News and Events
December 27-28, 2007
The Third Convention of the Rwandan Diaspora &
The National Dialogue Summit
Lama Mugabo, will be part of the Canadian delegation to the end of year event; convention and the summit in Kigali.
The two meetings were combined so that the Rwandan Diaspora can participate in this important dialogue between representatives of the Rwandan Diaspora and the Rwandan leadership. This national forum provides space for a conversatin on national policies and vision. It fosters the participation of Rwandans from the Diaspora and the motherland to foster a clear understanding of the new Rwanda, Rwanda Rushya.
December 29th will be specifically devoted to Diaspora matters.
November 22-25 Working side-by-side to rebuild communities In June 07, Developing World Connections and Building Bridges with Rwanda
representatives met to explore ways the two organizations could collaborate
to help rebuild Rwanda and provide an opportunity for Canadian volunteers to
make a difference and learn more about the culture and history of Rwanda
through social interaction with Rwanans. In November, two representatives of Developing Works Connections visited
Kigali, Kibungo and Gashora to explore ways through which, BBR and DWC can
implement a volunteer development tourism project. Volunteers will raise
money to purchase building materials. They will then travel to Rwandan and
work with community members in Kibungo to build a small centre. (See article on the collaboration between BBR and DWC) http://www.developingworldconnections.org/Newsletternov.pdf (link to Developing World Connections) http://www.developingworldconnections.org/
Oct 4-15, 07 The City of Kigali and the International Centre for Sustainable Cities BBR and the International Centre for Sustainable Cities is developing are exploring
ways they can support the Kigali City-Province to become a model for long term urban sustainability planning.
During Lama s visit to Kigali (Oct 5-14) He visited three priority projects that the city is implementing in
the areas of economic empowerment, urban renewal, and community waste management. BBR is working with ICSC to raise funds that will help bring Kigali into PLUS Network. The City of Kigali official web site:
September 26-27, 07 KaosPilots New School of Business Design and Social Innovations Late September Lama was invited by KaosPilots to meet administration
and students and explore ways that BBR can collaborate with KaosPilot to facilitate an
outpost in Kigali, where students could implement a project to strengthen the capacity
of organizations in Rwanda. The visit was productive as students and the administration
of the school were able to discuss with Lama a series of potential activities that might
be carried out in Rwanda through this collaboration. http://www.kaospilot.dk/docs/About.asp Aug 14-Sept 30, 07 Digital Storytelling Workshop in Kazo Mike Bednar a professional photographer and Janice Abbott,
CEO and Executive Director of Atira Women Resource Society traveled from Vancouver
to Kazo to train the Kazo-Creston students in the art of digital storytelling.
While in Rwanda, both Mike and Janice visited women-centered project to explore ways
Atira can support Rwandan women projects that are geared to improve the quality of
life through community economic development. They visited and met people at the
Rwanda Women Network and AVEGA Agahozo. BBR was fortunate to connect with Mike and Janice and they played a valuable role
in working with four of the five students in Kazo to train them in digital storytelling
process. Because of logistics and communication challenges, they were only able to do a
basic training in photography but were not able to train the kids in editing the story.
Nevertheless, the kids put together a story which will be included in the Atira Digital
Storytelling projects that links kids from Canada, US, and Rwanda.
