Introduction of the New Construction Coordinator in Rwanda

Ready for the new task
Even in March last year I was on my bike almost daily. Having set off from my hometown Lucerne in Switzerland, I went all the way to Oman. It was an incredible ten months in the saddle, exhausting 13,500 km for the legs and infinitely many new impressions and experiences from 22 countries. Cycling through the Balkans, Turkey, Palestine, Egypt or Saudi Arabia was a journey with some lows and many highs. It’s like cycling itself, the “high” lasts considerably longer than the descent into the next “low”. On the journey I learned to adapt even faster to new circumstances, to adjust, to find creative solutions and where necessary, to assert myself with emphasis. I am convinced that among other things these qualities will facilitate my new work as coordinator in the coordination office of the Partnership Rhineland-Palatinate / Rwanda.
Arrived in the Jumelage family
Murakaza neza – Welcome. I have heard these words countless times since arriving in my new adopted home, Kigali. It is the warmth of Rwandans that stands out first. And I experience the “Jumelage family” just as warmly. Since February 1, 2021, I am now officially part of this deeply rooted partnership between the people of Rwanda and Rhineland-Palatinate. It fills me with pride to be part of this family. I am highly motivated to use my practical experience as a landscape gardener, environmental engineer and former managing director of a Swiss non-profit organization (NPO) to further strengthen the existing partnerships between Rwanda and Rhineland-Palatinate and to support new partnerships. For the coming three years, my team and I have the responsibility for implementing all technical and economic partnership projects. To be able to implement such projects efficiently and sustainably, thorough project planning and support, exact calculations and regular budget controls are essential. But even more important for me is that the needs and demands of the people on which this partnership is built are incorporated into the projects. I very much look forward to working in the Jumelage team, to collaborating with the office in Mainz and the Rwanda department, to many exciting projects that promote mutual understanding and to many positive contacts with people from Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda. Abishyize hamwe ntakibananira – Those who go together can achieve everything.
Profile
Elias Vogler (35) is a native Swiss. He was born and grew up as the youngest of five siblings in the rural community of Grosswangen (Canton Lucerne). He is a trained landscape gardener, has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering and a Master’s degree in NPO Management – this is a business administration course in the field of organizational and association management.
After his first professional activity as a landscape gardener, Elias was project manager at Lucerne Hiking Trails for seven years. Before his cycling trip to the Middle East, he was managing director at the Lucerne section of the Swiss Transport Club. Elias has already lived for several months in Germany, Denmark, Australia and Colombia. He knows East Africa through his two uncles living in Tanzania, whom he has visited for several weeks. In his free time, Elias can usually be found in the mountains, whether on his mountain bike, hiking or on ski tours.