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Rwanda
The Republic of Rwanda is a small landlocked country in the Great Lakes Region of east-central Africa. Known as the "Land of a Thousand Hills" due to the verdant, fertile hills that blanket much of the country, Rwanda is home to approximately 10 million people, making it the most densely populated nation in Africa. Agriculture is the fastest growing sector of a national economy that reported a 9% growth rate in the first half of 2009.

The high altitude of Rwanda - average elevation is 1,500 meters - provides the country with a pleasant tropical highland climate. Temperatures vary considerably from region to region due to fluctuations in altitude. In the capital city, Kigali, located on the central plateau, the average temperature is 70° F. A long rainy season lasts from February to May, and a shorter one from November through December.

Global Issues Background
Rwanda has received considerable international attention due to its 1994 genocide, during which between 800,000 and one million people were killed during a 100-day period. Nevertheless, Rwanda has charted its own path toward reconciliation and recovery by using local gacaca courts, national trials, and UN tribunals to achieve some measure of justice. Broadly speaking, the Rwandan people seem to accept the notion that no legal process can provide adequate comfort to the families of genocide victims. It is remarkable that the Government of Rwanda has been able to effectively focus the populace on unity and prosperity as a vehicle for national salvation.

Today, the Government of Rwanda is beating the odds stacked against an impoverished nation, consumed by violence a mere 15 years ago. Rwanda is fast emerging as a model for other African nations to follow. These current statistics speak for themselves:
·    Healthcare has dramatically improved, achieving a 30% drop in maternal mortality rates between 2000 and 2005.
·    The legal system has been reformed to allow both men and women to inherit land.
·    In government, the number of women holding elective office dramatically exceeds the global average of 14%. At the local level, 43% of government positions are held by women. The same is true in Rwanda’s Parliament, where women currently hold close to 50% of the seats- more than any other country in the world.
·    In September 2009, the World Bank’s “Doing Business’s 2010” report named Rwanda “the world’s most improved nation” (moving from 143rd to 67th place).  
·    Education is rapidly improving, and already has reached the national goal of gender parity at the primary level.

The Rwandan Government continues its dogged pursuit of the excellence that has produced triumphs across multiple sectors of society. But to create lasting change, much work still lies ahead to improve Rwanda’s education system.

The past few years have brought five significant modifications to Rwanda’s public education system. The Government of Rwanda has:
·    Expanded free universal public education from six to nine years.
·    Streamlined academic course requirements.
·    Moved to a double-shift time schedule to accommodate increased numbers of students.
·    Identified and promoted progressive pedagogies for teaching.
·    Switched from French to English as the language of classroom instruction.

Similar to other reforms of the post-genocide era, Rwanda’s proposed educational reforms are ambitious. To succeed, these reforms will require long-term support and broad-based commitment.

Requirements
Students should have a satisfactory level of physical fitness in order to participate in manual labor and other physical activities, such as hiking and swimming.

Students and parents are required to complete all required World Leadership School forms, including the Application, Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risks, Indemnity Agreement, and the Medical Form. As part of the application, students must respond to a detailed questionnaire expressing their reasons for wanting to go on the trip.

Students should remain flexible to changing circumstances, delays and other hurdles that are common in Rwanda. The specifics of volunteer work will be decided according to the needs of the community or organization shortly.

Risk Management & Safety
We strive to responsibly manage risks. Our itineraries minimize highway travel and maximize immersion in rural communities that we know well. We update our risk management protocols, integrate feedback into program design, and invest in safety and communication equipment. Despite these efforts, World Leadership School cannot guarantee safety nor can it eliminate the inherent and other risks of international student travel. For information regarding program activities and associated risks, risk management, and student and parent responsibilities, please contact us(303) 679-3412.