travel [GARDENS FOR HEALTH INTERNATIONAL in RWANDA]

Remember that summer solstice party? That night, I met Julie and Connor, two particularly warm and welcoming expats who work together at Gardens for Health International.

Julie co-founded the organization in 2007 in an effort to provide lasting agricultural solutions to chronic malnutrition. GHI partners with health centers to identify critical families, and offers education, training and seedlings to improve agricultural capacity as well as health knowledge of mothers. 

I've been hearing about how beautiful their farm is since arriving in Kigali, and was so happy to finally get up there this morning. The visit started with community lunch - the entire staff (as well as some of their adorable children) gather around the long table to enjoy their meal together.

Julie gave me an extensive tour of the property, explaining GHI's work along the way. I was really struck by how committed GHI is to finding realistic, adaptable solutions to such major problems. They're constantly experimenting, working to gain further understanding of the land and the families they serve. 

 

travel [AZIZI LIFE CO-OP in RWANDA]

I was invited by Azizi Life to tag along on an Experience. These women are strong and so damn beautiful. It was an honor to spend time in their community, learning about their daily responsibilities and discussing our many cultural differences. And of course the many similarities. 

Watching the co-op's eldest member lovingly quarrel with one of the men about the pros and cons of divorce (which simply does not exist in this rural community) was hilarious. Absolutely no translation needed. 

The women specialize in weaving sisal to make beautiful earrings and bracelets. Their pieces are available through Azizi Life, a non-profit organization that connects many artisans and co-ops to the global market. 

travel [TODAY in KIGALI, RWANDA]

Mwiriwe neza.

I woke up late this morning and trekked up the hill to the famous Hotel des Mille Collines. Minutes from Heaven, Mille Collines is a beautiful, upscale hotel with a large pool and a poolside cafe. During the genocide, 1,268 people took refuge inside the hotel - the film Hotel Rwanda tells the story.

I met a friend's little sister and her university group for lunch - most of them are biomedical engineers about to head out to smaller cities and villages to repair equipment throughout Rwanda. I've been so impressed and inspired by the people I've met here who are sharing their education and specific skill-set with communities that will really benefit from their work.

I stayed up late last night googling houses of worship in Kigali (I have a fascination with how religion influences identity and am excited to visit a few churches here). I also realized that if I am going to seek out churches to experience and explore, it might be important to also find a group of people who connect with god and themselves in the way that I do. I found only one Kigali meditation group, the next meeting scheduled for today at 5pm.

The get-together was held in Nyratorama, a quiet, neatly arranged neighborhood at the top of one of Kigali's many, many hills. I arrived way early, so I took some time to roam around.

I still had an hour to kill when I came across a group of guys warming up for a pick-up game of soccer. I sat on the side with a kid named Élan and we entertained ourselves by offering commentary and being equal-opportunity cheerleaders.

The meditation meeting was small but meaningful. My practice has actually been pretty steady since arriving in Rwanda, but it is so nice to find a couple people here who are interested in sharing their own experiences and growing in our practices together.

I shared a taxi with the kid who organized the meeting - of course he also knows Grace so he invited me along to a party at her old house. They were celebrating La Noche de San Juan, a celebration of the summer solstice which invites people to write a list of what they'd like to leave behind from the past year. Then you toss the note in a bonfire and jump over the flames.

It was a good day.