Rwanda
Volunteer Holidays currently have opportunities to work with children, and their communities, through our partner organisation in Rwanda. Since the 1994 genocide, Rwanda has been working to climb out of the shadow of the past. Rwanda has mostly passed the point of needing emergency aid, but the genocide will have long lasting consequences, such as poverty and HIV/AIDS, for years to come, and there is much work still to be done.
Volunteers will assist our partner organisation's mission to facilitate processes to help eradicate poverty, reduce HIV infections, and help communities in capacity building programs. This is a Christian-based organisation, however, volunteers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Rwanda Location
The program is located in the Kigali province, primarily in the capital Kigali (Nyarugenge), Kicukiro, and Gasabo districts.
Rwanda Program
All projects require volunteers who are self-starters and can conduct their daily activities with minimal supervision. You will take part in a flexible schedule in one or more of the following areas, depending on program needs and volunteer skills. For example, you may work in the morning at a school and in the afternoon tutor teachers in improving their English.
Teaching English is an important part of all programs and all volunteers should expect to spend at least some time teaching or tutoring groups in the community.
The volunteer opportunities are in the following areas:
- Children's Program
The after effects of genocide lead to thousands upon thousands of children homeless and forced to live in orphanages. A high percentage of these children have also lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. As a volunteer you will take on the role of an older sibling and be involved in daily care activities which include feeding, teaching life skills, and playing with the children. You will work along side the house mothers to assist with teaching, homework help, childcare, and the daily operational running of the home. Volunteers are also encouraged to initiate their own work by organising arts and crafts, music, dance, games, and sports activities for the children. This role is suitable for a caring, motivated, and self-directed person who has a love for children and has childcare experience.
- Literacy Program
The situation of schools in Rwanda is still unsatisfactory. Many of them lack books, scholastic and teaching materials, and school equipment. In fact, war and genocide caused heavy losses at the level of human and material resources as well as the decrease of the social capital. Estimates show that about 600 schools (almost a third of Rwanda's schools) were destroyed and 3000 teachers killed. What is more worrying is the fact that an important number of children do not attend school due to certain family chores and responsibility. Volunteers will work alongside local primary teachers to improve the level of English, math, health, hygiene, and science skills amongst students. Volunteers will also be involved in improving teachers' levels of English. Volunteers are not required to have a teaching qualification, but experience in subject areas like English, math, health, hygiene, science, and French would be advantageous. This program requires a one month minimum placement.
- HIV/Aids Program
It is estimated that approximately 150,000 people are living with AIDS in Rwanda, with 78,000 of those women, and 19,000 children under the age of 14. The aim of the HIV/AIDS program is to decrease the spread of HIV through raising awareness and education, increasing access to homecare and providing emotional support to those affected by HIV/AIDS within the community. Volunteers have the opportunity to work with community mobilisers to assist with counselling and taking care of patients both at home and at hospitals. This will involve taking patients to the hospitals and doing a follow up of their nutritional needs. There will also be some administration and office work involved. No medical training is required for volunteers in this program but volunteers should have a compassionate spirit, HIV/AIDS knowledge, and basic counselling skills.
Volunteers will also have the opportunity to work with local women's associations in developing sustainable business activities such as local soap making, basket weaving for commercial purposes, and subsistence farming. Volunteers will work closely with these associations to bring in new business ideas, providing training on small scale business practices. Volunteers should have a basic knowledge in management of small scale income generating activities.
- Community Outreach Program
Income Generating Activities - Volunteers will have the opportunity to work with local women's associations in developing sustainable business activities such as soap making, basket weaving, bead making, and subsistence farming. Volunteers will work closely with these associations to bring in new business ideas, providing training on small scale business practices and assistance on getting products to market. This project will be volunteer initiated; volunteers are required to have knowledge or skills in the management of small scale business.
Education - Volunteers will work with the community to provide informal education workshops. The workshops are run for children, teenagers no longer in the position to attend school, and different women’s groups. The focus will be on teaching English but there may be an opportunity to introduce a wider range of topics and assist with classes that address issues affecting those in the community.
Program Requirements
As a volunteer in Rwanda you must:
- Be between 18 and 65 years of age (volunteers who are older than this are considered on a case by case basis)
- Have no major health problems
- Have some skills in at least one of the following areas:
• Childcare
• Teaching
• Medicine
• Business skills
- Intermediate French is required for the Teaching program
- Be eligible for a tourist visa to Rwanda
Program Cost
Application Fee $97
Your application fee is fully transferable and will secure your place on the program, (or any other Volunteer Holiday program of your choice), at a placement date that is suitable to you.*
* Your application fee provides you with access to any of our volunteer programs over the next 5 years, as many times as you like without having to pay another application fee!
Program Fee from US $43 a day *
Cost for 2 weeks - US $1597
Cost for 4 weeks - US $1997
Cost for 6 weeks - US $2197
Cost for 8 weeks - US $2397
* based on an 8 week program.
Placements longer than 8 weeks are available please contact us.
To see the cost in your currency, we recommend you look here.
The in-country fee covers administrative charge, airport pick-up, a direct donation to the project, 2 meals a day during your placement, and supervision.
You will need to budget for your other expenses like bottled water, personal costs, beverages, and entertainment. If you are willing to live on a tight budget you can get by on US$50 per week. The other costs you will need to meet are your flights, visa, shots, travel insurance, transport to placement, departure tax and your bus trip back to the airport.
Program Schedule
Start Date: 1st or 15th of each month
Length: 2 weeks - 3 months. Your stay can be extended beyond three months on a case by case basis.
Please note: The Teaching program requires a one month minimum placement. School terms are usually between January 1st to March 31st, May 1st to July 31st, and September 1st to November 30th. Kindly note that school term start dates changes unexpectedly; the term may commence a week later than the scheduled date.
Contact Us
If you would like more information on any of these projects, or if you have any questions, please email Lee-Anne or phone 03 6224 7444.
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