Trivia lovers, this one’s for you…

Rwandan factoids:

• The population is estimated at 9,720,694 with 149,000 afflicted with HIV. 17,000 of those are children. There are approximately 350,820 orphans and vulnerable children in Rwanda between the ages of 0 and 17. It is estimated that AIDS accounts for nearly a fifth of these: the number of children (0-14 years old) having lost one or both parents because of HIV was estimated to be about 233,700 in 2008.
• The life expectancy of men is 48 years old; women, 51 years old; 160/1,000 children don’t live to the age of five.
• 50% of the population lives on less than $1 a day.
• There is no state religion. 93.6% of the people are Christian; 4.6% are Muslim; 0.1% are indigenous believers; and 1.7% claim no religion. The government permits religious instruction in public schools. In some, students are allowed to choose between instruction in “religion” or “morals.” Typically, if a school is missionary established, it claims a particular denomination; otherwise, the school is nondenominational.
• The official language is Kinyarwanda, but the common vernacular is Bantu. A majority of people also speaks some English and/or French.
• A handful of phrases in the official language:

Mwaramutse. (Good morning.)

Bite? (How are you?)

Muraho (Hello)

Witwande? (What’s your name?)

Nitwa … (My name is …)

Murakoze. (Thank you.)

• Rwandans view education as one of the most important ways to give their children hope for the future. A typical academic year is from January to October. While primary schools are free, the cost of materials required for children to attend (uniforms, paper, writing supplies, etc.) is often too great for the average family.
• 76% of men and 64.7% of women are literate.
• In the arts, Rwandans are renowned for their oral storytelling, music, weaving and basketry. Storytelling and music occupy an honored position in the culture. Homemade xylophones, stringed instruments and drums are among the traditional instruments used to accompany singing and dancing in ceremonies related to birth, marriage, death, harvest and hunting. Basket weaving often indicates a family’s social status. The pygmy Twa are acclaimed potters.
• Soccer (football) is the most popular sport of Rwanda. Basketball and volleyball follow in popularity.
• Yes, there is snow in Africa. Rwanda receives frost and snow in the mountains during the rainy seasons: February to April and November to January. Off the mountains, the average temperate throughout the year is between 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

• Tea is the leading cash crop. In 2002, export earnings from tea were $18 million US dollars (15,000 tons dried tea). Coffee production is second to tea. I can attest from personal sampling that the tea is phenomenal! Yum, I’ll have a second cup, please.

These are just a handful of facts I pulled from my trusty Rwanda guidebook. I’m fascinated by all the stereotypes Rwanda blatantly breaks: snow in Africa; green mountains of world-prized tea; storytellers and musicians abounding. Simultaneously, my heart aches for all the ones that are realized: orphans; HIV/AIDS; illiteracy; poverty. With each page turn, I become more captivated. So I’ll continue to pepper you with my discovers and further education on the country.

As soon as I have the basic info digested, I’ll begin blogging on my general anticipatory feelings, hopes, and goals for the trip. This coming Sunday, January 31, is the first official Rwanda STOMP team meeting in Springfield, Virginia. As I am living in El Paso, Texas, I won’t be attending, but my fellow team members have promised to provide a minute-by-minute replay of all that is discussed. For all in attendance, I’m praying it’s a constructive meeting, and that we begin this Rwanda STOMP with eyes steadfast on all the blessings God has ready and waiting.

Yours truly, Sarah

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