This program has been operating in Rwanda for many years. It was revamped following the genocide in 1994. On the last Saturday of each month every person is obliged to do community service together in their umudugudu – their village, or in the town it is a group of 100 houses.
On umuganda day all shops are closed, public buses don't run and you can't have a wedding until after unuganda is over at midday. Everyone should take their little booklet to be signed.This is an offical document and needed for some offcial purposes.
People meet at a particular point in their area at 9 am and work together until 11 am on whatever project the local leaders have decided needs to be done. At 11 am they meet together to enjoy each other's company and hear whatever local news needs to be passed on to umudugudu members.
I spoke with two young men the night before umuganda and they were really looking forward to the following day. They were going to repair a road in their area that week.
The sign on the corner of our block of land says:
Murakaza Neza is Kinyarwanda for 'Welcome to our home', and so this sign says : 'Welcome to our home - the 'village of Nyirabwana'
As the Seventh Day Adventists worship on Saturdays they are permitted to do their umuganda on Fridays. Very considerate, don’t you think?!
I’m sure this program helps the people to be proud of what they have, as they have actually worked to achieve it. Even though the standards of many things in Rwanda would be considered by many to be below ours, they take great pride in their country. And I admire them so much for that.
What a brilliant idea! Imagine the benefits an arrangement like that could bring to communities in the western world.
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