health, education and creating fairer societies, more Africans have the chance of a better life.

History & Politics

Putting the past behind it

Rwanda is determined to leave its recent past behind and become a leader in the modern world. Already, women outnumber men in parliament.

Foods

Africa has some of the most distinctive cuisines and flavours in the world. Food varies widely, but there are commonalities across regions. Depending on what's grown locally, dishes are also influenced by the traders, immigrants and rulers who settled across the continent. Arab, Asian and European elements blend in with traditional African cooking.

Famine & Agriculture

A quarter of the population of sub-Saharan Africa is undernourished and famines can impact whole regions.

Land is available to grow more food locally, but investment is needed in  technologies such as irrigation for land to be used effectively. Farmers must also adapt to climate change if they are to feed the continent's rising population.

Genocide

An eye-opening experience

A visit to the genocide memorial museum is quite an eye-opener for Alain, Sonia and their friends. They see brutal and shocking images from the 1994 genocide.

Games & Sports

Africa is home to arguably the oldest-recorded games and sports. While some are only known through archaeology, modern-day games and sports such as Mancala/Mankala and Nubian wrestling are very much alive today.

Of course, new sports have come along to claim the attention of Africans. You may have heard of one - it's called football.

Health

Africa has a high number of communicable diseases, which place a huge burden on healthcare systems. The vast majority of malaria cases and HIV/AIDS-related deaths occur in Africa; these two diseases currently represent the greatest threats.

With low investment in healthcare and a severe shortage of medical staff, many countries struggle to meet the health needs of their people.

Climate & Agriculture

The slopes of Rwanda

Tea and coffee are the country’s two main export crops, but plantains are the favourite crop for the domestic market.

Rwanda map

Explore Rwanda

Discover some of Rwanda’s key attractions, cities and places of interest. Kigali is the capital city and is currently undergoing a lot of redevelopment. Rwanda boasts some amazing wildlife reserves including the Volcanoes National Park. Here you can see mountain gorillas among many other animals.

Coffee

Working with coffee

Alain visits a coffee plantation in Rwanda. He finds out all about the process of making coffee and meets some of the workers.

Economy & Industry

Open for business

Rwanda’s economy is growing and with its open business climate, the country hopes to attract more international companies to Kigali.

Education & Jobs

Nurturing the IT generation

With the introduction of free schooling, more children in Rwanda are enrolled in school and there are ambitious plans for education in the country.

Facts & Figures

Second languages

Most Rwandans currently speak French as a second language. English was adopted as the official language of education from 2008.

Food & Daily life

A time of togetherness

Life is hard for many Rwandans. But a spirit of ‘togetherness’ and ‘working-for-a-better future’ is being fostered in communities, both big and small.

Geography & Wildlife

The tree world

Rwanda’s mountain forests are home to many tree dwellers, including a large number of primates and many species of birds.

Our SOS Family

Family life

Families come in all shapes and sizes. Find out what life is like for one family living at the SOS Children's Village in Kigali.

People & Culture

Old dances and folk songs

Rwanda’s long, rich history lies behind many of the country’s unique dances and folk songs.

Poverty & Healthcare

Rising life expectancy

On average, Rwandans live to 59 years of age (2009). But with improving healthcare and a new health insurance scheme which enables more Rwandans to access medical services, the government hopes life expectancy will rise to 65 by 2020.

Role of Women

Women in Rwanda

Alain meets a remarkable and brave woman who lost her father in the genocide. She talks to Alain about the role of women in Rwanda.

Climate

Africa is a massive continent, with a range of climates. Some regions are hot and dry, like the Sahara, Kalahari and Namib deserts. Other parts are wet or covered in tropical rainforest. Conditions also vary by altitude, from the dry salt pans of the Danakil Depression (one of the lowest points on earth) to the snowcaps (at certain times) of the highest mountains. Weather-wise, Africa has it all!

School

A laptop per child

Take a glimpse at what school life is like for some Rwandan children.

The Rwandan government aims to provide every child between the age of nine and 12 with a laptop.

Tourism

A new Rwanda

Rwanda’s past has deterred many tourists from visiting. Today, Rwanda is growing and re-building and its people want to show the world their beautiful country.

Tourism & Communications

A top tourist destination

Rwanda’s attractive landscape, pleasant temperatures and unique wildlife draw many visitors to the country.

Welcome to Rwanda

Hi, welcome to Rwanda

We are Sonia and Alain and we are proud to be Rwandans. We have been making films about what life is like in Rwanda. Have a look at what we have been up to. Rwanda is often called ‘the Land of a Thousands Hills’ – watch some of the videos we have made and you will see why.

State of Children

Around one in six children born in sub-Saharan Africa don't live to see their fifth birthday and life can be tough for those who do.

What are the common challenges facing African children and how do their lives compare with those of children in the UK?

Children's stories

'Maman Rwanda'

Children from the SOS Children's Village in Kigali, Rwanda, were given the opportunity to take part in a film workshop. With their new skills they created their own film.

Poverty

Across the rest of the world, absolute poverty has halved over recent decades, but in Africa it has barely fallen.

About two-fifths of the population of sub-Saharan Africa survive week by week on what someone in the UK earns from just one hour's work on the minimum wage.

War & Empire

The first humans are thought to have lived in Africa and powerful African empires formed from the medieval age onwards.

However, today's African nations were shaped by the European powers who colonised this vast continent. Having gained their independence, many African countries are still coming to terms with the legacy left by their colonisers.

Wildlife

With its varied geography and diverse habits, the African continent is home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Though famous for its 'big game' animals, Africa has huge numbers of fish, mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian and insect species, as well as many tree, plant and flower species.