Partnership between Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda
What is Rhineland-Palatinate?
Rhineland-Palatinate is a federal state in Germany. It is located in the western part of the country and borders Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and the other German federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, and Baden-Württemberg.
What is Rwanda?
Rwanda is a country in East Africa. It is located south of the equator and borders Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Rwanda is also known as “the land of a thousand hills” because of its many mountains.
What is the partnership?
For over 40 years, Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda have been working together. This collaboration is called a grassroots partnership. This means that many people from both countries work together and help each other. The goal of the partnership is to learn from each other and support one another.
The partnership is active in many areas, including:
- Education: Schools in both countries work together to give children better opportunities.
- Health: There are projects aimed at improving access to healthcare and supporting people in need.
- Inclusion: People with disabilities are integrated into society and receive the help they need.
- Sport: Sports are used to bring people together and promote equality.
- Sustainability: Projects are designed to help the environment and be sustainable.
- Intercultural exchange: People from both countries can learn from each other and share their cultures.
The collaboration is supported by three key groups:
- Coordination office in Kigali: This group works to oversee the projects in Rwanda and ensures that everything runs smoothly.
- Partnership Association Rhineland-Palatinate/Rwanda e. V.: This group helps people in Rhineland-Palatinate who are interested in projects in Rwanda. They provide advice and support.
- Rwanda Desk of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Chancellery: This group handles political cooperation and ensures that the partnership continues to grow.
The projects implemented are always based on the needs of Rwanda. This means that the people in Rwanda decide what they need for their development, as they know best what is meaningful for them. The partnership addresses these needs to find tailored solutions.
The partnership is based on the principle of “helping people help themselves.” This means that both sides work together to help each other, without one side always expecting help from the other. Both sides learn from each other and grow together.
The cooperation is based on equality. This means that all parties are equal and respect each other. It is about everyone having a voice, contributing their opinions and ideas, and the collaboration being built on mutual trust.
