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Proposed Itinerary
Topics of discussion for the professional
meetings are provided by the delegation leader and
are modified to the specific interests of delegates.
A final, detailed itinerary will be provided
approximately 30 days prior to departure.
The professional counterparts you meet throughout
the program will be invited to join the delegation
for a meal to allow further interaction between you
and your hosts. A final detailed itinerary will be
provided approximately 30 days prior to departure.
Friday, Day 1: November 14 - Toronto to Kigali
Saturday, Day 2:
Arrival and welcome to Kigali. Enjoy dinner at the hotel.
Kigali is the capital of Rwanda situated almost in the center of the country. The city is built on interlocking hills which progressively converge and are separated from each other by large valleys giving them oval shapes. At the time of independence in 1962, only about 4,000 people lived here. Since then Kigali has grown rapidly, and today contains almost 1 million residents.
Sunday, Day 3:
Program briefing: Discuss the political and cultural diversity of Rwanda and receive further information on the delegation
Enjoy a city tour of Kigali: Visit the Kandt Museum, tour old commercial and Muslim quarters, discover landmarks from during and after the genocide, and visit new government and residential areas.
Monday, Day 4:
Depart for Nyanza and Butare.
Nyanza used to be the seat of the Rwandan kingdoms from the 19th century until independence; Butare is well-known for its distinct atmosphere that comes from being a university town and center for culture. Butare hosts the National University of Rwanda as well as the National Museum and a variety of cultural cooperatives.
Visit a local non-governmental organization and explore a local handicrafts cooperative.
Professional program focusing on:
- Epidemiology of disability across the continuum
- Cultural traditions, attitudes, beliefs and behaviors related to disability and how these affect the delivery of health care
Visit to the King’s palaces at Nyanza and introduction to the ancient kingdoms of Rwanda.
The older royal residence originally consisted of 16 huts, each with a specific function, built inside a huge compound with only one entrance. An additional 34 huts hosted the king’s servants outside of the main compound, and are arranged in a half circle according to their activities. The royal court was the center of intellectual and artistic life of the kingdom.
Tuesday, Day 5:
A burial site with over 250,000 victims of genocide is located in Gisozi, a suburb of Kigali. It includes a main historical exhibition, a children’s memorial exhibition, and an exhibition on comparative genocide. It has over four acres of memorial gardens containing ten mass graves. Rwandans are in the process of institutionalizing their history, and in formalizing its educational mechanisms.
New material on the genocide continues to emerge, and mass graves and family graves are still being discovered. The mechanisms for reconciliation that have resulted are truly astounding and will be a focus of the day as well.
Professional program focusing on:
- The short and long term affects of the Genocide on persons with disabilities
- The role of humanitarian and development agencies in delivering health services
Wednesday, Day 6:
Explore the Nyamata Church Genocide Memorial.
Visit to the Millennium Village in Mayange to gain unique insight into the country’s development challenges and means to achieving poverty reduction and sustainable development.
The UN Millennium Villages Project is a partnership of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Millennium Promise, ten African governments and their respective local representations, a variety of donors, and a few country-specific partners. The objective is to show how the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be achieved in only five years, and to offer these insights to the global community as best-practice case studies.
Among the projects at the village are farms and gardens, a terracing and dam project, a primary school, a health center, and a micro-enterprise development project.
Professional program focusing on:
- Delivery of health care services within a resource poor country
- Community based rehabilitation initiatives
Thursday, Day 7:
Visit a pastoralist community in Umutara, where you’ll be introduced to a traditional lifestyle, including the production of a type of local butter called “ghee.”
Professional program focusing on:
- Education and training for physical therapists and other health professionals
- Recommendations for further collaborations between Rwanda and Canada
Visit to the street children project.
Reception for invited guests.
Friday, Day 8:
Transfer to Gisenyi on the shores of Lake Kivu.
Lake Kivu is one of the 20 deepest and most voluminous freshwater bodies in the world. The lake was formed about 2 million years ago around the end of the Tertiary period due to heavy tectonic activities. Its surface has an altitude of 1,470m.
Visit the Imbabazi Orphanage, which was founded by the late Rosamond (Roz) Halsey Carr. Run today by another charismatic American, K-Ellen Cleary, the orphanage houses more than 100 children who will be overjoyed to interact with delegates and leave you with a lasting impression of their daily lives.
Enjoy sundowners this evening with traditional dancing at the pool.
Saturday, Day 9:
Transfer to Ruhengeri for a meeting with representatives from community-based projects focusing on local culture and traditions.
Meet with a “storyteller” from the local community who speaks about the recent history from a northern perspective.
Lunch will be prepared by women from the community, where you will be welcome to join them and learn about Rwandan cuisine.
Return to Kigali.
Transfer to airport for an evening departure and farewell.
Sunday, Day 10: November 23 - Arrival in Toronto
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