In Rwanda, the last Saturday of every month is UMUGANDA.
From somewhere around 8 to noon, people gather in their villages and do physical labor together. The work might be picking up trash, shovelling rock, digging ditches, clearing brush ...
Umuganda is the word for the center pillar that supports the roof of a grass hut.
So, participating in Umuganda is a way to support your community.
It's actually required for Rwandese, and anyone seen out and about can get in trouble with the authorities.
No shops or businesses are open during the Umuganda hours.
However, the work isn't intended for kids, and foreigners are exempt. When you don't speak the language and you don't understand the process and you're exhausted from living as a foreigner, it is common to lay low during Umuganda and wait for it be over.
Our family has finally found a way to participate in umuganda and still try to experience the rest that we need on the weekends.
We decided to gather trash on the road by our home.
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| Everyone has a glove and we're ready to work. |
We found all kinds of trash to pick up.
It wasn't long before we had the attention of a few neighbors and a crowd of children.
They just watched us for awhile and then...
they joined in the work.
Some quotations from our kids:
Presley - "The other kids were kind."
Wyatt - "It was fun helping the community."
Michal - "It's kind of like what we're learning about in chapel... making an impact. Once we started cleaning up, other people said, 'Maybe we should do that too.'"
Afton - "Being part of umuganda made me feel like the people who were watching us changed their minds about foreigners. It's way different than what they're used to."
* Side note. This country is full of expats who are constantly pouring into their Rwandan communities, whether that is visible on Umuganda or not. However, many locals still have the perception that foreigners are above this kind of work.
Our contribution to the community may be small and it doesn't match the work that others in our village are doing at the end of every month. But, it's a step.
And a passer-by even said to us, "Thank you for doing umuganda."
So, I guess it counts.
