About Rwanda

Rwanda is a republic in central Africa, in the Great Lakes Region, made up of five provinces. It is known as "The Land of a Thousand Hills" and is a highly elevated country. It is a highly dense population made up of many young people. Rwandans once had three people groups know as the Twa, Hutu and Tutsi. Today, everyone is simply Rwandese. Kinyarwanda, French and English are the languages spleen in the country, but English is now the official language used in schools and by the administration. Rwandans have a love for music, cultural dance and crafts.

Rwanda was colonized by Germany in 1884, followed by Belgium in 1916 during World War I. These nations ruled using kings and favored Tutsi citizens promoted anti-Hutu policies. There was a Hutu revolt in 1959, in which many Tutsi were massacred. In 1990, the Tutsi-led Rwandan Patriotic Front led a civil war. In 1994, about 1 million Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed, which is known as the Rwandan Genocide, affecting every person in Rwanda. There were hundreds-of-thousands left as orphans, widows, victims of AIDS and traumatized people. 2014 marks the 20th year remembrance of the 1994 Genocide, honoring those who lost their lives and reminding the country of something they will work to make sure never happens again. 

Rwanda is known for its lack of tolerance for corruption and for its promotion of gender equality; having the highest proportion of female population representation in the world. 

The economy is based mainly on subsistence agriculture, with coffee and tea as the major cash crops. Technology, mining and tourism are quickly becoming Rwand's biggest industries. There have been impressive economic growth and development since 1994. According to the World Bank, the poverty rate dropped from 59% in 2001 to 45% in 2011. Rwanda is a strong nation, overcoming great tragedy and making impressive developments. However, the country still has a long fight ahead to overcome the long term effects of colonization, genocide and poverty.