7 Things to Know About Volunteering in Rwanda

After the life-shattering genocide of 1994, Rwanda faced an uncertain future. With unmatched resilience and commitment to forgiveness and healing, the country continues to move toward reconciliation. A vibrant food, arts, and culture scene, thriving tourism industry, world-renowned peace education, and growing economy are only the beginning of what this youthful, stable, and dedicated country has to offer. There is so much you won’t want to miss when you’re volunteering in Rwanda. 

Volunteering in Rwanda will expose you to incredible sights and experiences.

Whatever volunteer Rwanda program you choose, be sure to leave any notions you have of saving an impoverished, traumatized nation at home. Instead, be prepared to receive more than you could ever imagine giving back. Approach your experience with a spirit of partnership that honors the humanity of every person, and you’ll be forever transformed.

Although there’s so much to offer, being a volunteer in Rwanda will definitely take you off the beaten path. That means preparing for your voyage will require a bit of extra research and attention to detail. The good news is we’ve got you covered! Keep reading to find out more about what you need to keep in mind when preparing for volunteer work in Rwanda.

7 things to know about volunteering in Rwanda

1. Location, location, location! 

Now that you’ve chosen to volunteer in Rwanda as your next great adventure, you’ll want to start thinking about where to call home. This tiny country (it’s only about the size of Switzerland) has more to offer than you might imagine.

Known as the “land of a thousand hills,” Rwanda’s diverse ecosystem is home to some of the rarest animals on Earth that hide among its verdant canopy, refreshing lakes, and towering volcanoes.

Volunteer opportunities in Rwanda are based around meaningful connections.

It’s not all jungles and grasslands though; there are urban centers like the buzzing capital city of Kigali, and Butare, a vibrant college town with requisite coffee shops. Remote rural areas like Musanze, where the mountain gorillas roam free and volcanoes dot the landscape, offer a whole different vibe than big city life.

If water soothes your soul, you might want to consider a lakeside town on the shores of Lake Kivu where water sports and sandy beaches abound. Wherever you decide to call home as a volunteer in Rwanda, you will be surrounded by the beauty of rolling hills.

2. Birds, chimpanzees, and gorillas, oh my!

There is no shortage of biodiversity in this tiny volcanic country. About 10% of the country is reserved for bird habitat and about a third of the mountain gorillas still roaming free in the world call Rwanda home.

You can also find chimpanzees, golden monkeys, hippos, rhinos, leopards, and more living in the forests, mountains, and waterways of this lush landscape. When you’re volunteering in Rwanda, be sure to build in time to explore the jungles, savannas, lakes, and forests on your off time. A timely bus system and major roads across the country make travel a breeze!

Beyond wildlife, Rwanda serves as a gateway to surrounding nations and even shares cross-border conservation efforts with Uganda, Congo, and Burundi. That means you might want to take a trek to a neighboring country in your free time. There’s even an East Africa Tourist Visa that allows you to enter Rwanda, Kenya, and Uganda. Check out your visa options while you research volunteer opportunities in Rwanda!

3. Choose a program that fits your skills and goals

Volunteering in Rwanda offers the opportunity to partner with local organizations to support a thriving community. Education, eco-tourism, and conflict resolution are among the most popular programs across the country. Before signing on the dotted line, you’ll want to do your research to figure out what program is the best match for your interests, experience, and wallet too! 

Remember that no matter what skills you come in with, as a volunteer in Rwanda, it is essential to listen and learn from the local people. There is deep wisdom in community. Even though things may be unfamiliar to you, try embracing new practices and ways of doing things. You never know how your life might change when you start thinking about the world from different perspectives!

How Much Does It Cost to Volunteer Abroad? We Dove Deep to Find Out 

4. Make friends wherever you are

Being a Rwanda volunteer will be hard work, but it’ll also be immensely rewarding.

No matter where you choose for your volunteer Rwanda experience, be sure to get out and make friends with community members. Asking locals is ALWAYS a great way to find off-the-beaten-path shops, parks, galleries, and tasty places to eat. 

You’ll definitely want to ask your new friends how to visit the impressive market in Kigali’s Kimironko neighborhood or the murals in Kimisagara. In the city or out, you won’t want to miss street foods like brochettes (grilled meat/seafood on a stick) and akabenz (marinated and roasted pork).

It’s always good to ask about reputable vendors, or look for where people are lining up to buy food and make new friends while enjoying the local delicacies. If you’re lucky, you might even snag a coveted invite to a family feast during your time as a Rwanda volunteer!  

Being surrounded by family — even the chosen kind — will definitely help you beat the inevitable homesickness blues while you’re doing volunteer work in Rwanda. Just as important, sharing stories about where you come from helps build bridges and will deepen your understanding of the troubled history and peaceful future being created together in Rwanda.

5. Be human

Being kind to each other and treating one another with dignity is at the heart of culture in Rwanda. This idea is captured in ubumuntu, a word in Kinyarwanda (a local language) that means “to be human,” and so much more.

In post-genocide Rwanda, embracing the spirit of ubumuntu is part of an ongoing, generations-long healing and reconciliation process. To recognize each others’ humanity, to care for one another with empathy and compassion, and to listen and learn from the past in ways that promote peace and protect human rights is at the heart of this way of life.

While doing volunteer work in Rwanda, you will be welcomed with ubumuntu. Don’t miss the chance to offer it in return. Slow down, listen carefully, love deeply, and be forever transformed by the “greatness of heart” you experience.

6. Monthly day of service

Rwanda is a community-focused and service-oriented country, so you’re in the right place!

The last Saturday of every month is a national day of community service, known as umuganda (coming together in common purpose). Businesses close, people pour into the streets, and neighbors help neighbors.

Together you might work on planting trees, cleaning streets, or repairing roads. As a Rwanda volunteer, you won’t be required to participate, but residents will be. Involvement is enforced by police for people 18-65 who are able to participate. 

In large part, umuganda has helped beautify the country and keep it free of trash with well-maintained roads while building relationships between community members. While this may largely be positive for the country, there is another perspective to consider.

Keep in mind that umuganda dates back to a time of forced labor in the 1970s and was even invoked during the 1994 genocide. This is a good reminder that when traveling and volunteering in Rwanda it is important to consider the historical context and real-life implications of our actions.

7. Do your homework

You’ve heard us say this a million times already, and we think it’s totally worth repeating! It is critical to approach your volunteer work in Rwanda with humility. That means before you go abroad, you’ll want to check your assumptions. Learn about the history and current context from multiple perspectives, not just what you see on TV.

In other words, don’t assume you know what’s best for the community and be open to new ways of understanding the world. It’s important to remember that when you’re volunteering in Rwanda, even if your intentions are good, you can cause confusion and anger if your actions don’t align with local ideas about health, wealth, happiness, education, and family.

You’ll want to do research about the specific programs you’re considering to understand how they’re collaborating with local organizations and their effectiveness. Be sure that your experience is about partnering with communities rather than doing service to them — that’s true ubumuntu!

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You’re ready to volunteer in Rwanda!

What will you accomplish as a volunteer in Rwanda?

During your time as a Rwanda volunteer, you’ll enjoy colorful markets, endless opportunities for wildlife encounters, and the promise of beach time (on a lake of course — it IS a landlocked country after all). The geography is wildly diverse and yet accessible all within a day in this small East African country in the lakes region. 

Perhaps the most alluring aspect of Rwanda is that it’s a stunningly gorgeous country that refuses to allow its past to define its future. Volunteering in Rwanda will give you an opportunity to critically reflect on the legacy of colonization and the nation’s subsequent genocide while participating thoughtfully in building the future the community envisions for itself.

Part of that regeneration includes a vital food culture, healing through arts and music, and of course museums and memorials that serve as sites for remembering and learning. 

At this point, volunteer opportunities in Rwanda should be calling your name. Choosing what type of program, length of stay, and location is your exciting next step. Should it be childcare in Kigali, business development in a rural area, or something else entirely? No matter what you decide, this will absolutely be the adventure of a lifetime. 

There is no better way to expand your worldview than to travel to another country and build relationships while creating positive change. Now you just need to learn a few phrases in Kinyarwanda and you’ll be set to go! What are you waiting for? Volunteer in Rwanda!

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