The Division of Access and Engagement and the Thornton Athletics Center is expanding the University of Tennessee’s footprint in Rwanda. We will co-lead an experience for 20-25 student athletes and non-student athletes to Rwanda in May/June each year. The tenets of the program will be leadership, service, culture, and community. We will build upon our previous by continuing our relationships with Rwandan organizations to build an impactful 10-day experience, at no cost, for our scholars.
Prior to the trip, staff will provide a series of workshops and sessions to prepare our students for this experience. Rwanda is one of the most diverse countries in all of Africa with a myriad of opportunities for engagement with the United States on diplomatic, commercial, security, and social fronts. It provides a unique, interesting, and informative context for UT students.
Purpose
- Expand Tennessee footprint around the globe
- Establish international, educational partnership with Rwandan communities
- Allow students to gain international social enterprise skills, leadership skills, and team building skills
Curriculum
- Formal and informal lectures
- Interactive round table conversations
- One-on-one coaching
- Information exchange through writing, presentation, and public speaking skills
Program
- Learn cultural practices, business and professional etiquettes, and other highly valuable communication skills
- Tenets will be leadership, service, culture, and community
- Students will be equipped to become global citizens
- Genocide Memorial & City Tour
- Parliament
- Nyamirambo Women’s Center
- US Embassy
- Akagera Game Drive
- Ellen DeGeneres Campus
- Gorilla Trek
- Sunzu Village
- Bridge 2 Rwanda
- University of Rwanda
- Shooting Touch
Geography: Known as the “land of a thousand hills,” Rwanda’s landscape is mostly hilly and mountainous. The Virunga Mountains, located in the northwest part of Rwanda, contain the country’s highest peak, Karisimbi, which reaches nearly 15,000 feet. Two major African rivers, the Nile and the Congo, flow through Rwanda.
Population: 13,866,717
Capital City: Kigali
- Located in the centre of the country on the Ruganwa River
Government: Multiparty Republic
Languages: Kinyarwanda is the national language of Rwanda, and the first language of almost the entire population of the country. Other languages spoken are English, French, and Swahili.
- Uraho – Hello
- Bite se? – How are you?
- Witwa nde? – What’s your name?
- Nitwa ___ – My name is ___
- Nejejewe no kukubona – Nice to meet you
- Urakoze – Thank you
- Urabeho – Goodbye
Religion: The majority of Rwanda’s population is Christian. About 45% belong to the Catholic faith, 35% to the Protestant faith and about 5% profess Islam.
Currency: Rwandan Franc
- 1 Rwandan Franc = 0.00089 USD
Economy: The economy is forecast to grow 6.2% in 2023 and around 7.5% in 2024 and 2025. The finance ministry estimates the economy grew 6.8% in 2022.
- Leading sectors include energy, agriculture, trade and hospitality, and financial services. Rwanda’s economy is overwhelmingly rural and heavily dependent on agriculture.
Import/Export: Main imports are food products, machinery and equipment, construction materials, petroleum products and fertilizers. Major exports are coffee, tea, tin cassiterite, Wolfframite, and pyrethrum.
National Colors: The three colors on the flag of Rwanda are blue, yellow, and green.
- The light blue represents happiness and peace
- The yellow symbolizes economic development
- The green symbolizes the hope of prosperity.
President: Paul Kagame (since 2000)
| Vaccines for Disease | Recommendations |
| Routine Vaccines | Make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines before every trip. Some of these vaccines include |
| COVID-19 | All eligible travelers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Please see Your COVID-19 Vaccination for more information. |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers one year old or older going to Rwanda.
Infants 6 to 11 months old should also be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. The dose does not count toward the routine 2-dose series. Travelers allergic to a vaccine component or who are younger than 6 months should receive a single dose of immune globulin, which provides effective protection for up to 2 months depending on dosage given. Unvaccinated travelers who are over 40 years old, immunocompromised, or have chronic medical conditions planning to depart to a risk area in less than 2 weeks should get the initial dose of vaccine and at the same appointment receive immune globulin. |
| Hepatitis B | Recommended for unvaccinated travelers younger than 60 years old traveling to Rwanda. Unvaccinated travelers 60 years and older may get vaccinated before traveling to Rwanda. |
| Malaria | CDC recommends that travelers going to Rwanda take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. Depending on the medicine you take, you will need to start taking this medicine multiple days before your trip, as well as during and after your trip. Talk to your doctor about which malaria medication you should take.
Find country-specific information about malaria. |
| Measles | Infants 6 to 11 months old traveling internationally should get 1 dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine before travel. This dose does not count as part of the routine childhood vaccination series. |
| Rabies | Rabid dogs are commonly found in Rwanda. If you are bitten or scratched by a dog or other mammal while in Rwanda, there may be limited or no rabies treatment available.
Consider rabies vaccination before your trip if your activities mean you will be around dogs or wildlife. Travelers more likely to encounter rabid animals include
Since children are more likely to be bitten or scratched by a dog or other animals, consider rabies vaccination for children traveling to Rwanda. |
| Typhoid | Recommended for most travelers, especially those staying with friends or relatives or visiting smaller cities or rural areas. |
Don’t forget to compete the following items before departing on your trip to Rwanda.
Before Departure
- Get your passport or confirm your passport won’t expire within 6 months of travel
- Research vaccines or medication needed from the CDC
- Attend TRLE orientation sessions
Up to 1 Week Before Departure
- Alert bank and credit of travel
- Make copies of travel documents and ID
- Start packing
- Review timeline for medication
Travel Documents & Tips
- Get your passport well in advance & ensure your passport will not expire within 6 months of visiting
- Make copies of your passport.
- Check to see if the country you’re visiting requires a visa.
- Print your boarding pass (in case your phone dies).
- Double check baggage requirements on all flights you take including any travel within a country
A Healthy Trip
- Give yourself time to get over jet lag (drink plenty of water before, during, and after your flight)
- Get plenty of rest before your trip and slightly adjust your schedule for time changes. Once you arrive, do your best to avoid naps.
- Airplane exercises
- Bring snacks.
- Pack extra clothes in your carry-on.
- Be careful with local drinking water (i.e. brushing teeth, washing fruits and vegetables, and other beverages where water is added).
Health
- Check with the CDC and your doctor to see if any vaccinations are required or recommended.
- Take a basic first aid kit.
- Include band-aids, pain reliever, sunscreen, and stomach sickness medications. Keep prescriptions, contacts, and eyeglasses in your carry-on. Prescriptions in the original bottle.
Money
- Inform your bank and credit card companies that you will be traveling.
- Check that your credit card works internationally.
- Consider a credit card with non foreign transaction fees.
- If you pay with a card, always pay in the local currency.
- Get local currency from an ATM in your destination (rather than at home).
- TRLE staff will provide.
- Always carry local cash.
- Look up the exchange rate before arriving at your destination.
- Download a currency conversion app (i.e. XE Currency Converter).
Sources: My Global Viewpoint, Go Overseas, and The Haphazard Traveler.
Safety
- Prevent pickpockets and petty theft.
- Keep an eye on your belongings and hold your bag tight.
- A crossbody bag, fanny pack or money belt are good at deterring pickpockets.
- Use common sense.
Your Destination
- Learn about your destination
- Rwanda advice for travelers
- Rwanda voltage and outlet plugs
- What to wear
- Customs
- Common tourist scams
- Research any special considerations for yourself as a traveler to that country. (i.e. women travelers, older travelers, LGBTQ travelers, travelers with disabilities, etc.)
- Bring an international travel adapter and converter, if needed.
- Research any Import/Export restrictions before buying souvenirs.
- Check out the CIA’s World Factbook or the Culture Crossing Guide for cultural customs.
Communication
- Add or update international pass or plans through your phone carrier
- Research local SIM cards or activate a global phone/data plan with your cell phone provider.
- Check the local emergency number for your destination and save it in your phone.
- If there is a tourist police number, do the same.