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Rwanda 2014

Rwanda

Kagogo, Rwanda

Papa Gidion is a genuinely kind and light-hearted teacher at the École Secondaire de Kagogo in the green hills of northern Rwanda. Here, though, he appears quite serious as he sits in the teachers’ lounge planning his chemistry lessons. Behind Gidion is an enormous hand-written time table, the schedule of classes for each day of the week.
Photo © 2009 Nicole Gaunt
Peace Corps Volunteer, Rwanda 2009-2010

Republika y’u Rwanda
Central Africa, landlocked

Area 26,338 km2 (RANK 149)

Arable 45.6%

Capital Kigali (909K)

Population 11,689,696 (444/km2)

Literacy 71%

Life expectancy 58 yrs

HIV/AIDS 2.9% (170,000 adults)

In poverty 45%

Military 2.9% of GDP (RANK 47 of 195)

Languages Kinyarwanda, French, English, Kiswahili

Religions Roman Catholic 57%, Protestant 26%, Adventist 11%, Muslim 5%, none 2%, indigenous beliefs

Gov’t Republic; presidential, multiparty system

GDP/capita $1,300

Agriculture coffee, tea, insecticide, bananas, beans, sorghum, potatoes, lifestock

Industry cement, agricultural products, small scale beverages, soap, furniture, shoes, plastic goods, textiles, cigarettes

PCVs 1975-1993, 2008-present, current 161, TTD 397; health, education

Adult Books

>God Sleeps in Rwanda, A Journey of TransformationGod Sleeps in Rwanda, A Journey of Transformation
by J. Sebarenzi, 2009

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Atria Books; Reprint edition (January 11, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416575774

Book Description
Memoir of politician/diplomat, describes the horror of 1990’s massacres and how he turned bitterness and hatred to forgiveness and compassion.

Kids' Books

Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You
by Hanna Jansen

Format: Hardcover, 342 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1575059273
Age Range: 12+ years
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books, 2006

Films

Film: Munyurangabo
Director: Lee Isaac Chung, (2007)
Read review at Sun Times

Documentary: WE ARE ALL RWANDANS
Director: Debs Gardner-Paterson (2008)

Music

Meddy: Igipimo

Meddy: Ese Urambona

Mani Martin: Urukumbuzi

Mani Martin: Intero y'amahoro

Lilian and Kitoko: Yegwe Weka

Dream Boyz: Bella: http://youtu.be/cfsv_PaAf6w

Jean-Paul Samputu (Kora music award winner): Karibu Mungu

King James: http://youtu.be/g_mou0qOgqs

Focus Word

Focus Word for 2014 - "Home"

Kinyarwanda: Murugo (ma-roo-go)
Kiswahili: “Nyumbani” (num-ba-nee)

Copyright © Julie Olsen

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