Cruising Kigali

Yesterday we drove from Gisenyi, on the shores of Lake Kivu, back to Kigali where we checked out a local crafts market. Today we've been cruising the city on a city tour - we paid our respects at the nearby memorial for 10 UN Peacekeepers (Belgian) who were killed in the genocide while trying to protect the moderate (and solution-seeking) PM. We also visited the old colonial part of town, and the newly developed parts (the government is relocating thousands of people currently living in more traditional homes to the countryside, so that apartment buildings can be built to house urban dwellers more efficiently).

We learned about how Rwandans are grouped in "cells", with one cell comprised of about a block of people, or 10-15 families. Each cell has an elected leader who helps in the organization of civil activities. Every Rwandan is required to spend a few hours of the last Saturday of every month working for his/her community/country. If you're away that weekend, you make up the time or contribute a nominal fee to the cell's 'community fund' in your absence. And if you choose not to partake, there's a fee of 150,000 Rwa Francs (~$250US) which generally acts as incentive enough for people to pull their weight. Incredible organization for progress and development! Cells will gather to clean roads, garden parks, etc. The work is obvious as this country is spotless!

This afternoon we will visit The Genocide Memorial. It will, undoubtedly, be a powerful and poignant experience.