- Official Language(s)
- Kinyarwanda, French, English
- Population
- 12.3 million
- % of Population Below Poverty
- 44.9% (5.5 million people)
- GDP per CAPITA (PPP US$) (?)
- $1,500 (Canada = $43,100)
- UN's Human Development Index (?)
Why volunteer in Rwanda?
Rwanda is a land-locked, resource poor country with about 90% of the population engaged in agriculture and mineral and agro-processing. Years of civil war culminating in the genocide of 1994 has had a devastating social and economic impact on the country. More than one million lives were lost and another one million Rwandans became refugees. Volunteers who choose Rwanda make an important gesture of international solidarity. By visiting the people and witnessing the legacy of violence, volunteers honour the country’s efforts to rebuild for a peaceful and sustainable future.
Volunteer projects
Volunteers work with locals to build important community infrastructure projects with our in-country partner. No special skills are required. In recent years, the government of Rwanda has implemented many development projects, including irrigation projects, new schools and health centres to bring new hope and create sustainable livelihoods. Grace Rwanda has created mini-libraries for youths in communities where books are rare and literacy is low. The organization is also building an eco-lodge that would become a sustainable social enterprise.
Choose your trip
ADULT AND FAMILY, CUSTOM OR CORPORATE TRIPS: These are typically two weeks in length and include in-country food, in-country ground transportation, in-country accommodation, program costs and a substantial direct donation to the host partner. It does not include airfare. However, the entire cost paid through DWC is 100% tax deductible, including airfare.
HIGH SCHOOL TRIPS: A two-week High School trip varies in price and is often based on the number of participants and location. You can fundraise for your trip and DWC will issue charitable receipts to your donors.
Trips may be cancelled if not enough people are registered so please sign up early to avoid disappointment. A $500 deposit is required to hold your spot on the trip; the remaining balance is due 60 days prior to your trip.
See our volunteers in action
Watch the following video created by a DWC student team leader who spent four weeks working on the Covaga Innovation Centre with one of our former Rwandan partners:
When can I go?
High-school, Custom and Corporate trips do not appear on the trip schedule as they are not open for public sign ups. Please contact DWC for more details.
How much does it cost?
We invite people who cannot give the gift of time to donate to the Rwandan projects and programs through Developing World Connections.
Cultural activities
After you are done volunteering, there are some sites you definitely should visit while in Rwanda, including the Genocide Museum in Kigali. You can experience the incredibly lush and beautiful scenery of Rwanda and take an excursion in the Parc National des Volcans, the last sanctuary of the endangered mountain gorilla. Get close to some of Rwanda’s fantastic wildlife at the A’Kagera National Park which covers more than 2,500 square kilometres of savannah and is a habitat for more than 500 species of birds.