Rwanda

When I was offered the chance to go to Rwanda for a field trip, I didn’t hesitate for a second.
I must have been around 16 when I first read Dian Fossey’s Gorillas in the Mist. Her story left a lasting impression on me — the sense of adventure, the call of the wilderness, the courage to face hardship, the deep love of nature and its creatures, the curiosity to explore foreign worlds, and the resolve to stand up for what one believes in. These values have shaped much of how I see the world today.

But Rwanda is also marked by one of the darkest chapters in recent history — the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. While there, I spoke with people who lived through it. I heard facts, read testimonies, listened to personal stories. And yet, it remains incomprehensible to me. How can we, as humans, continue to repeat the horrors of our past?

And still — Rwanda today, despite everything, is a country that offers hope.
There’s resilience in its people, progress in its rebuilding, and undeniable beauty in its landscapes and wildlife.

So yes — visit Rwanda. Not just to see the gorillas or the green hills, but to understand its history and to witness the strength of its people.