Umuganda

On Saturday 1 June, we had the opportunity to travel to the Cyaruzinge Village to partake in Umuganda, which takes place on the first Saturday of every month as a way to build a sense of community.  This was the most impoverished village we have been to yet as it is home to a historically disadvantaged demographic in Rwanda.  Many individuals lacked proper shoes and healthcare.  Due to malnutrition from a diet lacking in protein and vitamins, the average height and size for some of the children was considerably lower than what it would have been for their age. 

                The service consisted of us clearing rocks from a field in order to allow the community to designate a space for children to play in.  The rocks we brought from the field were brought to different piles; from there, the community will reuse these rocks in order to build houses.  All members of the community assisted in the effort and many of us utilized the help of the eager children from the community.  Many of the adults in the community stared and laughed at our attempts to move the rocks, but we still felt a sense of accomplishment.  Having red dirt under our fingernails and sweat ringing our necks put us on a semblance of equality with the Rwandans.  Avoiding paternalism in service work is a practice many group members strive towards so this was especially rewarding.  While clearing rocks from a field is not necessarily a great task, the fact that Rwandans had the chance to see Americans attempting to take part in Umuganda was definitely positive.  After service, the community’s leader explained why we were there.  He explained how the Americans were here as part of a Peace Building Institute and we wanted to partake in Umuganda as part of our process in understanding Rwandan culture.  While we were fortunate enough to return to our lodging and reap the benefits of a shower and a hearty lunch, we remained conscious of the fact that the work we engaged in is a fact of life for many people in this country.