Umuganda!

Working on the road on a Saturday morning!



Having a break with our Rwandan counterparts, Moses and Gilbert.



Having fun the old fashioned way - Doing Nothing!



         “Umuganda” is a Kinyarwanda word meaning “pillar.”  The pillar is a reference to the pillar of development for the future of Rwanda.  However, most everyone knows “umuganda” as the word for community service.  On the last Saturday of every month, every single Rwandan is required to participate in umuganda in their community.  If a Rwandan does not participate, they are fined by the government.  The local jurisdiction determines what the umuganda project will be for the month. 

Umuganda can be anything from improving roads, forestation, to building schools.  In fact, some of the newly developed schools and reforestation of rural areas is a result of umuganda.  The previous training group built schools in our training village of Nyanza.  Our training group was responsible for improving roads and drainage structures in Nyanza. 

Since we will be Rwanda residents for the next two years and are trying to be a part of our communities, we are strongly encouraged to participate in every umuganda in our village.  Umunsi mwiza (have a good day)!