Agahozo Shalom Rwandan Orphaned Youth Village 1 Day Visit

Our 1-day visit to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda offers a 2-3 hour immersive experience, including a tour of the 144-acre campus, a meal with students in the dining hall, and insights into their unique model of care for vulnerable youth.

Located near Rubona, the village fosters healing, education, and community.

Tour Details for a 1-Day Visit

Experience: Tours typically begin at the “Mango Tree” (community center), visiting family homes, the high school, and, if visiting on a Friday, the weekly talent show.
Logistics: Visits can be arranged for individuals or groups. A flat administrative fee of a day applies to groups of 6 or more.
Purpose: The visit aims to showcase how the village provides a supportive, family-like environment for orphaned children through education, the arts, and sustainable agriculture.
Booking: It is highly recommended to contact African Spice Safaris to schedule a visit in advance.
Village Tour: A guided walk (significant walking involved) through the campus, including the “Mama’s” homes, the high school, the health clinic, and the Anne Heyman Solar Field.
Community Meal: Visitors share a hearty traditional lunch with students and staff in the ASYV Dining Hall.
Friday Special: Visitors on Fridays are invited to Village Time, a weekly student talent show held in the outdoor amphitheater.

1-day visit to the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) in Rwanda  Itinerary

1000 Hours: Morning: Arrival and Orientation
Check in with security and meet with a guide. Orientation at the “Mango Tree” (center of the village) to understand the history of the village, which is inspired by the Israeli youth village model for Holocaust survivors.
Late Morning: Village Tour
Family Homes: Visit a “family home” to see how 16-20 students live with a “Mama” and a big sibling
School & Education: Tour the Noble Leader School and see the science labs or computer labs.
Arts & Culture: Visit the Music and Arts Center, featuring art studios and a music recording studio
Agricultural Project: Tour the sustainable farm where students learn agricultural techniques
1230 Hours: Mid-Day -Lunch with Students. Share a meal in the Dining Hall with students and staff to hear their personal stories and experiences
Afternoon: Engagement & Activities
Workshops: Participate in or watch enrichment activities, such as art, dance, or sports sessions
Performances: Experience traditional Rwandan dancing, music, or poetry performed by the students
Souvenirs: Purchase local crafts made by students, such as baskets
(1500 Hours – 1600 Hours: Departure. Final Q&A session with staff and departure

Important Notes for Visitors

Booking: Visits must be arranged in advance
Logistics: The village is located roughly 25 miles East of Kigali
Cash: Bring cash for purchasing handicrafts, as it is often preferred
Fees: Fees may apply for individual visitors; customized group tours are available

Agahozo Shalom Rwandan Orphaned Youth Village 1 Day Visit: If you are in Kigali, Rwanda, with a day to spare, make sure to travel to Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Agahozo Shalom Youth Village (ASYV) is a home for orphans of the genocide and AIDs in Rwanda.

It was originally set up to educate the orphans of the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, when 800,000 people were killed during 100 days of ethnic fighting, and these feelings are still felt by the young generation.

Many women were raped and contracted HIV but did not get proper medical care, and died afterward, leaving young children behind. The genocide led to many social hardships. One of the primary issues still facing the country is a high number of orphaned children and vulnerable youth.

Many live in poverty, sheltered by guardians who cannot afford a regular supply of food or clean water, let alone school fees and medical expenses. Although Rwanda has made strides in providing its youth with access to education, about 70% of Rwandans still cannot enroll in secondary school.

Rwanda has a population of 12.5 million, of whom over 2.8 million are orphans and vulnerable children.  Many cannot think beyond their next meal, let alone dream about the future.

At Agahozo Shalom Youth Village, most of them are orphans (which means they have lost one or both parents). The community currently hosts more than 500 teenagers, ages 14 to 21, from all 30 districts of Rwanda.

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village empowers orphaned and vulnerable Rwandan youth to build lives of dignity and contribute to a better world. The village provides students a campus with a dining room, high school, health care clinic, homes, workshop spaces, plumbing, internet service, etc.

The students study biology, history, math, economics, language, literature, agriculture, music, mechanization, etc. Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village spends at least 4,000 US Dollars per year per student, compared to Rwandan public schools, which spend between 800 and 1,000 US Dollars per student per year.

A visit to the youth village allows you to learn how the community parents, and it’s done in a structured way to provide all the support. These are homes, not dormitories, each home has a mama, a big brother or sister, and graduates of Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village who act as mentors, and we also have cousins, who are long-term volunteers.”

A tour of the Village is generally 2 to 3 hours long. It begins at the center of the Village at the Mango Tree and includes a visit to a family home, the amphitheater, the farm, the science and art centers, the school, and the dining hall.

While at the spice farm you will do the following activities;
* Get a tasty local lunch at the farm cooked with vegetables and fruit in season
* Buy fresh spices, coffee, tea, soaps etc at a spice stall selling fresh packaged spices (cash only)
* Walking tour at a spice farm: Learn about the properties and origins of each spice, and their use as medicines, food or drink
* Smell and taste different spices. Depending on the season we will see and taste vanilla, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, lemon grass, cloves, ylang ylang, cumin, garlic, ginger, coriander, pepper, tamarind, chili, oregano and many others

Agahozo Shalom Rwandan Orphaned Youth Village 1-Day Visit Prices Include;

✓ All village entrance fees
✓ A hearty lunch with the orphans
✓ Bottled water in the safari vehicle
✓ Services of a professional English-speaking Driver/ Guide
✓ Round-trip transportation from Kigali to the village and back

Notes

* Please note that the tour is on foot and includes a significant amount of walking. Please wear comfortable shoes & dress appropriately
* We recommend you bring the following items: comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, water, a light rain jacket, and a camera
* You can bring all kinds of gifts, from toothpaste to health insurance, etc. If you are planning a visit and wish to bring items to donate to the Village, please email before your visit to obtain a list of the most current needs
* If you have specific points of interest, please let us know ahead of time, and we will do our best to emphasize the relevant aspects of the Village

Agahozo Shalom Rwandan Orphaned Youth Village 1-Day Visit Prices Exclude:

* Drinks
* Tips or gratuity
* Travelers Insurance
* Communication charges
* Minimum of 1 person required
* Visas, international airfares, and airport taxes; meals
* Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities
* Personal expenses such as transfers to/ from the airport (supplement airport transfer cost applies for tours starting from the airport)

The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village serves as a home for more than 500 vulnerable teenagers. While in the Village, please be mindful of their privacy.The village asks that you respect the following guidelines:
* Do not photograph children without their explicit permission
* Be mindful of the activities happening at the Village and attempt to minimize any disruption to the rhythm of life
* Respect the kids’ privacy and do not ask them about their background unless they offer to share that information

Mobile:+254-721-242-711
WhatsApp: +254-721-242-711
Reservations: +254 718-179-967
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://africanspicesafaris.com