About Rwanda

Factually, with two-thirds of Rwanda’s population under 25 and life expectancy just 55, education is a top priority. As a result, stringent efforts have been made to improve access to education; the country can boast that 97% of its children attend some kind of primary school the highest rate in Africa. UNESCO noted this by naming it as one of the top three countries globally for improving access to education.

Yet with the youth unemployment rate persisting above 40%, there is clearly much to be done to support the people who will drive the country's economic growth – there is, in particular, a skills gap to tackle.

Socially, Rwanda has transformed itself over the last 23 years into a model country in many ways. Their healing and rebuilding agenda prioritized the huge task of post genocide prosecution and reconciliation. As that huge task has been underway, they have simultaneously instituted policies and practices to create a country ready for this century:

On the last Saturday of each month, the entire country, even the President and his family, participate in 'Umaganda'; a day of cleaning, meeting and building. Over the years this has created a culture of cleanliness and social collaboration to improve the community..

Gardens and small cattle are ubiquitously present in outlying areas from major cities, providing sustainable subsistence for individuals and families.

Although the 1994 Rwandan Genocide left a devastated country and a legacy that looked as if it would last for generations, Rwanda is the only country in the world that has chosen to provide Reconciliation Villages for perpetrators and victims to live side-by-side and engage fully in the acts of forgiveness and reconciliation together, not apart. Rwanda has eight such villages and is an international model for reconciliation and restorative justice. In the villages, Rwandans, both adults and children, once torn apart by genocide, are now living and working together in peace.

For a 3 minute history of Rwanda, click on the video below:

Feature 1

The Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi, was a mass slaughter of Tutsi in Rwanda during the Rwandan Civil War, which had started in 1990. It was directed by members of the Hutu majority government during the 100-day period from 7 April to mid-July 1994.

Rwanda today

Feature 3

Clare Akamanzi is the chief executive of the Rwanda Development Board, tasked with turning Vision 2020 into tangible social programmes.

She says Rwanda aspires to "evolve from being an agriculture-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, mainly on high value services".

In 2013 a deal was concluded with Korea Telecom to provide 4G technology across the country. At $140m (£87m) this is one of the biggest foreign direct investment deals in Rwanda.

The state has laid 3,000km of fibre-optic cables over the last four years and hopes that 4G will help provide last-mile access to all communities outside of the capital, where internet connectivity is low.