{"id":53589,"date":"2025-03-26T22:23:48","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T22:23:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/harvard-university-students-reflect-on-the-rwanda-s-transformation-journey\/"},"modified":"2025-03-28T09:29:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T09:29:41","slug":"harvard-university-students-reflect-on-the-rwanda-s-transformation-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/harvard-university-students-reflect-on-the-rwanda-s-transformation-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"Harvard University students reflect on Rwanda\u2019s transformation journey (VIDEO)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The transformation from its violent past to a beacon of economic growth, social cohesion, and political stability has captivated the attention of global observers.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, a group of Harvard University students visited Rwanda to learn firsthand about the country&#8217;s evolution. Their reflections offer insights into Rwanda\u2019s remarkable journey and the lessons it holds for other nations.<\/p>\n<p>Jordan Thomas, a fourth-year student at Yale Law School and Harvard Business School, was part of the Harvard Africa Caucus, which held the trip. As a JD-MBA dual degree student, Thomas was eager to delve into Rwanda&#8217;s economic and governance structures.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s a lot to learn from Rwanda. Studying the economic and institutional structures from a legal standpoint has been incredibly enriching. But more than that, it\u2019s the experience of Kigali and Rwanda as a whole that has made this trip so rewarding,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>Schola Chioma Eburuoh, a U.S. citizen with Nigerian roots, joined the trip almost by chance but she acknowledges that this has been one of the most exceptional movements of her life.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I wanted to experience a new place, especially East Africa. I had only visited Nigeria, Ghana, and Morocco, so Rwanda was an exciting new addition to my travels. I\u2019m very impressed by how welcoming the people are, and the openness of the government, it feels like everyone is invited to contribute,&#8221; she explained.<\/p>\n<p>Monserrat Magana, a student from Mexico, was drawn to Rwanda for its ambitious post-genocide transformation. &#8220;I had heard a lot about the improvements Rwanda has made after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. As someone who enjoys nature and adventure, visiting Rwanda also gave me the opportunity to see the gorillas and experience a safari, which I had always dreamed of,&#8221; she said<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"100%\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9Ap0LpY3hJw\" title=\"Harvard University students share experiences from Rwanda visit\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The beauty and community spirit of Rwanda stood out to many of the students. Magana shared, &#8220;There\u2019s a sense of unity here. People help each other in the streets, and you can see a real sense of social interaction and togetherness.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This theme of unity was echoed by Brandon Tran, a mid-career student in Public Administration from the U.S. He noted the strong social contract between the government and the people, which contributes to Rwanda\u2019s development.<\/p>\n<p>Tran was especially moved by his visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre. &#8220;The memorial walks you through Rwanda&#8217;s history in such a complex and personal way. It shows the pre-colonial and colonial periods, the events leading up to and during the genocide, and then the incredible regeneration post-1994. It\u2019s not just about the tragedy of 1994, it\u2019s about understanding what happened before and how Rwanda has rebuilt itself,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>This careful and nuanced approach left a lasting impression on him. The students were equally struck by Rwanda\u2019s bold vision for the future. The government\u2019s focus on tourism and technology is shaping the country as a regional model for development.<\/p>\n<p>Tran, for instance, was intrigued by Rwanda\u2019s widely perceived ambition to become the \u2018Singapore of Africa.\u2019 \u201cIt\u2019s clear that the government is proactive and focused on long-term goals. Kigali\u2019s development is incredible, and the country\u2019s efforts to attract foreign direct investment are impressive,&#8221; he observed.<\/p>\n<p>Yuchen Ji, also known as Rain, a public policy student from Beijing, emphasized the importance of a unified vision in Rwanda&#8217;s success.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;One of my biggest takeaways was the country\u2019s ability to invite different government agencies to align with a shared goal. For instance, in discussions with the Ministry of Justice, I learned how critical rule of law is for both societal development and attracting foreign investment,&#8221; she noted.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84346 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_4-106.jpg\" alt=\"Yuchen Ji, also known as Rain, a public policy student from Beijing, emphasized the importance of a unified vision in Rwanda&#039;s success.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>The Ministry of Education\u2019s focus on developing human capital also resonated deeply with the students. As Rain explained, Rwanda\u2019s efforts to equip its citizens with both knowledge and practical skills play a crucial role in its economic development.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This holistic approach, addressing everything from the rule of law to education, sets the country on a strong path forward,&#8221; she explained.<\/p>\n<p>Tunde Wey, a Nigerian fellow at the Graduate School of Design, also reflected on Rwanda\u2019s design aesthetics, which resonated with his own cultural background. &#8220;The design sensibility here is familiar to me. There\u2019s an elegance and functionality that speaks to a deep-rooted cultural understanding of space and community,&#8221; he revealed.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout their trip, the Harvard students came to recognize Rwanda as a country that not only acknowledges its tragic past but actively works towards a brighter future. The nation\u2019s resilience, unity, and proactive approach to governance have left a deep impression on each of them.<\/p>\n<p>As they prepared to leave, the students reflected on Rwanda\u2019s incredible transformation and the lessons that other nations might take from its journey. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84338 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_7-46.jpg\" alt=\"The Students visited the Ministry of Education.\" \/><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;Rwanda is a shining example of how a country can rebuild, not just physically, but socially and politically. The resilience of the people here and the commitment to healing and progress are truly inspiring,&#8221; said Jordan.<\/p>\n<p>Rwanda, once synonymous with tragedy, is now a symbol of hope and a testament to the power of unity and transformation. The students from Harvard left with a deeper understanding of the country\u2019s journey and with a renewed belief in the potential for positive change anywhere in the world.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84342 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic-94.jpg\" alt=\"Jordan Thomas, a fourth-year student at Yale Law School and Harvard Business School, was part of the Harvard Africa Caucus.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84336 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_5-83.jpg\" alt=\"Monserrat Magana, a student from Mexico, was drawn to Rwanda for its ambitious post-genocide transformation.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84341 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_9-27.jpg\" alt=\"The students held discussions with the Ministry of Justice.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84345 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_3-145.jpg\" alt=\"Schola Chioma Eburuoh, a U.S. citizen with Nigerian roots, joined the trip almost by chance but she acknowledges that this has been one of the most exceptional movements of her life.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84343 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_1-261.jpg\" alt=\"Brandon Tran is a mid-career student in Public Administration from the U.S.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84344 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_2-183.jpg\" alt=\"Tunde Wey, a Nigerian fellow at the Graduate School of Design, reflected on Rwanda\u2019s design aesthetics, which resonated with his own cultural background.\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84340 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_10-20.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84339 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_8-36.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"spip-document spip-document-84337 aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/jpg\/pic_6-62.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 1994, Rwanda experienced one of the darkest chapters in human history, the genocide against the Tutsi. Thirty years later, the country stands as a remarkable testament to resilience and renewal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":135,"featured_media":2000084335,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[75],"byline":[3135],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-53589","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-homenews","byline-sam-k-nkurunziza-2"],"bylines":[{"id":3135,"name":"Sam K Nkurunziza","slug":"sam-k-nkurunziza-2","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"contributors":[{"id":3135,"name":"Sam K Nkurunziza","slug":"sam-k-nkurunziza-2","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":null}],"featured_image":{"id":2000084335,"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-487.jpg","alt":"","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":0,"height":0,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-487.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-487.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-487.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-487.jpg","width":1,"height":1},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/en-images.igihe.com\/IMG\/logo\/profile-487.jpg","width":0,"height":0}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53589","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/135"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53589"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53589\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000084335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53589"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53589"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53589"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=53589"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=53589"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}