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Parent Category: projects

Greetings!
My name is Linus Kühnhold, a 19-year-old from Germany who served as a volunteer for RDIS from August 2023 to August 2024. This opportunity has taken me to Rwanda, where I've been immersed in various projects and involved in meetings.
During my time in RDIS, I delved into projects, witnessing how initiatives work. Among them improved cook stoves, ceramic water filters, solar panels, climate smart agriculture, tree nurseries, and construction of houses. It has been inspiring to see how these projects positively impact people's lives. When not working on field with coordinators, I assisted at my mentor Jonas's school or engage in meetings in Muhanga in the RDIS headquarter.
I am immensely thankful to the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), the Anglican Church and RDIS for this enriching year. It has not only strengthened me personally but also broadened my understanding of work in Non-Governmental Organisation´s like RDIS and in a different country.
Thank you.

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Parent Category: projects

The following reflection was shared by an international volunteer who served at RDIS from October 2022 until August 2023. At the volunteer’s request and in respect of personal privacy, the name and photo of the volunteer remain anonymous.

“I was honoured to serve as a volunteer at RDIS from October 2022 until August 2023.

I was sent by the United Evangelical Mission (UEM), a long-term partner of RDIS and the four dioceses of the Anglican Church of Rwanda: Butare, Cyangugu, Kigeme, and Shyogwe. UEM organises several volunteer and exchange programs. Supported by Engagement Global, these programs encourage young people to engage with different social and cultural backgrounds and to broaden their perspectives through international experience. I was especially grateful to be among the first volunteers to participate again after the global Covid-19 pandemic.

My daily activities mainly involved office and administrative tasks, where I supported colleagues in their responsibilities and ongoing work.

I remain deeply grateful for the opportunity RDIS gave me and for the many experiences through which I learned more about the organisation’s work and the socio-economic context in which it operates.

These experiences strongly influenced both my academic journey and my personal development. The staff of RDIS works every day to positively impact the lives of their beneficiaries  and during my time there, they also had a meaningful impact on mine.

Thank you, RDIS, for this enriching and unforgettable year.”

International volunteer service invites young people between the ages of 18 and 28 to spend a year contributing to projects in another country. Working together, cultural exchange, and learning from one another in everyday life are central aspects of the volunteer experience.

The Rural Development Interdiocesan Service (RDIS) in Rwanda periodically offers placements through the North-South volunteer program. This forms part of the United Evangelical Mission’s (UEM) volunteer service and the broader weltwärts program.

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Parent Category: projects

My name is Ansgar Utrata, I am 19 years old and I come from Germany. I spent the last year (September 2018 to August 2019) in Rwanda working for RDIS as a volunteer.
My sending organization is called United Evangelical Mission (UEM) where I participated in the North-South volunteer program. After my high school graduation, I wanted to do a voluntary service in order to develop as a person, get to know a new culture and make first practical experiences.

I was active in many different areas. Most of the time, I was doing office activities. For example, I helped to develop promotional material like a calendar about RDIS and a leaflet about a project. Or, when RDIS was working on a short film about the stove project, I recorded the German narrator voice. My personal highlight was to represent the organization at a booth at an international forum about the clean cooking sector in Convention Center Kigali. Often RDIS hosted international visitors, particularly from Germany. I was glad to accompany them on many interesting visits which was a nice change to everyday life. Additionally, I offered a German Class for beginners two times a week.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have spent two weeks in every of the other three zones of RDIS -Cyangugu, Butare and Kigeme. There I was working with the Field-Coordinators and we did numerous field-visits. In that way, I saw how our projects, like the improved cook stove, the ceramic water filter or the solar panel, help the rural population. Beside work, I had the chance to explore the cities.

The atmosphere in the head office was pleasant. From the beginning on, I participated in our meetings, so I felt completely integrated. I could learn a lot from my colleagues. Also, my English and French skills have improved significantly.

My voluntary service for RDIS influenced my choice of studies. I wanted to link my passion for languages with the field of management. After my return to Europe, I will study “Franco-German and International Management” in France and Germany.

Thank you RDIS for this wonderful and enriching year!
Ansgar Utrata

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