Upon arrival in Kigali, your group will be transported to a hotel near the airport for a comfortable stay. After settling in, a local guide will lead us on a tour of Kigali, introducing students to the city’s history, culture, and recent transformation into one of Africa’s cleanest and most vibrant capitals. The tour will include visits to important landmarks such as the Kigali Genocide Memorial, providing context on Rwanda’s journey toward peace and reconciliation. The evening will conclude with a welcome dinner, where the group can come together to discuss the week ahead.

We’ll begin the morning with a workshop focused on documentary storytelling, tailored to themes of community-led conservation and environmental stewardship. Students will learn the skills needed to document the stories of local organizations. In the afternoon, we’ll depart Kigali and travel to Musanze, located near Volcanoes National Park. On the way, we’ll stop at the Musanze Caves, a fascinating site formed millions of years ago by volcanic activity. The caves have historical significance and provide a unique opportunity to explore Rwanda’s geological history. After the visit, we’ll continue to Musanze, where we’ll settle into our guesthouse for the evening.

Today, we’ll engage with a local conservation organization working to protect the natural ecosystems surrounding Volcanoes National Park. The morning will be spent learning about their mission, meeting community leaders, and understanding the challenges and successes of their work. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the guesthouse for a group discussion and production meeting to plan the documentary approach, ensuring everyone is aligned and ready to move forward with the project.

We’ll return to the conservation organization to conduct in-depth interviews with key individuals, such as community leaders and conservationists, whose stories will form the core of our documentary. These interviews will help students understand the personal and environmental impact of the organization’s efforts. The afternoon will be dedicated to reviewing the day’s material and refining our storytelling techniques.

We’ll spend the day documenting the visual elements that bring our stories to life, capturing the essence of the conservation work and its impact on the community and environment. This could include documenting reforestation efforts, wildlife conservation projects, or community-led sustainable development initiatives. After returning to the guesthouse, the group will review the material and plan the next steps in the post-production process to ensure the narrative is cohesive and impactful.

Today, we’ll embark on an unforgettable gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park. Led by expert guides, the trek will allow students to witness firsthand Rwanda’s efforts to protect mountain gorillas, a critically endangered species. This adventure will provide a deep connection to Rwanda’s conservation efforts and the important role of ecotourism in sustaining these projects. In the evening, we’ll return to Musanze for a relaxing night at the guesthouse.

We’ll start the day with a scenic boat tour of the Twin Lakes, Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo, where students will experience the natural beauty of the region and learn about local conservation efforts to protect these ecosystems. After returning from the lakes, we’ll gather for a workshop led by the Actuality team to review the rough cut of our documentary. The group will provide feedback, and the team will incorporate the final edits before the evening screening. The day will conclude with a screening of the completed documentary, followed by a wrap party to celebrate the project’s success.

After breakfast, we’ll depart Musanze and travel back to Kigali. The afternoon will allow for any last-minute shopping or sightseeing before the group heads to the airport for their flight home, marking the end of a transformative experience in Rwanda.