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Rwanda's first milk powder plant owned by Inyange Industries, a leading food processing company in the country, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente on Wednesday, July 24.

The plant located in Nyagatare District, among others, strategically positions Rwanda into the global milk powder commodity markets. For the very first time in the country's history, for example, a prospective industrial food processor based in Europe, Asia, or elsewhere around the globe, can easily know or see Rwanda as a potential supplier of the product.

 

Being an export-oriented business, the plant also adds to the country's foreign exchange sources.

Globally, as of 2021, the largest producers of milk powder are New Zealand, China, Argentina, and Brazil.

Below are 11 key things to know about Rwanda's first powdered milk factory:

1. Products

The Milk Powder Plant (MPP) produces powder milk, butter, and ghee and UHT products, made from high-quality raw milk sourced from local farmers. The milk undergoes rigorous processing and safety measures to ensure it meets the highest standards of quality.

 

Skimmed and whole milk powders are created through a drying process that retains essential nutrients, while butter and ghee are produced using modern methods that ensure rich taste and quality.

2. Production capacity

The plant can process 650,000 litres of milk, per day. At full capacity, it will be able to produce over 41 tonnes of quality milk powder per day.

 

The plant will also produce 25.6 tonnes of butter per day and, or, 11.3 tonnes of ghee, per day, depending on market demand dynamics, as well as 150,000 litres of UHT milk per day.

3. Technology and quality

The plant stands out due to its advanced technology, which ensures high efficiency, safety, and quality in production. It uses cutting-edge processing technology. This ensures the highest standards of quality and efficiency in milk processing operations.

The plant is S-Mark certified by Rwanda Standards Board and its products are now on the market. The S-Mark which eliminates the need for products to be re-tested all the time is a powerful marketing tool for all manufacturers especially exporters.

By and large, Inyange products hold certifications from Rwanda Standards Board, Rwanda FDA, FSSC 22000, ISO 22000, and Halal certification standards, ensuring compliance with local and international markets.

4. Will the plant's powder milk be affordable?

Currently, the price of the plant's milk powder — with reference to international milk powder commodity markets — is $3.5, per kilo.

5. How about safety of packaging?

The plants products are packaged in bulk in a hygienic environment to ensure freshness and quality.

The packaging is set on international packaging standards for industrial milk powder products.

6. Are there any plans to create retail-friendly products?

Since the products are packaged in big sizes such as 25 kilo bags, Inyange Industries is exploring opportunities of introducing instant powder in small packets to cater for retail and consumer markets.

7. Investment cost

The total investment for the facility is approximately $54 million.

8. How does the plant impact local farmers and the community?

Among other things, the plant immediately creates a reliable market for the country's dairy farmers.

Considering the current raw milk price of roughly Rwf400 per liter, it is estimated that — other factors constant — when operating at full capacity by processing 650,000 liters per day, the plant itself will be injecting Rwf10.1 billion, annually, into the economy.

James Kagaba, the Managing Director of Inyange Milk Powder Plant, said this is only through incomes earned by dairy farmers, without considering earnings by other people such as transporters, fuels traders, and utility service providers, among others, whose livelihoods are linked to the plant.

In its current operational phase, the plant also provides 270 permanent job opportunities — excluding casual labourers and workers employed by cleaning service providers — and supports hundreds more indirectly.

9.When did operations start?

Kagaba said the factory became operational in April and has so far received 4.2 million litres of raw milk from Rwandan farmers, who were paid up to Rwf1.3 billion.

Inyange Industries enhanced milk collection from 3,000 liters per day, in 2009, to 200,000 liters per day by 2020.

The company's partnerships with farmers' cooperatives improved livelihoods and ensured fair pricing for farmers.

10. The market

The plant's primary target customers are food processing industries such as infant product manufacturers, pastry businesses, and brands offering instant milk powder products.

These products are ideal for businesses requiring high-quality milk powder for their formulations. Additionally, the products cater to both local and international markets, ensuring a broad customer base.

Locally, they support Rwandan manufacturers and consumers, while globally, they cater to the rising demand for high-quality milk products in various regions. Markets such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Kenya have already started showing interests, officials noted.

11. Will local produce satisfy the milk powder plant?

At full capacity, the plant is able to process 650,000 litres of milk in a day. Inyange Industries Managing Director James Biseruka said this demand is not yet satisfied since the plant is still operating below 45 per cent, or with 292,500 litres, per day.

In 2022-2023, more than 81 million litres of milk were supplied to milk processing plants, according to MINAGRI annual report 2022/2023 (the latest). This supply represents less than 10 per cent of more than one billion litres of milk produced in the same fiscal year countrywide.

The remaining 357,500 liters of milk, it is hoped, will also be adequately locally supplied in not more than two years, once strategic initiatives such as the new pastureland strategy in Eastern Province, and others, start fully bearing fruit.

Last September, the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources ordered 70 percent of pastureland in the districts of Nyagatare, Gatsibo, Kayonza, and Kirehe, to be put under the cultivation of crops that provide cow fodder while 30 percent is set aside for cow sheds in a bid to enforce the zero-grazing system and increase milk production.

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Liverpool made a winning start to their pre-season schedule and one talented youngster caught the eye in Arne Slot's first match as head coach.

Liverpool beat Real Betis 1-0 at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai scoring the only goal of the game.

The Reds struggled to find their rhythm during the first half, with Wataru Endo's performance coming under particular scrutiny.

But the Premier League side improved after the break following a series of changes from Slot.

Fans were particularly impressed with the performance of 17-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni, who was introduced on the half hour mark following an injury to Curtis Jones.

Nyoni was tidy in possession and made a number of positive balls forward, setting up several attacks for the Reds.

Fans were quick to praise the youngster after the game, with some calling for him to start Liverpool's next pre-season friendly against Arsenal on Thursday.

'Baller! He has a bright future,' one fan posted on X.

Another added: 'Always looking to start something and go forward with the ball, ceiling so f***ing high man, I'm so excited for him.'

A third wrote: 'Trey Nyoni was extraordinary, he deserves more time in the pitch.'

'Play Nyoni against Arsenal and he'll reconsider his career path,' added a fourth supporter.

While another posted: 'If Nyoni plays like that against United and Arsenal in the next 2 preseason games then I'd put him above Jones & Grav [Ryan Gravenberch] in the pecking order.

'What do they offer that he doesn't? He's 1000 times more positive in his passing, plays one touch football & doesn't carelessly lose the ball.'

Nyoni made history last season when making his senior debut for Liverpool in a 3-0 win over Southampton in the FA Cup.

Aged just 16 years and 243 days at the time, he became the youngster FA Cup player in Liverpool's history and the third-youngest in any competition when he replaced Harvey Elliott 12 minutes from time.

However, speaking after the win over Betis, Slot suggested he would not rush Nyoni into more first-team action.

'I think he did really well today but it was only an hour,' said Slot.

'Like I said, he did well. He was one of the reasons why we scored the goal, because he turned really quickly and [played] a spot-on pass in between the lines. And he was also involved in the biggest chance in the second half. So he did well.

'But he's just turned 17 and his body has to grow, and we are really careful with him. So he doesn't join every session and sometimes he goes out a bit earlier because he only turned 17 and you can see his quality but you can also see his body still needs some time to grow to play at Premier League level.

'But he showed some interesting things today.'

After facing Arsenal next week, Liverpool will take on rivals Manchester United and Sevilla in further warm-up matches before playing their opening Premier League game against Ipswich on August 17

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The Paris Olympic Games opened on Friday night with a high-kitsch, riverside spectacle, as an armada of boats carried athletes along the Seine, dancers dangled from high poles, drag queens paraded on bridges and the Olympic rings lit up the Eiffel Tower — all under unrelenting, torrential rain.

France had promised its opening ceremony would be the biggest open-air show on Earth. More than 300,000 people watched from the riverside and bridges — and hundreds more stood at windows and balconies — as a show of dance, live music and acrobatics unfolded along more than 6km of river from the Pont d'Austerlitz to the Eiffel Tower.

The show had promised to light-heartedly deconstruct French stereotypes, and the US singer Lady Gaga was the first star to set the tone for a tongue-in-cheek kitsch spectacle. She appeared from a giant golden staircase on the edge of the Seine surrounded by pink pompoms and giant pink feather fans, for a high-kicking cabaret performance of France's famous 1960s music-hall number Mon Truc en plumes by Zizi Jeanmaire.

Later the pop singer Aya Nakamura, the most-listened to French-speaking artist in the world, stepped on to the Pont des Arts in a bold musical juxtaposition that saw her perform with France's Republican Guard, who were in perfect formation on military drums. Nakamura sang extracts of songs by the legendary French crooner Charles Aznavour, as well as her own hits, Pookie and Djadja, with the French army choir and military brass band.

Nakamura's presence was considered a triumph after a racist backlash against the prospect of her singing had prompted the Paris prosecutor to open an investigation into alleged racist abuse against her earlier this year. Some on the French far right — which was held back from taking power by a massive surge of tactical voting in the recent snap parliament election — had complained earlier this year that Nakamura, who grew up in the Paris suburbs, was not French enough to perform.

Paris's rain-soaked river party was the first time the opening ceremony of the world's biggest sporting event had taken place outside a stadium, with athletes parading not around an athletics track but in a flotilla of boats.

But the outdoor ceremony, once described by Emmanuel Macron as 'a crazy idea that must be made real', had to overcome obstacles.

First, a series of sabotage attacks on the high-speed TGV rail network caused travel chaos across France hours before the ceremony began. Then came a weather nightmare: instead of the soft summer evening light that directors had hoped for, there was a deluge as the skies opened with such relentless rain that weather forecasters said it was the equivalent of 15 days' rainfall in six hours.

Rain thoroughly soaked athletes and spectators, many of whom were outside with no cover for the entire show, which lasted almost four hours. Even some dignitaries temporarily left their seats in the tribune at Trocadero after getting drenched.

But it was all about determination in the face of adversity. Thomas Jolly, the young French director who created the surreal and irreverent show, had said he did not want just 'ephemeral glitz' but an exploration of what underpins 'our shared humanity'.

He said he chose the Seine for its 'power to heal' from tragedies such as Paris's 2015 terrorist attacks, as well as the 2019 fire at Notre Dame. Indeed, part of the show was a spectacular pre-filmed dance routine of workers performing high-risk moves while hanging off the scaffolding around Notre Dame.

The evening began with 6,800 athletes bussed from the Olympic Village to Pont d'Austerlitz in the east of the city, where the French military guarded them as they climbed on to boats.

Greece's boat set out first, in the Olympic tradition, followed by the Olympic refugee team, then other nations sailed down the river on 85 boats. The Ukrainian delegation received a massive ovation from the crowd on the riverside.

Not since the time of Louis XV has a ceremony seen a formation of boats sailing the same direction down the Seine, and it was cheered on by people hanging from windows.

The Technicolor homage to French cliches included a woman in a dress covered in croissants leading a colourful crowd towards a group of French can-can dancers in bright pink outfits. They delivered a traditional skirt-shaking, leg-spinning can-can performance, before ending in the splits on the edge of the Seine.

The Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, had called the show 'joyous, creative and not very well behaved'.

In a nod to the sheeting rain, hundreds of dancers splashed in a synchronised dance routine through troughs of water in a dramatic show on the Île de la Cité, near Notre Dame. Dancers dressed as hotel bell-boys then performed acrobatics on a bridge after transporting Louis Vuitton suitcases — the obligatory nod to sponsors. France's biggest death metal band, Gojira, performed amid shooting flames with the lyric singer Marina Viotti, and dancers swung from poles over the Pont Neuf.

Axelle Saint-Cirel, a French mezzo-soprano from Guadeloupe, sang a new arrangement of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, draped in the tricolour flag on the glass roof of the Grand Palais.

All this time a mysterious, faceless figure was darting across the rooftops of the city with the Olympic flame. At least one billion viewers were watching on TV and social media, and the filmed segments were just as important as the live performance, with France's former football star Zinedine Zidane kicking off by carrying the Olympic flame through a film set of kitsch 1960s cafe terraces on to a Métro train. He arrived to cheers at the Trocadero.

The show, which culminated at the Eiffel Tower, took place amid an unprecedented security operation in the city, with 45,000 police officers and thousands of soldiers.

Tony Estanguet, the three-time Olympic canoe champion who is the Paris Olympics' chief organiser, told the athletes: 'Welcome to your moment in history — live it and love it.'

At the end, Charles Coste, the oldest French Olympic champion at 100, took the flame from his wheelchair, then passed it on to French judo great Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-José Pérec. They lit a cauldron attached to a giant balloon, before Celine Dion sang Edith Piaf's Hymn to Love, in her first public performance in years, drawing huge cheers from the crowd.

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Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation after saboteurs attacked France's high-speed railway network in a series of 'malicious acts' that brought chaos to the country's busiest rail lines hours before the Olympic opening ceremony.

The state-owned railway operator, SNCF, said arsonists targeted installations along high-speed TGV lines connecting Paris with the country's west, north and east, and traffic would be severely disrupted across the country into the weekend.

'This is a massive attack on a large scale to paralyse the TGV network,' the SNCF said, adding that many services would have to be cancelled. The French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said security forces were 'hoping to swiftly make arrests' and he was not aware of any threat to the ceremony.

The Paris public prosecutor, Laure Beccuau, said a formal investigation had been launched into 'deliberate damage of property likely to harm the fundamental interests of the nation', as well as criminal association.

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There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but news agencies cited security sources as saying the same arson method had previously been used by extreme-left groups, though there was no evidence to suggest this was the case in Friday's attacks.

In September, responsibility for near-identical attacks that caused travel disruption in northern Germany was claimed on an extreme-left website. A security expert, Jérôme Poirot, told RMC radio he thought the attacks were more likely 'decided by Russia'.

The national train operator said it had been 'the victim of several simultaneous malicious acts overnight' in which crucial fibre-optic cables running alongside the tracks had been cut and burned.

It urged all passengers who could to postpone their journeys. Services had resumed by mid-afternoon, although with significant delays on all affected lines. The worst affected route, to the south-west, was able to run one TGV in three.

SNCF's chief executive, Jean-Pierre Farandou, said the attackers had set fires in conduits carrying cables that carry safety information for drivers or control points mechanisms. 'There's a huge number of bundled cables. We have to repair them one by one, it's a manual operation' requiring hundreds of workers, he said.

Farandou said five of the TGV network's 'strategic nerve centres' had been targeted on the main high-speed lines connecting Paris to big provincial cities such as Lille in the north, Bordeaux in the south-west, Strasbourg in the east and Marseille in the south-east.

All the attacks took place between 1am and 5.30am on Friday, French media reported. Four were successful, leaving only the south-eastern line running normally after a night railway maintenance team surprised several saboteurs who fled, France Info radio reported.

'Everything leads us to believe that these were criminal actions,' the transport minister, Patrice Vergriete, told reporters. 'The coordinated timing, vans found where people had fled, arsonists who were discovered on the sites.'

He said there was 'little beyond the date' to link the sabotage to the Games, and that given holidaymakers were by far the worst affected it seemed likely it was 'more the huge getaway weekend' that was targeted.

Valérie Pécresse, the head of the Île-de-France region that includes Paris and its surrounding area, said: 'Clearly this attack is not a coincidence, it aimed to destabilise France at the moment the Olympic and Paralympic Games are launched.'

The prime minister, Gabriel Attal, said he wanted to 'say to the French people that I share their anger and sadness at a time when they wanted only one thing — to rejoin their families, their friends, and, for some, to attend the Olympic Games'.

Attal said a new timetable would be drawn up as soon as possible. 'This operation was coordinated,' he added. 'The sites that were targeted were nerve centres. That shows a knowledge of the network.'

The prefect in charge of Paris policing, Laurent Nuñez, said more officers were being diverted to stations on Friday. 'The entirety of France's security and intelligence services have been mobilised,' he told France Télévisions.

The sports minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, condemned the vandalism. 'It's completely appalling,' she told BFMTV. 'To target the games is to target France.'

Several Olympic fixtures, including football matches, will be taking place in stadiums outside Paris, including Nantes and Bordeaux. The travel plans of about 800,000 French holidaymakers will be disrupted this weekend. Farandou said it was a 'sad day' because families would be the worst affected by attacks by 'irresponsible lunatics'.

On one of the busiest holiday departure weekends of the summer, large crowds of passengers were stranded at mainline TGV stations including the Gare Montparnasse in Paris, which serves Brittany and the south-west, after their trains were cancelled.

Eurostar trains from London to Paris have also been affected. 'All high-speed trains going to and coming from Paris are being diverted via the classic line,' the company said. A quarter of Eurostars between London and Paris on Friday, Saturday and Sunday have been cancelled.

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Olympic organisers have been forced to issue a statement following claims Celine Dion is being paid $2m to sing just one song at the opening ceremony for the 2024 Games in Paris.

While the Games got underway earlier this week with the start of the men's and women's football and the rugby sevens, the formal beginning of the event will be marked by a spectacular opening ceremony on Friday.

This year it will be unusually held not in an Olympic stadium but on the banks of the River Seine in Paris and the Jardins du Trocadero.

As many as 300,000 spectators are expected to attend the ceremony, which will showcase the best of French and Parisian culture.

Reports claim that pop superstars Celine Dion and Lady Gaga will perform a duet, with the pair believed to be singing Edith Piaf's 'La Vie en Rose'.

French president Emmanuel Macron commented this week on the rumours of French-Canadian singer Dion performing, while stopping short of confirming if they were true.

'Apparently she has arrived in Paris, it's great!' he told French television channel France 2.

'I would be immensely happy if she could be at this opening ceremony, like all our compatriots.'

'I will not reveal anything, what [opening ceremony director] Thomas Jolly and all his teams have prepared', Macron added before cryptically commenting: 'There is also a surprise.'

Earlier this week, TMZ claimed Dion would receive a whopping $2m (£1.55m) fee to perform the song at the ceremony.

Celine Dion (pictured) and Lady Gaga are due to perform (Image: Getty)

But organisers have now denied this is the case, insisting the Canadian won't be paid a single penny.

'Contrary to some media reports, the music artists who will be appearing at the Paris 2024 Games Ceremonies will not be paid a fee for their services,' read a statement.

'Their decision to perform under these conditions reflects their desire to be part of a historic event for France, and for the world of sports.

'In addition, Paris 2024 will cover all technical production and performance organisation costs, as is customary.

'Paris 2024 would like to point out that 96 percent of the Organising Committee's budget is funded by private revenues and that no public contributions are used to pay the artistic teams.'

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Source : https://thecustomreports.com/olympic-organisers-respond-to-claims-celine-dion-is-being-paid-2m-to-sing-one-song-at-2024-opening-ceremony/

Liverpool are reportedly considering taking advantage of Bordeaux's dire financial situation by poaching one of their top young talents.

Bordeaux were forced to file for bankruptcy this week after Liverpool's owners FSG pulled out of talks to buy the troubled French club.

In a club statement released on Thursday evening, Bordeaux said they had filed for bankruptcy in order to avoid 'heavy sanctions' over ongoing financial difficulties.

The former Champions League club have given up their professional status after being administratively relegated to the Championnat National — the third tier of French football.

o make matters worse for Bordeaux, they now look set to lose the majority of their best players and their most promising youngsters.

Foot Mercato claim Liverpool are tracking Bordeaux centre back Mathys Angely, 17, who is set to be available for free.

Who is Mathys Angely?

Angely is primarily a centre-back who can also play on the left side of defence and as a defensive midfielder.

He spent most of youth career playing for local team ESA Brive before joining Bordeaux in 2022.

Angely has been given a current market value of €50,000 (£42,000) by Transfermarkt, although he is now likely to be available for free this summer — despite being under contract with Bordeaux until 2028.

He has played through the youth teams with Bordeaux and made his senior debut for the club last season.

The defender has also represented France at U16 and U17 level.

Angely in action for France (Image: Getty)

How did he play last season?

After making his senior debut in a Ligue 2 victory over Caen, Angely played five times for Bordeaux's first team last season.

He also make 15 appearances in youth football for the club, scoring twice.

Angely also played for France at the U17 Euros in Cyprus this summer, where they were knocked out in the group stage after finishing behind Portugal and England.

He started at centre-back in France's clash with the Young Lions, which ended in a 4-0 win for England.

What has been said about him?

Despite that result, Foot Mercato report that Angely 'wowed everyone' during the U17 Euros and 'was one of the best players in his category' at the tournament.

The French outlet say he has 'impressed with his serenity on the ball and his technical ease', adding that several French clubs are interested in signing the player as well as Liverpool.

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Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/nearly-300-people-trafficked-from-rwanda-in-the-last-five-years

That is the state in which I found Nadine Tuyishime, a mother of a young boy whose ordeal is a life-sobering experience.

Six years ago, her son (name withheld), was born a happy baby like many others but the joy that comes with the birth of a child was not to last long because he was born with Autism.

The boy could not express his needs or communicate well until the age of four, necessitating the continued use of diapers. He remained silent when spoken to, behaving as if he had a hearing impairment. His mode of communication was very unpredictable.

'If you took something he wanted or didn’t do what he wanted, he would throw himself on the ground in anger to indicate his displeasure,' she reminisces.

Before Tuyishime discovered that her son was autistic, she would often discipline him physically, hoping to correct his behaviour. While this approach did lead to some changes, it also caused her son to become secluded.

'I tried to correct this by beating him, which made him stop, but he also stopped loving me. This was very hard to comprehend as a parent,' she explains.

With the help of relatives and friends, Tuyishime enrolled her son into a school of children with special needs know as Autism Rwanda Center where his ability and sense of acumen have greatly improved.

Her son is one of 11 children who recently graduated from the centre after showing great improvement in social behaviour and displaying readiness and willingness to get integrated into regular school programs.

Children from Autism Rwanda Center cut a cake to celebrate their graduation.

Despite the improved ability of his son, Tuyishime has endured emotional breakdown because of a time she felt helpless regarding her son’s condition.

“He enrolled in nursery school with limited speech, but eventually, he stopped talking altogether. This was the biggest heartbreak I have ever encountered in my life,' she said with a tinge of bitterness and despair in her voice.

It was glamor as children graduated from Autism Rwanda Center.

On a lighter note though, Tuyishime’s son has emotionally stabilized and is now ready to attend regular primary school even though he still needs constant monitoring.

Mothers of children born with Autism often think that it is a curse or condemnation for having done something wrong during the pregnancy to cause the problem.

Most of them go through emotional breakdowns because such a condition causes significant cognitive delays in growth, making it difficult for the children to keep up at the same level as their peers. They do not go through regular schooling programs like others.

However, once put in a safe environment, free from the mistreatment of those who do not understand his condition, autistic children are able to learn basic life skills such as reading and writing.

At a young age, most of these children are unable to adapt to varying conditions, their speech is blurred, they can’t easily express their needs and cry frequently.

A lot is required in transforming autistic children, especially in helping stabilize their emotions.

Parents are usually advised not to force things when they notice something unusual with their children, but rather seek adequate information about the issue and find early ways to help instead of judging without understanding.

What is Autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder that affects the brain and nerve function, resulting in mental disabilities. It causes unusual behavior and makes it difficult for individuals to understand why they need to perform certain actions.

Those with autism often exhibit selective eating habits, struggle to control their emotions, and have difficulty understanding social interactions, sometimes remaining silent as if they do not comprehend.

They are generally averse to changes in their routine, which can lead to intense frustration when their environment is altered or when they are placed in unfamiliar situations, affecting their emotional stability.

Additionally, they face challenges with speech, sometimes repeating the same word multiple times or failing to string together coherent sentences, which contributes to cognitive delays, requiring special attention.

Medics say that there is not proven cause of Autism and most of the time it can be detected when a child is about two years old.

'Autism is typically diagnosed around two years of age because that’s when the social, behavioral and verbal dysfunction becomes clearer. Most of the time it’s diagnosed after two years especially if the child is on a milder spectrum,' says Doctor Edgar Kalimba, a senior consultant Pediatrician at King Faisal Hospital.

Currently, there are no government centres in Rwanda for people with autism apart from private institutions Autism Rwanda-Center.

Rosine Duquesne Kamagaju, the Director at the centre urges the government to establish affordable support systems for children with autism, as parents with limited means cannot access necessary assistance.

“We earnestly ask the government to continue supporting us. They help a little, but we need more substantial efforts. Parents are suffering, but these children are capable,” she said.

Duquesne Kamagaju shares the view that establishment of similar centres in other provinces is very important as some will have to make long-distance travels to access such facilities in Kigali.

At Autism Rwanda, children receive optimum care to stimulate their brains, stabilize their emotions, help them interact socially, and provide basic education as if they were in regular schools.

Nadine Tuyishime’s son is one of 11 children who recently graduated from the centre after showing great improvement in social behaviour and displaying readiness and willingness to get integrated into regular school programs.

Children from Autism Rwanda Center pose for a photo with their parents and guardians after their graduation.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/health/article/a-day-in-the-life-of-an-autistic-child

Born and raised in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 29 years ago, Luladey Takele Teshome has been captivated by the world of art since childhood. Over the years, she has developed a passion for telling unique stories through artistic cultural curation, aiming to inspire positivity in society.

Luladey moved to Kigali about six years ago, where she has continued to explore her creativity through various mediums, including painting, design, photography, and ink sketching. She is currently the Art Project Management Consultant at the British Council, after several years in Rwanda’s education sector.

IGIHE caught up with the sassy artist at the Mundi Centre in Kicukiro district, where she is showcasing a solo art project she has been working on over the last two years.

Luladey explains that the collection of artwork dubbed “Blue Circle” depicts her journey of discovery and rediscovery. The artwork conveys different emotions, aiming to inspire people to experience life as a full circle, embracing both lows and highs with optimism.

'The circle is the emotional circle — the growth that we are going through. Wherever we are today is not where we are going to be tomorrow. Sometimes you feel the peak, sometimes you feel the low, and sometimes you are just on the journey,' Luladey stated.

'There are pieces that are about my highs, the things that make me happy, the things that make me hopeful. And then there are lows that make me feel sad, vulnerable and lonely,' she added.

She explains that the blue colour is used to depict different emotions in her drawings and paintings having changed its identity over time.

'The blue colour has been associated with concepts such as tranquillity, stability, trust, loyalty, and spirituality. It’s often considered a calming colour, evoking feelings of peace and serenity,' she says.

Luladey’s exhibition at Mundi Centre features several paintings and 11 ink sketches.

She is passionate about one of the paintings titled “Blue Moon,” 'A blue moon is something that comes once in a season. It signifies that whenever we experience peaks or lows, each moment is as present as you can be, and can only be lived once. If you’re sad about something once, you won’t be sad about the same thing at the same level every single time. It will shift over time.'

Blue Moon artwork on display at Mundi Centre in Kicukiro.

More than a hundred artists attended the first day of the three-day solo exhibition on Thursday, July 25, 2024.

The highly interactive session was more than just a moment to appreciate art; it was also a platform for artists from diverse backgrounds to network and challenge each other in pursuit of their dreams.

'I would want us as artists and the general public to give ourselves a challenge to overcome something we wanted to do but didn’t. we have the capacity to break that barrier in our way. So just lift that up and do what you said you will do,' Luladey said, citing her solo exhibition as a big win.

Artists Jackson Manzi and Carley Cyuzuzo lauded Luladey’s work and urged other colleagues in the industry who didn’t manage to attend the exhibition to take advantage of the remaining two days to learn something new from Luladey’s creativity.

“Any artist willing to come will learn something from her. She is a good artist — she’s really good at what she does. The message she’s giving out is good for anyone who wants to feel the love and feel free,' Cyuzuzo noted.

The exhibition continues on Friday, July 26, and Saturday, July 27, 2024.

Unlike Thursday’s exhibition, which was limited to invited artists, Friday and Saturday’s exhibitions will be open to the public.

The Friday session is scheduled to start at 11 am and run until 9:00 pm, while Saturday’s session will close at 5:55 pm.

The Saturday session will be special and will feature a talk between Luladey and another artist, Sophie, from 1 to 3 pm. Afterwards, the floor will open to a highly engaging session dubbed “create, critic, and connect.

Luladey’s captivating paintings and drawings will be available for acquisition throughout the three-day expo. Prices range from $251 to $940.

29-year-old Luladey Takele Teshome explains that the collection of artwork dubbed “Blue Circle” depicts her journey of discovery and rediscovery.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/arts-culture/article/blue-circle-inspiring-society-through-art

From its lush national parks teeming with wildlife, to its vibrant cities and welcoming people, Rwanda promises an unforgettable journey. Here’s why you should consider making Rwanda your next travel destination.

According to Forbes’ Bucket List Travel, there are as many reasons to visit Rwanda as there are people who call it home. The 26,338 square km area is home to over 14 million people, making it one of the most densely populated nations on the African continent.

Yet, it stands out as a leader in conservation efforts, (with four national parks) ranked as the third greenest place globally by The World Travel Guide, 2015.

In Rwanda, you will find tourists searching for a luxury experience, those roughing it in campsites or seeking out the country’s famous gorillas and chimpanzees- a small tip on the iceberg.

A canopy walkway in Nyungwe National Park.

From historical inspirational museums, to incredible meals served high above the city’s lights, Rwanda is full of promise and wonder. Exploring it will leave you emotional and enlightened.

Some must-do experiences to add to your itinerary include gorilla trekking to see mountain gorillas, visiting national parks like Akagera and Nyungwe, Gishwati-Mukura for wildlife species, golden monkey trekking, boat cruises, bird sighting, to mention but a few.

You can also explore traditional dance and rich culture through visits to cultural villages like Ibyiwacu in Kinigi at the foothills of the Volcanoes National Park. Rwandan hospitality will leave an indelible memory.

Rwanda is also home to the “Big Five (wildlife species),” thanks to conservation efforts that reintroduced extinct species like rhinos and lions.

Additionally, Rwanda is one of the safest African countries, ensuring security for tourists during their stay. The country’s cleanliness and ease of access are also significant pull factors.

Notably air transport is readily at hand with Kamembe Airport and Rubavu Airstrip facilitating domestic travel while Kigali International Airport serves as the main gateway for international tourists, offering direct flights to numerous cities worldwide.

This experience is deeply felt and appreciated by tourists who have witnessed Rwanda’s attractions firsthand.
“As a tourist in Rwanda, I was captivated by the breathtaking landscape, the thrill of gorilla trekking in the misty mountains, and the warmth of the Rwandan people,” says George Tinashea from Zimbabwe.

“From exploring the vibrant streets of Kigali to relaxing by the serene shores of Lake Kivu, every moment was a beautiful blend of adventure and culture. This enchanting country is a testament to resilience and hospitality, and it left an indelible mark on my heart,” he confesses.

For Kerim Abdel Rahim from Egypt, Rwanda is a must-visit place considering the great moments he had in the country.
“Rwanda has captured my heart with its breathtaking scenery, rich culture, and warm hospitality. It’s a place where adventure meets serenity, and every moment feels like a cherished memory in the making,” he says.

This amazing experience is shared by Suzgo Chitete from Malawi and Patrick Mogani from the Central African Republic. They both recount that the order and security in Kigali make it a compelling destination, attracting visitors for another trip to Rwanda.

Frank Muzungu, Managing Director of Kigali Car Rentals, shares his view noting that Rwanda offers a combination of nature, adventure, and culture.

“From trekking through the forest for gorillas to hanging out in Kigali visiting the eco-parks where one watches hundreds of birds including the treasured grey crested cranes, doing a canopy walk and primates watching in Nyungwe forest Rwanda offers everything one would wish for,” Muzungu says.

“It’s a special place which you may want to never miss out on as you will feel emotionally attached to the land, the people, and nature. It is a country that truly reinvigorates your soul and defines the spirit of travel,” he adds.
Due to a variety of attractions and government initiatives, the tourism sector has grown significantly.

Tour operators facilitate seamless experiences for tourists across the country.

Reports from the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) indicate that the sector generated growth from 1.4 million visitors in 2023, surpassing 2019 revenues with a recovery rate of 124% from the hurdles of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Domestic tourism increased to $47.7 million, contributing to increased visits to national parks which generated $35.79 million in 2023.

Volcanoes National Park registered the highest increase of 38% in visitors, followed by Akagera National Park with a 24% increase, and Nyungwe National Park with a 10% increase. Nyungwe National Park was declared a World Heritage site in 2023.

According to Rugwizangoga, the Chief Tourism Officer at RDB, the growth results from strategies to position Rwanda as a unique high-end, low-volume, eco-tourism destination, and conservation efforts.

The country has consistently participated in top global tourism business fairs over the past 20 years, including ITB Berlin, We Are Africa, ILTM (Singapore, Cannes, and Virtuoso), where Rwandan travel agencies engage with tourism buyers.

Rwanda’s capacity to attract top hospitality global brands such as One&Only, Singita, Radisson, and Marriott, the promotional role played by Visit Rwanda partnerships, as well as incentive opportunities for local and international investors are also key factors for such incredible growth.

Rwanda is home to the Big Five (wildlife species).

Lions in Akagera National Park.

Rwanda provides tourists with an enhanced exploration of the country’s flora and fauna.

Source : https://en.igihe.com/tourism/article/embracing-rwanda-as-your-next-travel-destination