Peace Corps Wiki - User contributions [en]

Rwanda

2011-04-06T23:11:22Z

173.70.191.233:

{{CountryboxAlternative
|Countryname= Rwanda
|CountryCode = rw
|status = [[ACTIVE]]
|Flag=
|Welcomebooklink = http://www.peacecorps.gov/welcomebooks/rwwb696.pdf
|Region=
|CountryDirector= Mary Abrams
|Sectors= [[Health]], [[Education]]
|ProgramDates=
|CurrentlyServing=
|TotalVolunteers=
|Languages= French, Kinyarwanda, English
|Map= Rw-map.gif
|stagingdate= May 3 2011; September 12 2011
|stagingcity= Philadelphia
}}

The Peace Corps signed a country agreement with the Government of Rwanda in 1974 and the first group of Volunteers arrived in 1975. The agency withdrew Volunteers in 1993 due to the civil war and the program closed in 1994. In the 18 years that the Peace Corps operated in Rwanda a total of 114 Volunteers served successfully.

A new country agreement was signed with the Government of Rwanda on July 18, 2008. The first new group of thirty-five Public Health trainees arrived in January 2009. They will be assigned to the Ministry of Health and the National AIDS Committee to health centers throughout the country.

Some Volunteers will be assigned to work on HIV/AIDS prevention programs, funded by the President's Emergency Program For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and administered by the National Committee to Fight against AIDS. Other Volunteers will be assigned to the Ministry of Health. In addition to efforts to prevent AIDS, all of the Volunteers will work on issues such as nutrition, malaria prevention, vaccinations and income generation.

==Peace Corps History==

''Main article: [[History of the Peace Corps in Rwanda]]''

The first group of Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Rwanda
in 1975. Programming started with three Volunteers working
in university education, and later expanded into fisheries and
agriculture. However, due to a limited number of requests
for Volunteers from the government of Rwanda, Peace Corps
withdrew its permanent staff and the small program was
managed with the help of the U.S. Embassy.

In 1985 and 1986, program assessments indicated that there
was potential for expansion of the Peace Corps program,
particularly in areas of forestry and cooperative extension.
With growth in mind, Peace Corps sent a permanent
representative to Rwanda in 1987. In 1988, an associate
Peace Corps director was added to enhance programming.
In addition to the original programs in university education,
agriculture, and fisheries, Peace Corps/Rwanda began new
initiatives in conservation and health. However, in February
1993, severe political instability in Rwanda led to the
evacuation of all Volunteers. The office eventually closed in
April 1994. All records were burned by the U.S. Embassy,
leaving very little documentation of Peace Corps’ operations
there.

On July 15, 2007, an assessment team traveled to Rwanda to
explore the viability of re-establishing Peace Corps operations.
This was the first assessment team to visit the country since
the program closed in 1994. From the initial meetings it became
clear that both the community and the current government of
Rwanda are eager to welcome Peace Corps back to the country.

On July 18, 2008, U.S. Ambassador Michael Arietti and Secretary
General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Rwanda Amandin Rugira signed an agreement officially reestablishing
the U.S. Peace Corps program in Rwanda.

==Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle==

''Main article: [[Living conditions and volunteer lifestyles in Rwanda]]''

As a Volunteer, you will most likely live in a small town or rural community, and not have access to indoor plumbing or electricity. Expect to use lamps and candles for lighting and to cook using a single-burner kerosene stove, wood, or charcoal.

The standards and conditions of Volunteer housing vary widely, from mud houses with thatched roofs to very modern cement houses with running water and electricity. The type of house you have will depend on your project, the area of the country to which you are posted, and the types of houses available in the community. You may also be required to share housing with other staff or to live in a room behind a shop at a market center. You can expect to have, at the very least, a room to call your own. The decision as to whether housing standards are “acceptable” lies with the Peace Corps staff. When it comes to your housing, you should not lose sight of the guiding goal of the Peace Corps. Maintain your focus on service to the people of Rwanda and not on the level of your accommodations.

==Training==

''Main article: [[Training in Rwanda]]''

The most important function of Peace Corps staff is to provide support for Volunteers. Support does not imply daily supervision of Volunteers’ work, nor does it imply assuming parental roles. Volunteer support implies an ongoing interaction between Volunteers and all Peace Corps staff regarding how you handle such matters as your overall adjustment to the Peace Corps, your job assignment, and your community. Your Peace Corps staff is responsible for making regular visits to your site to assist you in any way possible in your orientation in-country.

Training will be busy for everyone. Often you will work over eight hours a day, five or six days a week. Be prepared for a rigorous, full schedule. The principal objectives of training are to provide a learning environment that enables you to develop the language (Kinyarwanda), technical and cultural skills, knowledge, and attitude necessary to work and live in Rwanda.

Your training will be a mixture of classroom instruction and training in the community, where you will learn by doing and then reflect on your experiences during formal sessions. You will spend time in the field, completing hands-on, practical tasks and participating in group discussions, lectures, and field trips. Each week you will spend time discussing what you learned the previous week, preparing for the next work week, and attending essential cross-cultural, health, administrative, and integration sessions.

Most of the training staff will be Rwandan nationals.

==Health Care and Safety==

''Main article: [[Health care and safety in Rwanda]]''

The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps medical programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative, approach to disease. The Peace Corps in Rwanda maintains qualified staff to take care of Volunteers’ primary health care needs. Additional medical services, such as testing and basic treatment, are also available in Rwanda at local, and equivalent American-standard hospitals. If you become seriously ill, you will be transported either to an equivalent of American-standard medical facility in the region or to the United States.

==Diversity and Cross-Cultural Issues==

''Main article: [[Diversity and cross-cultural issues in Rwanda]]''

In fulfilling the Peace Corps’ mandate to share the face of America with our host countries, we are making special efforts to see that all of America’s richness is reflected in the Volunteer corps. More Americans of color are serving in today’s Peace Corps than at any time in recent years. Differences in race, ethnic background, age, religion, and sexual orientation are expected and welcomed among our Volunteers. Part of the Peace Corps’ mission is to help dispel any notion that Americans are all of one origin or race and to establish that each of us is as thoroughly American as the other despite our many differences.

Our diversity helps us accomplish that goal. In other ways, however, it poses challenges. In Rwanda, as in other Peace Corps host countries, Volunteers’ behavior, lifestyles, background, and beliefs will be judged in a cultural context very different from our own. Certain personal perspectives or characteristics commonly accepted in the United States may be quite uncommon, unacceptable, or even repressed.

* Possible Issues for Female Volunteers
* Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color
* Possible Issues for Senior Volunteers
* Possible Issues for Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Volunteers
* Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers
* Possible Issues for Volunteers With Disabilities

==Frequently Asked Questions==

''Main article: [[FAQs about Peace Corps in Rwanda]]''

* How much luggage will I be allowed to bring to Rwanda?
* What is the electric current in Rwanda?
* How much money should I bring?
* When can I take vacation and have people visit me?
* Will my belongings be covered by insurance?
* Do I need an international driver’s license?
* What should I bring as gifts for Rwandan friends and my host family?
* Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how isolated will I be?
* How can my family contact me in an emergency?
* Can I call home from Rwanda?
* Should I bring a cellular phone with me?
* Will there be email and Internet access? Should I bring my computer?

==Packing List==

''Main article: [[Packing list for Rwanda]]''

This list has been compiled by Volunteers and is based on their experience. Use it as an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each experience is individual. There is no perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything we mention, so consider those items that make the most sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide what to bring, keep in mind that you have an 80-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can get almost everything you need in Rwanda.

==Peace Corps News==

Current events relating to Peace Corps are also available by [[News | country of service]] or [[News by state|your home state]]

''The following is automatic RSS feed of Peace Corps news for this country.'' <rss title=on desc=off>http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&scoring=n&q=%22peace+corps%22+%22rwanda%22&output=rss|charset=UTF-8|short|date=M d</rss>

 '''[http://peacecorpsjournals.com PEACE CORPS JOURNALS]''' ''( As of {{CURRENTDAYNAME}} {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}} )''<rss title=off desc=off>http://peacecorpsjournals.com/rss/rw/blog/50.xml|charset=UTF-8|short|max=10</rss>

==Country Fund==

Contributions to the [https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=696-CFD Rwanda Country Fund] will support Volunteer and community projects that will take place in Rwanda. These projects include water and sanitation, agricultural development, and youth programs.

==See also==
* [[Volunteers who served in Rwanda]]
* [[The Friends of Burundi and Rwanda]]

==External links==
* [http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/rw.html Peace Corps Journals - Rwanda]

[[Category:Rwanda]] [[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Country]]

Timeline

2011-03-31T23:17:35Z

173.70.191.233:

__NOTOC__
<center><div style="border-right: 1px solid white; border-bottom: 1px solid white; background: yellow none repeat scroll 0% 0%; width: 20em; text-align: center; margin-right: 1em; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial; font-size: 120%;"><div style="border: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170);"><div style="border-top: 1px solid white; border-left: 1px solid white;"> '''[http://peacecorpswiki.org/Timeline?title=Timeline&action=edit Click here to add your country or date!]'''</div></div></div></center> 
 <center><big>'''''(Receive an [[Help:Watching_pages | automatic e-mail notification]] when this page has been updated!)'''''</big></center>
{|
|-
|
[[Image:Pc-invite.jpg|thumb|left|"'''Congratulations!''' It is with great pleasure that we invite you to begin training in..."]][[Image:Invitepaperwork.JPG|thumb|right|''"Speaking of overwhelming...." (Invitee)'']] Please be sure to '''only''' add [[{{CURRENTYEAR}}]] and [[{{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}+1}}]] invitations. We only want those, ''nothing'' from any "unofficial directories" we know of, and '''no''' speculations. Please remember that departures can always change, and this should be a guide only, nothing is set in stone. Especially in the Peace Corps! :)

Why? Because we don't want to be misleading to those of us looking for departing countries in [[{{CURRENTYEAR}}]]/[[{{#expr:{{CURRENTYEAR}}+1}}]]. If you add a country, make sure to add the country/date to both sections: by date and by country. Please use the staging date. Only do so if it is ''your'' invitation. If you start getting invitations for months we don't have on here-- just add those to our list and please format it the same way. Use the '''staging''' date, because that is what they use as the "6-wk deadline" rule. Also, do not delete anything under "By Date" or "By Country" as that will be misleading in future months/years since this Timeline is an attempt to create a time archive of programs we can read, not just one date. Past invitations can be found at the '''[[Timeline Archive]]'''. Thank you all! 

Use the [[Calculator|Placement Calculator]] if all you have is your nominated region and sector. If you know the month as well you can cross-reference both pages. 

==Timeline==
{| border=1 align=center width=100%
|-valign="top"
| width=33% | <div style="font-size: 13pt">'''By Date'''</div>
{| width=100%
| width=33% | [http://peacecorpswiki.org/Timeline?title=Timeline&action=edit edit]
| width=33% | ([[calendar]])
| width=33% |
|}
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 8 weeks from today: {{StripWhitespace|{{TodayPlusX|8*7}}}}


[[2011]]

[[March]] 1 = [[Dominican Republic]] 
March 7 = [[Senegal]] 
March 9 = [[Kazakhstan]] 
March 14 = [[Albania]] 
March 14 = [[Morocco]] 
March 14 = [[Mexico]] 
March 21 = [[Morocco]] 
March 21 = [[Ukraine]] 
March 23 = [[Belize]] 
March 25 = [[Kyrgyz Republic]] 
March 28 = [[Bulgaria]] 

[[April]] 1 = [[Botswana]] 
April 4 = [[Indonesia]] 
April 25 = [[Georgia]] 
April 26 = [[Panama]] 
April 26 = [[Romania]] 
April 27 = [[Guatemala]] 

[[May]] 3 = [[Suriname]] 
May 4 = [[Rwanda]] 
May 10 = [[Nicaragua]] 
May 17 = [[Fiji]] 
May 23 = [[Burkina Faso]] 
May 23 = [[Ethiopia]] 
May 25= [[Paraguay]] 
May 26 = [[Armenia]] 
May 30 = [[Kenya]] 
May 31 = [[Lesotho]] 
May 31 = [[Mozambique]] 

[[June]] 1 = [[Cameroon]] 
June 1 = [[Ecuador]] 
June 1 = [[Mali]] 
June 1 = [[Sierra Leone]] 
June 2 = [[Mongolia]] 
June 2 = [[Mozambique]] 
June 2 = [[Togo]] 
June 2 = [[Swaziland]] 
June 6 = [[Burkina Faso]] 
June 6 = [[Kenya]] 
June 6 = [[Ghana]] 
June 7 = [[Moldova]] 
June 8 = [[Liberia]] 
June 9 = [[Peru]] 
June 13 - [[Tanzania]] 
June 13 = [[Senegal]] 
June 14 = [[Malawi]] 
June 28 = [[The Gambia]] 
June 28 = [[Jamaica]] 
June 29 = [[Benin]] 
June 29 = [[China]] 

[[July]] 1 = [[Philippines]] 
July 5 = [[South Africa]] 
July 13 = [[Cape Verde]] 
July 19 = [[El Salvador]] 
July 19 = [[Cambodia]] 

[[August]] 1 = [[Zambia]] 
August 3 = [[Uganda]] 
August 17 = [[Dominican Republic]] 
August 17 = [[Kazakhstan]] 
August 29 = [[Senegal]] 
August 29 = [[Mexico]] 
August 30 = [[Nicaragua]] 

[[September]] 6 = [[Morocco]] 
September 9 = [[Macedonia]] 
September 12 = [[Rwanda]] 
September 15 = [[Cameroon]] 
September 15 = [[Peru]] 
September 21 = [[Ukraine]] 
September 22 = [[Azerbaijan]] 

|<div style="font-size: 13pt">'''By Country'''</div>
{| width=10%
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| width=33% |
| width=33% |
|}
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{| class="wikitable" border="1" style="text-align:right"
|-
! [[Country]] !! [[2010]] !! [[2011]] !! [[2012]]
|-
|[[Albania]]
 | March 17
 | March 14
 |
|-
|[[Armenia]]
 | May 27
 | May 26
 |
|-
|[[Azerbaijan]]
 | September 23
 | September 22
 |
|-
|[[Belize ]]
 | March 24
 | March 23
 |
|-
|[[Benin ]]
 | July 14
 | June 29
 |
|-
|[[Botswana]]
 | April 10
 | April 1
 |
|-
|[[Bulgaria]]
 | May 10
 | March 28
 |
|-
|[[Burkina Faso]]
 | June 9 June 21 October 13
 | May 23 June 6
 |
|-
|[[Cambodia]]
 | July 19
 | July 19
 |
|-
|[[Cameroon]]
 | June 2 September 15
 | June 1 September 15
 |
|-
|[[Cape Verde]]
 | July 15
 | July 13
 |
|-
|[[China]]
 | June 29
 | June 29
 |
|-
|[[Colombia]]
 |
 |
 |
|-
|[[Costa Rica]]
 | March 1 October 4
 | February 28
 |
|-
|[[Dominican Republic]]
 | March 2 August 18
 | March 1 August 17
 |
|-
|[[Eastern Caribbean]]
 | February 15 August 23
 | January 27
 |
|-
|[[Ecuador]]
 | February 16 June 15
 | February 2 June 1
 |
|-
|[[El Salvador]]
 | February 2 July 20
 | January 18 July 19
 |
|-
|[[Ethiopia]]
 | September 13
 | May 23
 |
|-
|[[Fiji]]
 | May 19
 | May 17
 |
|-
|[[Gambia, The]]
 | June 29
 | January 4 June 28
 |
|-
|[[Georgia]]
 | April 26
 | April 25
 |
|-
|[[Ghana]]
 | June 1
 | June 6
 |
|-
|[[Guatemala]]
 | January 4 April 28 August 10
 | January 4 April 27
 |
|-
|[[Guyana]]
 | February 9
 | February 15
 |
|-
|[[Honduras]]
 | February 22 June 22
 | February 23 June 22
 |
|-
|[[Indonesia]]
 | March 15
 | April 4
 |
|-
|[[Jamaica]]
 | March 17
 | June 28
 |
|-
|[[Jordan]]
 | October 22
 |
 |
|-
|[[Kazakhstan]]
 | August 18
 | March 9 August 17
 |
|-
|[[Kenya]]
 | May 24 October 11
 | June 6
 |
|-
|[[Kyrgyz Republic]]
 | March 26
 | March 25
 |
|-
|[[Lesotho]]
 | June 1
 | May 31
 |
|-
|[[Liberia]]
 | July 7
 | June 8
 |
|-
|[[Macedonia]]
 | September 10
 | September 9
 |
|-
|[[Madagascar]]
 | March 1 July 19
 | February 28
 |
|-
|[[Malawi]]
 | February 24 July 1
 | February 27 June 14
 |
|-
|[[Mali]]
 | July 1
 | January 31
 |
|-
|[[Mauritania]]
 |
 |
 |
|-
|[[Mexico]]
 | August 17
 | March 14 August 29
 |
|-
|[[Micronesia and Palau]]
 | September 1
 |
 |
|-
|[[Moldova]]
 | June 8
 | June 7
 |
|-
|[[Mongolia]]
 | June 3
 | June 2
 |
|-
|[[Morocco]]
 | March 1 September 13
 | March 14 March 21 September 6
 |
|-
|[[Mozambique]]
 | September 27
 | June 2
 |
|-
|[[Namibia]]
 | February 16 August 17
 | February 18
 |
|-
|[[Nicaragua]]
 | January 19 May 11 August 31
 | January 11 May 10 August 30
 |
|-
|[[Niger]]
 | July 7 October 18 
 |
 |
|-
|[[Panama]]
 | April 20 August 17
 | January 11 April 26
 |
|-
|[[Paraguay]]
 | February 8 June 1 September 29
 | February 2 May 25 
 |
|-
|[[Peru]]
 | June 10 September 16
 | June 9 September 15
 |
|-
|[[Philippines]]
 | August 19
 | July 1
 |
|-
|[[Romania]]
 | May 18
 | April 26
 |
|-
|[[Rwanda]]
 | February 23 October 19
 | May 4 September 12
 |
|-
|[[Samoa]]
 | October 5
 |
 |
|-
|[[Senegal]]
 | March 8 August 9
 | March 7 June 13 August 29
 |
|-
|[[Sierra Leone]]
 | June 2
 | June 1
 |
|-
|[[South Africa]]
 | January 28 July 12
 | January 24 July 5
 |
|-
|[[Suriname]]
 |
 | May 3
 |
|-
|[[Swaziland]]
 | June 25
 | June 2
 |
|-
|[[Tanzania]]
 | June 14 September 20
 | June 13 
 |
|-
|[[Thailand]]
 | January 16
 | January 8
 |
|-
|[[Togo]]
 | June 3 September 16
 | June 2
 |
|-
|[[Tonga]]
 | October 5th
 |
 |
|-
|[[Turkmenistan]]
 | March 23 September 30
 |
 |
|-
|[[Uganda]]
 | February 8 August 9
 | February 9 August 3
 |
|-
|[[Ukraine]]
 | March 29 September 17 September 24
 | March 21 September 21
 |
|-
|[[Vanuatu]]
 | September 10
 |
 |
|-
|[[Zambia]]
 | February 17 July 19
 | January 31 February 14 July 18
 |
|}

|<div style="font-size: 13pt">'''Other Resources'''</div>
{| width=50%
| width=33% | [http://peacecorpswiki.org/Timeline?title=Timeline&action=edit edit]
| width=33% |
| width=33% |
|}
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Additional pages relating to the application: 
*[[Timeline Archive]] 
*[[Application Timelines]] 
*[[Advice for applicants]] 
*[[Departures by month]] 
*[[Staging Cities]] 
*[[Calculator|Placement Calculator]] 
*'''Other information:''' 
**'''[[Blogger | Show new stories]] on your own blog in real-time 
'''More [[resources]] '''
*[[Volunteer discounts]]
*[[Interview Questions]]
*[[Forms]]
*[[Educational requirements for volunteers]]
*[[Phone Directory]]
*[[Peace Corps offices by country]]
 
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<div style="font-size: 13pt">'''Latest applicant blog entries:'''</div>
{|
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|-
| [http://peacecorpsjournals.com/?applicant PCJ] [http://peacecorpsjournals.com/rss/applicant/50.xml RSS] [http://www.feedmyinbox.com/?feed=http://peacecorpsjournals.com/rss/applicant/50.xml E-mail] [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peace-Corps-Journals-Applicants/213574410316 Facebook] [http://twitter.com/pcapplicants Twitter]
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<rss>http://www.rssmix.com/u/1155122/rss.xml|charset=UTF-8|short|max=50</rss>

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==Staging Cities==
{| width=75% align=center
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|'''Semantically Generated '''
(Table is made automatically; changes above do not affect this table. To change values in this table, you must edit the 'Country Info Box' on the specific [[country]] page) 
To sort by specific column, click on the arrows on top of that column
{{#ask:[[country name is::]]
|limit=100
| ?Staging city
| ?Staging date
}}
|}

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