our centers around the world

A large number of young women in the countryside of Rwanda are at risk of poverty, exploitation and high risk situations like early marriage, pregnancy or survival sex. Our local DYC center supports and equip them to escape poverty, secure reliable incomes and support themselves and their families. Through vocational skills training, mental health and business start up support, over 90% of graduates are self-reliant and able to support themselves and their families.

Sustainable Impact

Our training program leads to over 90% of graduates being employed or self-employed and almost 90% able to support themselves and their families with basic needs such as housing, food and education. Graduates gain financial independence but also employ others in their community, pay for siblings' education & improve living conditions for their close family members.

About Rwanda

Rwanda is one of the world’s most densely populated countries. The country is divided by great peaks of up to 3, 000m (9,842ft) which run across the country from north to south. To feed the people, almost every available piece of land is under cultivation, expect for parts of the Akagera (along the border with Tanzania) and the higher slopes of the volcanoes. Since most of the country is mountainous, this involves a good deal of terracing. The Virunga volcanoes, rising steeply from Lake Kivu in the west, slope down first to hilly central plateau and further eastwards to an area of marshy lakes around the upper reaches of the AKagera River, where the Akagera National Park is situated.

Learn Kinyarwanda language

Amakuru yanyu is one of the most common words you will hear spoken throughout Rwanda. This is the simplest kinyarwanda greeting, and is often the first word learned by visitors to Rwanda.

Kinyarwanda is rwandese national language. Learning a little, and most rwandese are thrilled to hear visitors attempt to use any Kinyarwanda at all.

USEFUL GREETINGS

Amakuru?umze ute? Hello, good day, how are you? (multy-purpose greeting, means"problems?"): ni meza/Turaho (the response)No problems
Amakuru? How are things? (literally"news?") Ni meza, Fine, good, terrible
Murahari?! Hellow? Anyone in? (said on knocking or entering): Mwinjire: Come in, enter, welcome(also said on offering something)

Murabeho/ Goodbye to one/ many | Murakoze: Thank you (used to one and to many) | Cyane: Very(acommon emphasis)
Nyakubahwa Mister, the equivalent of monsieur in French
Umugore Like the French madame or madamoiselle, for adult women
Umusore Youth, teenager(pl,vijana) | Umwana: Child, kid(pl,watoto)
Izina ryawe ni irihe? What’s your name?/ What Are you called?: Ufite izina?

Fun Facts

One of the traditional musical instruments is the inanga, a zither that used to accompany the recitation of stories and poems. The stringed instrument made of wood is still played today. The musician Sophie Nzayisenga ( life dates unknown ) is considered the national icon of the Inanga game. The singer, songwriter, organist and composer Kizito Mihigo ( * 1981 ), originally from the field of church music, was also involved in the arrangement of the new national anthem of Rwanda from 2002. Successful new trends in popular music see themselves as a mixture of classical rhythms and modern elements from the fields of rhythm’n blues, gospel, folk and rap. Its most important representatives include: B. Cecile Kayirebwa (* 1946), Massamba Intore (* 1969) and James Ruhumuriza ( * 1990 ) alias King James.