Information for travelers to Germany:
https://kigali.diplo.de/rw-en/service/05-visaeinreise
Information for travelers to Rwanda:
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/laender/ruanda-node/ruandasicherheit-212026
Exchange trips
Partnership Travel Guide
The Guidebook for Encounters
Our in-house travel guide for encounter trips offers a comprehensive overview of all important aspects of a trip to Rwanda. It provides information about transportation options, from airport transfers to taxis and car rentals, as well as public transportation such as buses and motorcycle taxis. Additionally, it gives valuable packing tips, points out local customs, and contains organizational information such as contact details for important local points of contact.
The travel guide also covers practical topics such as organizing a visa, currency exchange, internet access, and provides insights into local culture and cuisine. Furthermore, popular recreational activities in Kigali and beyond are described.
This appears to be describing a specialized travel guide focused on cultural exchange or partnership trips to Rwanda, providing comprehensive practical information for travelers participating in encounter/exchange programs rather than regular tourism.
Download the Guidebook hereStudent trips
For many years, schools in Rhineland-Palatinate and Rwanda have been visiting each other regularly to strengthen their partnerships and keep the grassroots partnership alive. The exchange between German and Rwandan students occupies a special place in this long-standing cooperation. Student trips offer a valuable change of perspective, promote mutual understanding, strengthen intercultural skills and help to overcome cultural barriers.
Funding opportunities
If you are planning a trip to Rwanda, there are various funding programmes available to support you in this endeavour. Below you will find a brief summary of the individual funding opportunities. For further information, please visit the website of the respective programme.
Encounter fund
It is possible to apply for financial support for school trips to/from Rwanda via the Rwanda Department (State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate, Department 5, Division 252).
- The application deadline for trips in the following year is 31 October each year.
- Depending on when the application is received and the availability of budget funds, the application will first be reviewed and, if appropriate, approved.
- Among other things, the following applies: Exchange trips are funded at the earliest every two years. However, if the exchange trip is the first personal encounter between the two schools, a return visit to Rwanda can be funded by the exchange fund in the following year.
TRAVEL FROM RWANDA: The flight costs for the Rwandan pupils can be covered by the fund up to 100%. The flights are booked by the coordination office in Kigali and billed directly to the department. Flight costs for up to six pupils and up to two accompanying persons can be applied for. The Rhineland-Palatinate school agrees to cover all costs of the stay. The local partner is also responsible for the invitation and the visit programme. The Rhineland-Palatinate school prepares a report on the exchange trip for the department.
TRAVEL TO RWANDA: Students and pupils from Rhineland-Palatinate travelling to Rwanda can apply for a grant of €200 per person. Applications from pupils whose school has an official school partnership within the framework of our partnership will be given priority. Applications will be considered and processed by the department upon receipt. The following conditions apply to the travel grant:
- The invoice for the respective flight ticket must be submitted.
- The pupils receiving the grant must have a maximum income of €590.
- A travel report must be written and submitted after the trip.
Further questions and details on the application process:
Mr Florens Eckert
Department 5, Division 252: Partner Country Rwanda / Development Cooperation
State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate
Peter Altmeier Allee 1,
55116 Mainz
Email
ENSA
Special features of the ENSA programme
The Development Policy School Exchange Programme (ENSA) not only provides financial support for school trips, but also offers schools qualified content support before and after the exchange trips.
What is funded?
Funding is provided for both approximately one-week introductory trips (for initial contact between schools) and approximately two-week exchange trips (for existing school partnerships) in Germany (incoming) and in the partner country (outgoing). ENSA also provides support for the preparation and follow-up work of the participants in Germany.
Financial support from ENSA
The approximately one-week preliminary trips are funded with a maximum of €7,000, and the approximately two-week exchange trips with a maximum of €14,000.
Further information on the ENSA programme can be found here.
Bread for the World
What is funded?
Funding is provided for ecumenical exchange programmes between partner groups (incoming and outgoing) if they are embedded in long-term development education programmes.
Funding is provided for travel groups with a maximum of 8 people.
What needs to be considered?
Applications can only be submitted by extracurricular organisations (registered associations, church institutions, etc.), including school support associations. Schools themselves cannot submit applications.
Brot für die Welt’s funding is reactive in nature. Formats and topics are not specified in advance, but reflect the diversity of the applicants’ working methods and content priorities. Depending on the format, the measure can be funded from various Brot für die Welt funding lines, e.g. individual events, project days, study trips, cultural events, etc.
Further information on funding from Brot für die Welt can be found here.
