2025 Rwanda Delegation— Rusi Mbabazi
International Relations ‘25
I return to Rwanda to continue deepening my understanding of the culture and history. This time, I’m especially focused on learning more about Rwanda’s progress in post-genocide mental health awareness and how communities continue healing and moving forward.
I have families and community members who experienced the horrors of 1994. I have families and community members who still live in the shadow of what happed in 1994. It is my duty as a Rwandan to learn all that I can (about pre Genocide and post Genocide Rwanda) to better serve the community and general public. It’s important to never forget what happened in 1994. It’s important to learn how the county continues to heal.
Going to Rwanda has made me more empathetic than I thought I was. Oddly speaking, I enjoyed conversating with the perpetrators. Not because I enjoyed listening to the gruesome details of the atrocities they committed but because; they were speaking. They were telling their stories, experiences and crimes.
There is power in storytelling. For a very long time in history, men did not speak about their mental health. Seeing perpetrators or victims speak of their experiences and how they were affected restores faith in the idea that the next generations will continue Rwandas tradition of forgiveness, remembrance,unity and renewal.
Day 1
Hello everyone!
Welcome to my blog 🥳🥳🥳
Today we arrived in Kigali Rwanda. We were met at the airport with our GEI family and they gave us a warm welcome.
Everyone was very exhausted from the long plane ride. From the airport, we went to Saint Paul and had lunch. We then went to exchange money. From there, we went back to the hotel and rested until dinner and then we called it a day.
Something interesting:
It rained alot in Kigali. I thought it was dry season time. I should’ve brought an umbrella ☔️ (haha)
Down below are some photos I took while on the plane and some photos of my trip!
Thank you for stopping by
Stay tuned for more updates on my journey here In Rwanda.
Day 2 - Women’s center
Hey guys, welcome back to my blog!!
Today I visited the Umutima Women’s Center.
Here is what I learned
Founding and Vision
• Started by 18 women from various regions of the country who met in Kigali.
• Initial effort involved pooling resources to help one member, then expanding support to others.
• The goal: empower women, most of whom are single mothers, by giving them a way to work and raise their children in dignity.
• Early on, 3 members out of the 18 women had no education, so the others taught them to read and write.
Partnership and Growth
• In 2008, they met Slovenian women, shared their vision, and received funds to rent office space and purchase furniture and sewing machines.
• This led to the first 8-month sewing class.
Expanding Training
• The women asked themselves: “What if other women also want this training?”
• In 2013, they reached out to the gov to help them recruit women. The local government goes out into the community and selects women that need the trainings.
• This led to recruiting 55 women to form “Umutima Quality”, the production team. (Mutima is “heart” in Kinyarwanda)
• These women are paid monthly, though wages vary.
Programs Offered
• Literacy Class (first step for all)
• Then choose between: Sewing Class (8 months) or Hair Braiding Class (8 months, Mon–Thu, half-day: Includes hair care, braiding, cutting, washing
• Aim: help women become self-employed or find jobs.
• Participants must be over 18, often high school dropouts or rural women who moved to Kigali.
Children’s Library
• Launched in 2017, inspired by mothers bringing kids to work. Instead
Of mothers receiving training and having to bring children to school with them, the children’s library was created to provide an educational environment and opportunity for children while the mothers train.
• Library holds 3,000+ books in English, French, and Kinyarwanda.
• Promotes early literacy and learning.
Production and Culture
• Main textile used: Kitenge and cotton.
• Products include a heart label symbolizing “Umutima” (heart).
• Work hours: Mon–Fri, 8:00 to 4:30.
• Sewing class materials are not for sale—used for practice and sometimes donated.
• Embroidery workers earn 70% of the value of what they produce.
Impact
• Over 6,000 women trained.
• Offers free training and pathways to economic independence.
• Deeply rooted in community, culture, and empowerment.
Cultural Initiatives
I visited the milk bar next to the women’s center
• Milk Bar onsite: offers fresh and fermented milk (kivuguto). I got to try the milk and it was so delicious!! Many people gather in a bar to share alcohol and socialize. In the milk bar street, people gather to drink milk and socialize. Milk and cows are deeply cultural symbols in Rwanda; Used in proverbs, names, and dowries. For example, a Rwandan can say to you that your eyes are like a cows eyes. This means your eyes are as beautiful as a cows eyes.
Biggest take away: the women’s center was created to fight gender based violence and give women, especially lower income women and mothers the opportunity to learn trades and make a living. Women breaking free from societal norms and investing in themselves and learning trades is truly incredible. I pray the program continues to expand and touch more lives.
Down below are pictures from today❤️
Thank you for coming to my blog!