Welcome!

Welcome to “A Blog Called Rwanda” where you can follow us during our six week stay in Kigali, Rwanda as we help establish the Kigali Public Library.  The Library is a coordinated effort among several groups: the Rotary Club of Kigali-Virunga; the American Friends of the Kigali Public Library (AFKPL), established in Washington, DC, in 2001; Marshall Scholars for the Kigali Public Library (MSKPL), established in Oxford, England, in 2002; and the Rwandan government.  I think the best description of the project, its ideals and hopes comes from the website:

“In 1994, Rwanda experienced a genocide in which approximately one million Rwandans were killed. Through the establishment of the Kigali Public Library, Rwanda's first public library, it is our hope that the tools used for destruction will be replaced with tools of knowledge. Successful completion of this monumental effort will mark a watershed in Rwanda's history, finally providing unfettered access to a treasure trove of knowledge that has so far been unavailable to a population of over eight million people. The library - a sanctuary for knowledge and a forum for the free exchange of ideas - will also be a monument to serve as a permanent reminder to all Rwandans and the rest of the world that the atrocities committed in 1994 will never be forgotten.”

As someone who loves books and libraries, I cannot imagine life without access to either.  I read constantly, talk about books anywhere at any time, and pass along my favorites whenever I can.  The idea of bringing a library to a country that has never had one thrills me beyond words.  Add to that the fact this country endured a horrendous tragedy which did not destroy it, but made it more united.  And finally we’ll be traveling to a country, in fact a continent, I’ve never visited and know little about.  So, it’s all good.

You might wonder how we got involved in this project.  Here’s the answer.  Marty, as former Fulbright recipient, placed his name on the list for a short term (1-3 months) Fulbright.  In February, we were notified of the position in Rwanda.  Now beyond two films, Gorillas in the Mist and Hotel Rwanda, neither of us knew much about the country.  After checking out the U.S. State’s Department’s website, which assured us we could safely travel to Rwanda, we applied and were accepted. 

Next post:  Getting ready for the trip.

P.S. Kudos to Sean for the name of the blog.  I could never have come up with such a clever name on my own!