Rwanda, the most inspiring success story in the developing world today
Imagine an African nation where you can feel safe and secure walking the streets of its modern green capital…, where zero tolerance for corruption really means zero tolerance…, which the World Bank applauds as the world’s top business reformer…, with the most gender-equal parliament in the world…, increasingly globally admired for its achievements in healthcare and education…, with a national fiber optic broadband backbone that many far more developed countries dream of…, a stone’s throw away from world-class tourism activities like the tracking of highly endangered mountain gorillas…
Africa’s top educational travel destination
Small in geographical size, Rwanda has recently become a serious player in the East African Community and a showpiece country where many state-of-the-art projects and initiatives are piloted. The likes of Bill Gates and Tony Blair, as well as leading companies and organizations such as Starbucks, the Clinton Foundation or Partners in Health have all been drawn here and contribute their share to Vision 2020 which wants to turn Rwanda from one of the poorest places on earth into a middle-income country within only few decades.
Behind this success story lies an exceptionally strong and visionary leadership that ensures good accountability and little corruption, and that calls for trade and investments instead of aid. As a result, the country has become increasingly interesting for a variety of visitors who are looking for more than the extraordinary beauty of the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' and the hospitality of the 'Land with a Million Smiles'. Truly enough, Rwanda also harbors about half of the world’s remaining highly endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park as well as two other diverse and attractive national parks with Nyungwe, the largest mountainous rainforest in central and east Africa, and Akagera, an exciting savannah and wetland habitat with increasing numbers of game animals and excellent bird life.
But what made Rwanda the leading Eos Visions country is the amazing opportunity to learn about a variety of challenges and success stories that concern much of the developing world. Rwanda is educational tourism and incentive travel at its best, with highly hospitable and accessible partners that are keen to welcome visitors and build further partnerships all in a small country with excellent infrastructure.
Facts and ideas for educational travel programs
Business:
- World’s top business reformer in 2009, runner-up in 2010
- World’s 11th fastest country to start a business and register property
- “Asian Tigers vs. African Gorilla”
- Visionary leadership by the “CEO of Rwanda, Inc.”
- Global network of influential friends to lure private investment, train a new generation of managers, build a globally competitive economy and wean the country off foreign aid
Healthcare:
- Top country in Africa in allocating a high domestic budget to the health sector (18.8%)
- Strong success in health MDGs with priority attention given to infectious diseases, and heavy investments in maternal and child health
- Universal health insurance (currently 92% covered)
- Performance-based financing
- Community-based healthcare provision
Education:
- Nine year basic education for all
- Primary school enrolment at 97%
- Introduction of English as medium of instruction
- Strong emphasis on technical and vocational training
Gender mainstreaming:
- International recognition as a leader in gender equality
- Most gender-equal parliament in the world (56% women)
- Strong commitment to gender equality in policy documents
- 30% quota on women in leadership positions
Law & public affairs:
- Good governance – democratization, decentralization, promotion of a participatory culture, accountability, community empowerment etc
- Zero tolerance for corruption
- Traditional legal systems (“gacaca”)
- The work of the Law Reform Commission
Technology & energy:
- National fiber optic broadband backbone
- Wireless broadband throughout Kigali
- One Laptop Per Child
- One of the world’s largest methane gas extractors
Conservation:
- Mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Massif increased by 25% over the last 7 years (now 480 gorillas)
- Reforestation efforts with 44 million trees planted in late 2010
Visit our photo gallery.
