cultural tourism that connects you with rural Rwanda
Gain insight into the life of rural Rwandans and their families.
Experience the beauty as well as the rigor of their lives.
Spend a day in a Rwandan household:
"Our students have not stopped talking about the Azizi Life trip!!! They had an awesome time." Leah Bright, GoED Africa
"I thought this experience was spectacular!" Karen Jacobsen, International Development Worker at Food for the Hungry Rwanda
Experience the beauty as well as the rigor of their lives.
Spend a day in a Rwandan household:
- Join in with agricultural activities
- Share a midday meal
- Learn to weave an Azizi Life product
"Our students have not stopped talking about the Azizi Life trip!!! They had an awesome time." Leah Bright, GoED Africa
"I thought this experience was spectacular!" Karen Jacobsen, International Development Worker at Food for the Hungry Rwanda
a taste of what to expect
This short video gives an idea of what you are likely to experience on your visit to a rural community:
taster video
taster video
who hosts Azizi Life experiences?
Azizi Life experiences are hosted by two Azizi Life artisan groups based in rural communities in the beautiful countryside of Muhanga District. The communities are a few kilometres along dirt roads from the town of Muhanga (previously called Gitarama). Muhanga is an hour’s drive from Kigali, on a paved road.
The groups are the Abarikumwe Association and the Ingobokarugo Co-operative. Each group meets every week to weave together and as the women weave they talk, sharing their news and supporting and encouraging each other.
The women take it in turn to host small groups of visitors in their home. You will spend the day in the company of your host, her family, and other artisans from the group. Some of the women will invite you to work with them in their fields, or other activities suited to the season and the weather, while others prepare a midday meal for everyone. Usually, in the afternoons, all the artisans get together with the visitors to weave. They laugh often as they work, and invite you to join in the pleasure they take in life.
The women and their families understand that you want to find out more about life in rural Rwanda and they may also ask you about life in your home country. An Azizi Life translator will accompany you so language needn’t be a barrier to connecting with your hosts.
The groups are the Abarikumwe Association and the Ingobokarugo Co-operative. Each group meets every week to weave together and as the women weave they talk, sharing their news and supporting and encouraging each other.
The women take it in turn to host small groups of visitors in their home. You will spend the day in the company of your host, her family, and other artisans from the group. Some of the women will invite you to work with them in their fields, or other activities suited to the season and the weather, while others prepare a midday meal for everyone. Usually, in the afternoons, all the artisans get together with the visitors to weave. They laugh often as they work, and invite you to join in the pleasure they take in life.
The women and their families understand that you want to find out more about life in rural Rwanda and they may also ask you about life in your home country. An Azizi Life translator will accompany you so language needn’t be a barrier to connecting with your hosts.
am I fit enough?
After hoeing for a short while, you are likely to be asking yourself how on earth rural Rwandans work their fields from 6am to midday on an empty stomach. Don’t worry; they know you are not used to this sort of work and don’t expect you to keep up with their pace. It is absolutely fine to try an activity for a few minutes and then sit and watch.
Paths between the road and family homes, and paths from homes to fields and water sources, are often irregular and steep. After rain, they may also be slippery. However, we accommodate visitors with limited mobility by choosing homes near the road and adjusting activities. If you are unable to participate in farming activities or walk far, your experience will be different, but no less interesting and enjoyable: you will spend more of your time in and around the family home and see more of the children and of family and domestic life.
All we ask is that you let us know in advance if you have concerns about your health or fitness. We then plan with your hosts how best to meet your needs.
Paths between the road and family homes, and paths from homes to fields and water sources, are often irregular and steep. After rain, they may also be slippery. However, we accommodate visitors with limited mobility by choosing homes near the road and adjusting activities. If you are unable to participate in farming activities or walk far, your experience will be different, but no less interesting and enjoyable: you will spend more of your time in and around the family home and see more of the children and of family and domestic life.
All we ask is that you let us know in advance if you have concerns about your health or fitness. We then plan with your hosts how best to meet your needs.
what to wear
Due to the amount and type of work you will be doing outdoors, we recommend that you wear:
- comfortable, closed toed shoes
- long trousers
- dress in layers
- sunscreen
- a hat to shield you from the sun
schedule
In the countryside, timings and activities are dependent on the season, the weather and significant events in the community, so be prepared to be flexible in case events lead to a change of plan. We can adjust start and end times to suit you. Here is a typical day’s experience:
schedule
schedule
impact on the community
We monitor the impact of our business and of our tourism activities in particular, since taking visitors into rural areas has social implications for host families and their neighbours. Research we commissioned in late 2011 revealed a range of beneficial effects for the community, and no significant adverse effects.
Artisans, their neighbours and community leaders were interviewed. It was found that income from handicraft sales and tourism activities is used by the artisans in various ways of direct economic and social benefit to their community, including paying other community members to cultivate, lending money to neighbours, giving money or food to vulnerable or sick neighbours, and spending money in local shops. It is customary for Rwandans to help their friends and neighbours when they can, and the artisans were found to use the income they receive in ways that were consistent with this culture of mutual support.
One neighbour explained how members of the artisan association had helped her: ‘I was sick and couldn’t get sugar or soap, but they gave me money without me having to pay it back. Other members visited my daughter in hospital and gave her food and money.’
The artists themselves reported increased independence and self-respect. One commented,’ For my family, if I buy land or an animal my husband respects me. For my friends, I used to ask them for food or money without any hope of paying them back, but now it has stopped and they are happy because I don’t bother them. For my neighbours, giving them jobs or letting them borrow money creates friendship.’
The research concluded that, ‘Through purchasing native handicrafts and advancing the needed connections for cultural tourism, Azizi Life facilitates valuable economic, personal and community development in rural Rwanda—all without significant negative impacts to cultural norms.’
The effects of our work therefore appear so far to be in line with our vision and purpose. We will continue to monitor the impact of our activities on the communities with which we work.
Artisans, their neighbours and community leaders were interviewed. It was found that income from handicraft sales and tourism activities is used by the artisans in various ways of direct economic and social benefit to their community, including paying other community members to cultivate, lending money to neighbours, giving money or food to vulnerable or sick neighbours, and spending money in local shops. It is customary for Rwandans to help their friends and neighbours when they can, and the artisans were found to use the income they receive in ways that were consistent with this culture of mutual support.
One neighbour explained how members of the artisan association had helped her: ‘I was sick and couldn’t get sugar or soap, but they gave me money without me having to pay it back. Other members visited my daughter in hospital and gave her food and money.’
The artists themselves reported increased independence and self-respect. One commented,’ For my family, if I buy land or an animal my husband respects me. For my friends, I used to ask them for food or money without any hope of paying them back, but now it has stopped and they are happy because I don’t bother them. For my neighbours, giving them jobs or letting them borrow money creates friendship.’
The research concluded that, ‘Through purchasing native handicrafts and advancing the needed connections for cultural tourism, Azizi Life facilitates valuable economic, personal and community development in rural Rwanda—all without significant negative impacts to cultural norms.’
The effects of our work therefore appear so far to be in line with our vision and purpose. We will continue to monitor the impact of our activities on the communities with which we work.
booking
Rates:
$70 USD per person
50% off for residents of Rwanda and volunteers!
Cost includes transport from Gitarama at 08.00, return transport to Gitarama at 16.00, bottled water, traditional meal, craft materials, and translator
Collection from Kigali can be arranged
For further information and to book your experience:
tel: Tom or Jeannine 07 85 78 11 46
email: experiences@azizilife.com
50% off for residents of Rwanda and volunteers!
Cost includes transport from Gitarama at 08.00, return transport to Gitarama at 16.00, bottled water, traditional meal, craft materials, and translator
Collection from Kigali can be arranged
For further information and to book your experience:
tel: Tom or Jeannine 07 85 78 11 46
email: experiences@azizilife.com
