NYU Capstone Team - Foundation Rwanda

- visiting a beneficiary, Karongi district

I didn't anticipate continuing this blog after returning from Africa in August, but what do you know - its January and I get to come back! Thus, the content of my trip still fits within the original theme of this blog so I can continue my entries here without having to start a brand new blog. Yippee!

Background on the Capstone program at NYU Wagner - Our MPA program is unique because it involves a year-long Capstone project component - one of the main features of the Masters program that made it so attractive. Instead of writing a masters thesis (bo-ring!) second-year students form teams and are paired with a client. Together with the client the NYU Capstone Team works on a mutually agreed upon project scope, conducts research, and writes a report over the duration of the academic year. In short, we apply all the knowledge gained from the MPA program to a consulting project, working on a realistic issue for our client. Not only was this component of the Masters attractive because its more engaging than sitting behind a desk for hours on end, but requires personable networking skills, allows us to build our professional networks and looks awesome on a resume.

My AMAZING Capstone Team

So, back to my Capstone project - my client is Foundation Rwanda, a US-based nonprofit that aims to educate a very particular vulnerable population of children affected by the Rwanda genocide of 1994. Prior to Foundation Rwanda's existence, no existing government or NGO programs had been created to support their specific needs. It's a pivotal moment for Foundation Rwanda, in that its beneficiaries are now 17 - 18 years old and will be be graduating secondary school soon. Foundation Rwanda, who primarily funds their education, is trying to determine how best to continue supporting them. In efforts to provide 'holistic services' - health, pyschosocial, income generating activities - Foundation Rwanda has called upon us to conduct a needs assessment and cost analysis of the its current 820-some students and their mothers. This is what has brought me to Rwanda for about 2 and a half weeks. (Due to the confidential nature of the subject, for more information about Foundation Rwanda and the population they serve visit them at their website - http://www.foundationrwanda.org/)

First impressions? Rwanda is extremely clean. Compared to Ghana where plastic water sachets litter the ground, the Rwandan government has outlawed the usage of plastic. As a result litter is nearly nonexistent in Kigali. In fact, its quite evident Paul Kagame places a high value in the cleanliness of the country's capital. Driving through the streets of Kigali, the fact that government public works employees can be seen beautifying the sides of the roads and weeding sidewalks is indicative of the care and tedious effort invested in Rwanda's spotless appearance. With Rwanda's economy on the rise, Kagame made a great point in that you cannot expect an economy to flourish if its people can't master easy steps first such as keeping streets clean and orderly. I'd have to admit, in comparison to the only two other African countries I've visited - Ghana and South Africa - Rwanda appears extremely orderly and disciplined. 

playing in the 'princess-like' mosquito net,  Karongi district near Kivu lake