Connect With Rwanda
Understanding International Development in East Africa
Understanding International Development in East Africa
Cultural Vistas’ Bridge to Access Initiative aims to engage persons historically excluded from international exchange through programs, scholarships, capacity-building, and support. As part of this initiative, Connect with Rwanda was developed through our collaborative work with Morehouse College and Spelman College. This program is Cultural Vistas’ first program in East Africa and one example of our effort to thoughtfully expand our global experience destinations.
In 2024, Connect with Rwanda was implemented in partnership with the Global Livingston Institute, with the support of the Cyril Taylor Charitable Foundation and the Cultural Vistas donor community.
Connect with Rwanda allows participants to view their own community and culture with fresh eyes, and to apply the insights they gain abroad back at home, exploring both the building blocks of prospering democratic societies and the importance of intercultural competence, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The annual program dates are in May.
The program is currently for full-time students enrolled at either Morehouse or Spelman colleges and is recommended for sophomores to upper-level students because of its intensity and depth of materials to be covered. Ability to draw ideas from knowledge accumulated in several courses in humanities and social sciences is expected.
The program provides an immersive understanding of Rwanda’s history, development, and culture by engaging students in both lectures and discussions as well as through direct experience in communities. Below is a sample overview.
History: Explored through pre-departure readings, lectures and discussions as well as visits such as to the Nyamata Genocide Memorial and Museum of the Environment and time for individual and group reflection.
Development: Lectures and discussions focus on economic development, women’s empowerment, and rural community development through visits such as to the Rwanda Parliament and discussions with women parliamentarians.
Culture: Lectures and discussions designed to prompt thought about Rwandan culture including an introduction to the Kinyarwanda language and visits such as to Mbyo Reconciliation Village.
Participants are expected to provide a portion of their program experience. All major program costs are covered but additional covered costs may vary from year to year. Please contact a Connect with Rwanda team member for more information.
Hear from the 2023 Connect with Rwanda cohort about their life-changing experience