Global Engagement Institute

INSPIRE. EMPOWER. IMPACT.

East Africa

Accommodation: What to expect?

Hotel, Guesthouse, Serviced apartment, Homestay According to the student program or destination, we offer different types of accommodation. You will find below what to expect if you choose to stay in a simple hotel, guesthouse, serviced apartment or homestay. All accommodation providers that work with us are required to meet rigorous standards for quality, safety and cleanliness, so you will always stay in safe, clean and comfortable rooms, wherever you go. Hotel & Guest House You will ... Read More

GEI homestays: What to expect?

  GEI homestay review (Kigali, Rwanda) Since many students ask us what a homestay experience is really like, we've asked a recent Rwanda intern from Georgetown University, Siddharth Muchhal, to share his thoughts. Here is what he says:     Sidd, tell us more about why you came to Rwanda this summer? This summer, I had the opportunity to intern at Akazi Kanoze Access, a youth development NGO in Kigali, Rwanda. Initially, I was considering finding an apartment with my colleague, so ... Read More

Mental Health internships & volunteer placements (Rwanda)

  Expanding placement opportunities for interns and volunteers This summer, we are greatly expanding our collaboration with the University of Rwanda's Center for Mental Health (CMH). Following the Global Mental Health Conference in Kigali (June 24-July 1), students and professionals in mental health are invited to gain invaluable practical experience during a 4-week or 8-week summer internship or volunteer placement. The host organizations include a dozen Rwandan NGOs or hospitals, ... Read More

International Business Faculty Development Program in Rwanda

  George Washington University & University of South Carolina bringing business professors to Rwanda This January, we had the pleasure to co-host an International Business Faculty Development Program in Rwanda with the CIBERs of George Washington University and the University of South Carolina. CIBERS (Centers for International Business Education and Research) seek to improve research and business knowledge capacity amongst professors and students. In this case, 21 international business ... Read More

Expanding Drama-Based Education (DBE) to Kenya

  Interview with Sean Anderson in Kenya In 2017, our Drama-Based Education (DBE) teacher trainings in Rwanda will expand further and reach various new schools in Muhanga and Gasabo. And we're excited to also launch a second destination in East Africa - Kenya! The DBE work in East Africa is a partnership between GEI and the Anne Frank Project at SUNY-Buffalo State. In Kenya, the main hosts will be Woodland Star International School in Limuru near Nairobi as well as the Mara Naboisho ... Read More

Taking Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) to Tanzania

  Interview with Patty Kelly, program leader in neonatal care In addition to our ongoing newborn care work in Vietnam and Rwanda, we have added two delegations for HBB Trainings of Trainers in Tanzania to the 2017 calendar. Both delegations (May 6-13 and Oct 14-21) will be led by our lead master trainer, Patty Kelly, who has selected the partner hospital in Mwanza where she has taught before. We have interviewed Patty on this exciting development. Her insights offer more context as well ... Read More

Mental Health Facilitator program update

  Interview with Dr. Callie Scott, NBCC delegation co-leader to Rwanda In 2016, our MHF work in Rwanda with the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) and the University of Rwanda reached new levels of sustainability. The first two cohorts of Rwandan and international mental health professionals graduated as trainers. This allowed us to expand our reach beyond Rwanda's capital Kigali and conduct first MHF trainings in smaller towns. The beneficiaries were groups of nurses and ... Read More

Mental Illness Awareness

  An interview with Kate Cotton Mental Illness Awareness week ran this year on October 2-8. Throughout that week you may have seen tweets and various social media posts stressing the importance of stable mental health and its support. The awareness raised last week then lead up to World Mental Health Day on October 10.   In honor of this important topic and the week dedicated to it, we decided to share a recent write-up that we received from a past participant on our Global Mental ... Read More

Global Health Practicum in Rwanda

  New partnership with the University of California, San Francisco We are proud to announce a new partnership with the Center for Global Health (CGH) at the School of Nursing of the University of California, San Francisco. Its mission is to be the preeminent nursing school advancing healthcare worldwide through research, education and patient care.   Under the leadership of Dr. Mary Foley, we have developed a Global Health Practicum that will focus, first and foremost, on concepts and ... Read More

Trauma Treatment in Rwanda

  An interview with program leader Athena Phillips Athena Phillips founded the Integrative Trauma Treatment Center (ITTC) in Portland, OR in 2012. Her desire was to implement a more holistic approach to treating trauma and to address the mental health challenges that result from traumatic experiences. She has brought together her interest in medicine and her intrigue in human behavior and response, to create a multi-phase treatment model for trauma. This fall, Athena will lead the first ... Read More

Rwanda – 22 years after the genocide

  Commemorating the Rwandan genocide Rwanda marked the 22nd commemoration of the 1994 genocide yesterday. The country has come a long way and, today, is regularly lauded as a major development success story. Some impressions from Rwanda: Feel safe and secure walking the streets of its modern, green capital A place where zero tolerance for corruption really means zero tolerance One of the most gender-progressive parliaments in the world Globally admired for its achievements in ... Read More

Infection Control in Rwanda

  Invitation to join a Training of Trainers Delegation with Dr. Mary Foley (Aug 20-27) Rwanda's health system has seen a lot of progress when it comes to preventing and controlling hospital-acquired infections. Most district hospitals now have IPC committees in place and follow IPC protocols. However, some of these hospitals struggle to maintain and to apply some of these protocols due to lack of resources and especially lack of capacity. That makes capacity development for the medical and ... Read More

Faculty-Led and Custom Programs

  Upcoming Programs in Africa and Asia Developing countries in Africa and Asia are becoming increasingly popular for faculty-led and custom experiential learning, service-learning and cultural immersion programs. At the same time, program developers and program leaders continue to face enormous and frequently unexpected challenges. As a result, a partnership with a regionally specialized third-party provider not only offers peace of mind and meets liability requirements but can also add ... Read More

Global Mental Health in Rwanda

  Partnership between GEI, NBCC International and the University of Rwanda According to World Health Organization (2005) estimates, over 450 million people live with unmet mental health needs. Developing countries in particular often have a critical shortage of mental health professionals, and the resulting unmet mental health needs are costly both socially and economically. Rwanda is one such country. While its medical system is generally lauded as a major African success story, the field ... Read More

Impressions from Rwanda – Women & Leadership

  Review of a Women & Leadership delegation in Rwanda (December 2015) In early December, Half Sky Journeys founder Ila Asplund took a delegation of American women leaders to Rwanda. The program was part of our Women & Leadership series. Here are some impressions: Ila Asplund on what makes Rwanda unique: Nowhere on earth is there a model for women's leadership quite like Rwanda's. Cultivating a unique "ecosystem" of grassroots heroes, innovative nonprofits, healthcare access, ... Read More

Justice and Reconciliation in Rwanda

  NYU Global Field Intensive in Rwanda (January 2016) NYU's Global Field Intensive was one of four J-Term university delegations that we hosted in East Africa this January - three in Rwanda, one in Uganda. Led by Global Affairs Professor Jennifer Trahan, the students explored the topic of Justice & Reconciliation in Rwanda. The program included a busy schedule of meetings. After introductory visits to the Kigali Memorial Center, Camp Kigali, the Presidential Museum and the genocide ... Read More

Drama-Based Education in Rwanda

  Invitation: Join Prof. Drew Kahn in Rwanda In partnership with the Anne Frank Project (AFP) at SUNY-Buffalo State, we invite students and professionals in education, theater, social work, conflict mediation or related subjects to join a unique Drama-Based Education program. Participants travel to Rwanda and engage in a high-impact experiential and service-learning initiative. They acquire a Drama-Based Education certificate and work with Rwandan teachers at local schools. This program ... Read More

Kwibuka 21: Rwandans Building Rwanda

  Commemorating the Rwandan genocide by Katie Carlson, Program Manager in Rwanda     Kwibuka 21: Remember, unite, renew. Kwibuka means “remember” in Kinyarwanda, the native language of this country. This week marks 21 years since the genocide against the Tutsi began in Rwanda in 1994. A mere 21 years since nearly one million Rwandans were slaughtered in their own streets and homes by neighbors, friends and even family members. This week and in the months to come, we remember all ... Read More

Mary Foley in Rwanda

  Interview with former President of the American Nurses Association (ANA) by Dr. Michael Grosspietsch (GEI Executive Director)     "I have had the opportunity to visit Rwanda twice over the last three years, and I cannot wait to return!" This is what Mary Foley, the former President of the American Nurses Association (ANA), wrote when sharing her thoughts about Rwanda. Mary Foley is a faculty member of UCSF’s nursing school who became the first nurse to ever make it onto the ... Read More

Drama-Based Education in practice in Rwanda

  Experience from a Rwandan teacher: Drama-Based Education in practice Have you wondered what our new Drama-Based Education capacity development program in Rwanda might look like in practice? Gilbert Bisengi, one of the Wellspring teacher-trainers whom our SUNY-Buffalo State delegation under the leadership of Prof. Drew Kahn certified in January, shared an incredibly inspiring email with us. While we had seen the impact of the curriculum in public schools in Buffalo and knew that it should ... Read More

Anne Frank in Rwanda

  Drama-Based Education training by SUNY-Buffalo State students by Melissa Lesage (GEI Country Manager, Rwanda)     2015 kicked off with a bang as we hosted our first Drama-Based Education group in partnership with Buffalo State University and the Anne Frank Project. Preparing this program has been really exciting and in fact, hosting the delegation has turned out to be a life changing experience for me. The Anne Frank Project began in 2009 and uses storytelling as a vehicle for ... Read More

Global Gender Gap Index vs Real Life

  The realities of gender gaps in Rwanda by Katie Carlson (GEI Program Manager, Rwanda)     The news has been exploding in development circles around the world: Rwanda clocks in at 7th in the world on the Global Gender Gap Index (GGGI), compiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF). As a gender specialist who has been living and working in Rwanda permanently for the last three years, this certainly surprised me. Immediately I knew this index required deeper investigation, ... Read More

Mentoring business women in Rwanda

  Launching GEI's new Business Mentor Program in Rwanda by Katie Carlson (GEI Program Manager, Rwanda)     In about two weeks, GEI will be hosting a team of business coaches selected by the Dutch organization Fair2 here in Kigali to mentor small business owners and entrepreneurs in Rwanda. As part of my job as Program Manager, I have been scouting mentees in Kigali to match with one of our visiting business coaches. Keeping in mind the disadvantages that many business women face ... Read More

Reflections on Women & Leadership

  Women & leadership delegation in Rwanda by Katie Carlson (GEI Program Manager, Rwanda)     Women from 4 continents came together in Kigali last week to learn about the amazing success story that Rwanda has become in terms of promoting women in leadership positions, and to build friendships across the cultures. Katie Carlson, GEI's Program Manager in Rwanda, shares one of the most powerful moments: One of the participants shared an amazing story with the group, describing how ... Read More

60 Rwandans certified in HBB

  Successful trainings in neonatal resuscitation in Rwanda by Waleed Fatth, Global Programs Manager     Have you ever wondered how it might feel to visit Rwanda and to make an important contribution to one of the country's key capacity development priorities? Here is an account of the experience of our current Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) delegation in the country. Surrounded by the breathtaking views of the green hillsides around the Rwandan capital, Kigali, the delegates had ... Read More

Developing an IPC system in Rwanda

  Join our delegation to develop capacity in Infection Prevention & Control by Dr. Michael Grosspietsch (GEI Executive Director)     Mary Foley is a truly exceptional woman. She is a faculty member of UCSF's nursing school, served as President of the American Nurses Association (ANA) and became the first nurse to ever make it onto the list of the 100 most influential in healthcare. And now she is inviting international colleagues - nurses, public health specialists, engineers etc ... Read More

Giving birth in Rwanda

  Neonatal resuscitation needs in Rwanda by Waleed Fatth (GEI Global Programs Manager, Berlin)     Jeanne Musabende lives in Nyamata, a town in Bugesera district some 40 minutes from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. She recently became famous when a Rwandan online journal used her success story to showcase progress in infant and maternal healthcare in the country. Jeanne was due to have a complicated birth late in the evening, traditionally a worrying event in many developing countries ... Read More

Teaching Emergency Cardiac Care in Rwanda

  GEI's inaugural Emergency Cardiac Care trainings in Rwanda by Dr. Michael Grosspietsch (GEI Executive Director)     “I’m so excited that they picked us to come.” These are the words of Linda Bell, an experienced international instructor and CEO of an American Heart Association training center based in Jacksonville, Florida. “They are the most motivated students I’ve ever had. They really want to know the material and ask a lot of questions.” Linda recently led our inaugural ... Read More

Rwanda – 20 years after the genocide

  Commemorating the Rwandan genocide by Dr. Michael Grosspietsch (GEI Executive Director)     The world's eyes are upon Rwanda once again. Has it already been 20 years since we saw those horrific pictures in the news? Up to 1 million people killed in only 100 days? Today, on April 7, the world community has united in Kigali for the 20th commemoration of what is frequently called the 'most effective' genocide of the past century. And yet for many it is also a time to celebrate. ... Read More

Infection Control in Rwanda

  Launching a new capacity development program in Rwanda by Waleed Fatth (GEI Global Programs Manager, Berlin)     Nosocomial infections or healthcare associated infections are infections acquired in healthcare settings, which affect hundreds of millions of patients worldwide every year. As an unintended result of seeking care, these infections lead to more serious health complications, prolong hospital stays, and might induce long-term disability and/or unnecessary patient ... Read More

Hamline University increases engagement in Rwanda

  The future is looking bright by Yvan Rubengebenge (Operations Manager, Rwanda)     In my position, I regularly take our visitors to Gashora, to learn about different government interventions to lift people out of poverty. I couldn’t imagine that one of those visits would change a life forever – the life of a girl from the Gashora Girls Academy of Science and Technology. Gashora is a sector located 60km southeast of Kigali in Bugesera District. Historically, Bugesera was ... Read More

Agaciro: A society in positive transition

  Agaziro - Rwanda's national development fund by Katie Carlson (GEI Program Manager, Rwanda)     Last week in Kayonza District, a celebration was held for the International Day of the Girl. In a country that has set a world record for the only female majority in parliament, currently at 64%, a celebration of this kind could never be overlooked. As part of this event, Plan Rwanda, an international NGO, announced that since last year, over 700 girls across the country have been ... Read More

Microfinance Initiative at Kabwende Primary School (Rwanda)

  Indiana University business students in Rwanda A delegation consisting of students of the Microfinance Club and the Institute for Social Impact at Indiana University's Kelley School of Business visited Rwanda in May to work with the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of Kabwende Primary school in Kinigi, half-way up Rwanda’s volcanoes in the north-west of the country. Kabwende is a large school with approximately 2,000 children in grades 1 to 6. It benefits from a long-term partnership with ... Read More

19 years on… and thriving (Rwanda)

  Commemorating the Rwandan genocide by Katie Carlson (GEI Program Manager, Rwanda)     As a Canadian working and living full-time in this beautiful and inspiring country I have come to call my second home, this April marked the first time I have been in Rwanda during the genocide commemorations. As the date of April 6th approached, the official beginning of the commemorations and the ‘100 days of genocide’ that concludes on July 4th, I was unsure of how to show my respect for ... Read More