Come spend unforgettable weeks with the Akagera children or explore the safari and do good at the same time!
The Akagera Volunteer Program aims to bring together people from all over the world through shared activities, allowing them to connect and learn about each other’s lifestyles in Rwanda. The Közel Afrikához Foundation is proud to support such exchange programs by providing a framework, guidance, and assistance to help foster meaningful relationships among participants.
Background
The Közel Afrikához Foundation has been working since 2019 to provide education for children in need in Rwanda and Mali. Together with our local partner, the Akagera Good Neighbors civil organization, we help economically vulnerable children who are at risk of ending up on the streets or are already living there, with broken family backgrounds and without social or financial support. These children are unable to attend school due to their financial situation and are often forced to steal food from the market. With the help of Akagera Good Neighbors and of our supporters, we make it possible for them to attend school by covering the costs of school uniforms and school meals. This is important not only because it prevents them from stealing and ensures they have at least one stable source of food, but also because it motivates them to study and break free from poverty. During the summer break, the children do not attend school and do not receive school meals, so they are often forced to steal food again. The goal of the volunteer program is to provide meals and meaningful learning opportunities for them even during the summer. In recent years, we have successfully sent volunteers to Rwanda to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning.
Details of the Program
We recommend that volunteers arrive in pairs, as the accommodation includes a double bed, allowing daily costs to be shared. We can host up to four volunteers at the same time. The accommodation has a private bathroom with hot water, and Wi-Fi is available at the activity location. Confident English skills are strongly recommended for full participation in the program.
The program has a minimum duration of two weeks, with a maximum stay of eight weeks. We recommend at least a two-week participation, as this provides enough time to build relationships with the children and to experience all that Rwanda has to offer. The children are usually between 9 and 15 years old and attend school during the academic year. They are learning English but are generally still too young to speak fluently, so an on-site interpreter is provided. Last year, they learned acrobatics, drama, and djembe drumming — during our most recent visit, they showcased their new skills and impressed us with their talent. Based on our experience, they are open to anything, so volunteers can plan what they would like to teach themselves. During the program, volunteers can get involved in the following tasks:
- Teaching English and writing to the children
- Basic school skills development
- Drawing, painting, crafts, and playing board games with the children
- Sports activities with the children
- Managing the website and social media (Facebook, Instagram, X) for the organization
- Fundraising activities
- Creating documentation about the organization and the children
- Creating social media and website content, as well as educational materials for the children
Before the trip, we would like to get to know the volunteers better and share our knowledge about Rwanda, so we suggest a few online or in-person meetings to prepare. We believe that learning about Rwanda greatly enhances the overall volunteer experience. The country’s rich history, culture, and community make this opportunity truly unique.
Our organization has extensive local knowledge and connections, and we are happy to recommend programs based on your interests. Beyond the days spent with the children, there is an opportunity to visit Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s largest national park, where you can go on a safari or even stay overnight. The capital city, Kigali, is also a recommended destination with its cultural sights, restaurants, cafés, and the poignant yet educational memorials related to the 1994 genocide. Rwanda is special not only because of its past but also because of its future — volunteers can witness this, for example, by visiting the Zipline Kayonza drone delivery system for blood and medicines. The region also offers many other attractions: mountains, lakes, forests, and tea, coffee, and rice plantations await explorers.
For students, we are happy to certify the program as an internship or community service in accordance with the school's guidelines and the foundation's operating principles.
Before, during, and after the program, we ask volunteers to share their plans and experiences, as well as photos that we may use on our websites and social media channels.
The costs of the program:
The program cost consists of two parts. One part is fixed — it covers the volunteer’s meals and accommodation at a rate of 15 USD per day. The other part covers the daily meals for the children (1 USD per child per day), which is shared among the volunteers present at the time. We plan to host 35 children at the camp. Therefore, the daily costs are as follows:
- 1 person: 15 USD (meals, accommodation, service fee) + 35 USD (children’s meals) = 50 USD/day
- 2 people: 15 USD + 18 USD = 33 USD/day
- 3 people: 15 USD + 12 USD = 27 USD/day
- 4 people: 15 USD + 9 USD = 24 USD/day
The volunteer must individually cover the costs of the plane ticket, vaccinations, and visa.
Contact
If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact me:
Papp Dodó – Program Coordinator
+36 30 827 4757
dorapapp@kozelafrikahoz.hu
More information about us:
Instagram: closetoafrica
Facebook: Közel Afrikához / Close to Africa
Our local partner’s website: Akagera Good Neighbours