The Rundown #8 - Rwanda
We’ve already touched upon a few new, unique destinations cropping up in a slew of 2023 proposals, some of them being for African countries. There’s an uptick in popularity within the region for study programs but we’re no strangers to the continent, having run a multitude of trips across Africa in the past, which you can see below in our proposal split of pre-pandemic compared to now - Africa takes a larger portion of the total count.
South Africa and Morocco (often twinned with Spain or Portugal), have always been top picks, but there’s one new destination on the scene that’s got us very excited. You guessed it, that’s Rwanda! After running our first program there with UCLA Anderson in September 2022, we’ve taken the opportunity to bring you insights, learnings and feedback from the program.
Hear from Gayle Northrop, Assistant Adjunct Professor - UCLA Anderson School of Management and Leigh Woods - ISP Program Manager/former Rwanda resident, as they share reflections from their unique experience.
1. What led to UCLA and ISP choosing Rwanda as the destination for this program?
Gayle: I have been familiar with Rwanda and in particular the social entrepreneurship and innovation scene there for many years, and when I spent time there in early 2020, I knew I wanted to design a curriculum to learn from and showcase the inspiring work I saw in the country. The choice to work with ISP was an easy one. I could tell from the first conversation about the program that our values and approach were aligned and that we’d be able to partner to design a transformative experience for my students.
Leigh: Rwanda has been on ISP’s radar as a high-potential destination for our study trips for several years now, but we needed to wait for the right client and relevant academic focus before taking the leap and running our first on-the-ground program there. When discussing destination options with UCLA Anderson for their international business residency, focusing on social entrepreneurship and innovation in Africa, Rwanda became an obvious choice. Historical and socio-political conditions in Rwanda have led to the growth of social entrepreneurship and a vibrant social sector, while at the same time creating challenges unique to the country.
2. In terms of program preparation, Gayle what were your learning objectives? And Leigh how did the operational prep go?
Gayle: Rwanda has a rich and turbulent history that impacts all aspects of entrepreneurship in the country. We wanted to design a program that reflected those opportunities and challenges while inspiring students to think differently about the potential of business to create positive social change as well as their own role in creating a more sustainable, equitable and just world. Our goal in planning this program was to make each visit and interaction an opportunity for students to connect deeply and personally with social entrepreneurs in Rwanda who are working to create positive change in their communities.
Leigh: As this was ISP’s first time running a program in Rwanda, our task was to source a reliable, local partner to assist with logistics and on-the-ground support. We collaborated with a fantastic destination management company (DMC) who assisted us from first contact and understood our requirements in terms of delivering a program that lived up to the high standards our clients expect from us. Weekly meetings ahead of the program provided updates, run throughs and outlined the whole itinerary. We shared medical tips for vaccinations, anti-malaria pills and collected the required information from students to participate in the more unique activities like mountain gorilla trekking. Logistics required some extra attention; Rwanda is developing rapidly with many new roads, restaurants, etc., that have sprung up in a short span of time. This meant pre-visiting all of the locations on the itinerary to ensure we were well-prepared.
3. What stood out from the on-the-ground experiences?
Gayle: We first grounded the students in the context of Rwanda at the Genocide Memorial to deepen their understanding of the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. That was followed by a series of site visits that included: meeting in small groups with early-stage social entrepreneurs, experiencing a technologically advanced company innovating around medical supply delivery, learning from smallholder farmers being supported with seeds, training, and access to markets, witnessing the impact of community-driven solutions for mothers and children facing malnutrition and remote access to health care, connecting with artists and musicians building the art scene in Kigali, walking in the shade of a solar energy farm fueling the local community, and finally, sharing an afternoon and meal with youth who have experienced unimaginable trauma now being supported, educated and loved in a holistic youth development program.
Each visit offered new insights and new perspectives into the challenges, opportunities and inspiration that leads people living in a country like Rwanda to drive for sustainable, community-driven, innovative positive social change.
Leigh: You can build the world’s greatest study trip on paper but what really makes one special is the group you’re with during the on-the-ground experience. What stood out for me was the incredible kindness, curiosity and enthusiasm shown by everyone involved. Rwanda is a developing nation and traveling there means stepping outside one’s comfort zone, and every participant fully embraced the experience which made the whole trip smooth and bursting with positive energy.
One big challenge we’ve faced in the past is convincing clients that not all African destinations are unsafe for travel. Rwanda has a dark recent past but is a very different place today, even being named the sixth safest country in the world for solo travelers! The whole cohort was mindful of this, helping to reduce any unwarranted stigma and as a Program Manager, this really stood out.
“For me, it was a transformational experience. The country is filled with incredible people, young entrepreneurs and companies eager to make the world and their communities a better place. Rwanda is a place with many activities that will captivate and most importantly, inspire you.”
Joe Rodriguez, Executive MBA Candidate, UCLA Anderson School of Management
4. What are some favorite memories or lasting impressions of the program?
Gayle: One of my favorite memories was watching our students meeting in small groups with and listening intently to the social entrepreneurs we met with at Impact Hub Kigali. From the questions the students and entrepreneurs were asking and the presentations they gave at the end of our meeting, I knew that the learning was profound, and the mentorship was mutual.
Another favorite memory was seeing our students interacting with participants in the womens’ empowerment initiative in Ruli, supported by TIP Global Health. We were all moved deeply by the womens’ stories of struggle and resilience; eager to dance with and beside them; and compelled to purchase their beautiful handicrafts that we knew would create a better life for them and for their families.
Leigh: My favorite memory from the trip is an easy one. The final visit of the program was to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV), the NGO I worked for during my time living in Rwanda. From a very somber but contextually necessary visit to the Genocide Memorial at the beginning of the program to the social enterprises that followed, we learned a great deal about the struggles faced by Rwanda and its citizens. But we also learned there is hope and an incredible community spirit that drives the country forward and ASYV is symbolic of this.
“My post-class reflection has helped me realize that perhaps the greatest contribution I can make in the near term is helping combat the “single story” phenomenon by sharing my amazing experiences with others and encouraging them to visit Rwanda with an open mind, loving heart, and eagerness to learn rather than teach.”
Kahlil Keys, Executive MBA Candidate, UCLA Anderson School of Management
Rwanda makes for the perfect study trip destination for groups looking for an out-of-the-ordinary experience. If you’d like to know more or have another destination in mind, you can arrange a call to discuss your options via my Calendly.
Best regards,
Tomas Chalupnik
CEO
chalupnik@studyprograms.com