Observations from Rwanda: October 8, 2023

A relatively new sign at the entrance to the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA). The sign was installed in advance of RICA’s first graduation in August. The dairy pasture is in the background. July 23, 2023.
Teresa and I were privileged to attend the 19th Kwita Izina, the annual gorilla naming ceremony held outside Volcanoes National Park. At the event, babies born during the past year are given names, mostly be invited celebrity and VIP guests. September 1, 2023.
Traditional dancers entertain before the Kwita Izina naming ceremony. September 1, 2023.
Celebrities on-stage to name “their” baby gorilla. Here actor Idris Elba and his wife announce a baby gorilla name. September 1, 2023.
Child playing with a worn out tire along the road to Volcanoes National Park. Old bike and motorcycle tires are often seen as children’s toys. September 1, 2023.
Teresa and I went on a golden monkey trek in Volcanoes National Park the day after Kwita Izina. Here a troop of golden monkeys are looking for left-over potatoes after harvest in a farmer’s field adjacent to the Park. September 2, 2023.
Teresa and I on the golden monkey trek, Volcanoes National Park, with bamboo forest in the background. September 2, 2023.
Golden monkey enjoying a potato breakfast. September 2, 2023.
I had heard that porters would actually carry people into the park for gorilla or golden monkey treks, but had not observed that until this trip. This woman injured her foot on a hike the previous day, and porters carried her into the park to see golden monkeys. Her husband said they would carry her on a gorilla trek the next day. September 2, 2023.
Children watching visitors depart from their fields after seeing golden monkeys. September 2, 2023.
The latest cohort of RICA students headed to their first class of their university career – AGR 101 Practical Farming. September 11, 2023.
Practical Farming class lectures are held in the Kofi Boa Extension Center. September 11, 2023.
Students getting used to taking class notes on their new computers. September 11, 2023.
John Bosco Talemwa, RICA’s Mechanization Lecturer, coordinates a team of eight faculty in teaching AGR 101 Practical Farming. September 11, 2023.
Several RICA administrators had the opportunity to visit EARTH University in Costa RICA in September. EARTH University is one of the models used in developing the academic program and curriculum for RICA. A visit to EARTH had been planned for April 2020, but was put on extended hold due to the COVID pandemic. This building is EARTH’s library. September 18, 2023.
Leaf cutter ants moving along a sidewalk and crossing a road on the EARTH University campus. September 18, 2023.
EARTH University has an active banana plantation on their campus, with a network of ‘banana trains’ to transported harvested bananas from the field to the processing center. September 20, 2023.
A student planting maize during field activities of the Practical Farming course. Students spend 7-8 hours each week in the field for this course. September 27, 2023.
RICA staff enjoy a volleyball game on a Friday afternoon. The sand volleyball court is adjacent to the Vice Chancellor residence, Kilimbi House. September 29, 2023.
A full moon illuminates the RICA campus on October 7, 2023.

2 thoughts on “Observations from Rwanda: October 8, 2023”

  1. Great pictures! Thanks for sharing the monkey trek with us that most likely won’t get there to see it ourselves.
    So fun to see you and Teresa in the pictures. Makes it seem not so far away! And another year of school
    beginning at RICA. What an accomplishment!

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