+ When to visit us

The best time to visit is during ASYV’s academic year when all 500 students are in the Village and programs are underway. ASYV’s school calendar is dependent upon the Rwandan school calendar, which is subject to change each year. Typically the school calendar runs from early September through late June, with a two-week break in late December/early January and a two-week break at the beginning of April. Please contact visitors@asyv.org for the most current calendar dates. If you are unable to visit during the academic year, don't worry—visitors are welcome all year round! You should still reach out to us to inquire about scheduling a tour.

+ Directions to ASYV

ASYV is located approximately 1.5 hours east of Kigali, nine kilometers off the main road leading to the city of Rwamagana (and on the way to Akagera National Park.) The easiest way to travel to the Village is by hiring a driver. ASYV can assist with this or you can arrange one with your hotel or travel agent. To find contact information for ASYV's preferred tour company, visit here.

Driving Directions from Kigali

• Drive east on the Vers Kibungo from Kigali toward Rwamagana & Kibungo. About 40 kilometers east of Kigali (40-45 minutes), you will see a sign for the town of Ntunga (it’s pronounced “noon-ga.” If you reach the town of Rwamagana, you have traveled too far.)
• Make a right onto the dirt road at Ntunga and continue for another 9 kilometers. The entrance to the Village will be on your right just past the entrance of The Anne Heyman Solar Field.
• Enter through the brightly painted gate on your right and have the security guards call Eric Kabiyona (+250 785 457 101) or another member of the Visitor Team to notify them of your arrival.
• To view directions on Google Maps, visit here.

Public Transit Directions from Kigali

• Go to the bus station at Nyabugogo (central/west Kigali) or Remera (eastern Kigali).
• Locate the Stella Bus service kiosk (starts at Nyabugogo then goes to Remera then onward) and say you are going to Rwamagana but getting off early at Ntunga (tip: the “t” is silent and it is pronounced “noon-ga”).
• The cost is about RWF 1,500 and the ride will be about an hour long.
• Get off at Ntunga (just before Bicumbi). If no one else is getting off, you may need to ask the driver to stop.
• At Ntunga find a moto driver – they will likely approach you and already expect to take you to ASYV.
• The cost is about RWF 1,500 and it is about a 15-minute ride on a dirt road.
• Enter through the brightly painted gate on your right and have the security guards call Eric Kabiyona (+250 785 457 101) or another member of the Visitor Team to notify them of your arrival.

Contact Information:

• Visitor Team: visitors@asyv.org
• For a list of visitor team members’ contact details, click here.

+ Goals of the ASYV Visitor Program

Established by our Founder, Anne Heyman, in order to “bring the world to our children,” ASYV’s visitor program works to introduce our kids to individuals from all around the world through day, overnight, and multi-day Service Learning trips. By enabling the free exchange of ideas and experiences, and by facilitating dialogue on topics ranging from daily life to the social and political realities of their respective countries and communities, ASYV’s visitor program has enabled many of our students and guests to build a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

We welcome several hundred visitors to the Village per year to experience our model and understand the role a youth village is playing in post-genocide reconstruction, as well as see one of Rwanda’s best high schools. Visitors expose our students to different cultures, perspectives, and ideas, and help them to practice and build upon their English language skills.

Expectations of Visitors/Policies

It is important to remember that ASYV is home to youth that come from traumatic backgrounds and that visitors are guests in our community. To ensure the welfare of our students, all visitors are required to agree to ASYV's Visitor Policy & Agreement. By signing this agreement, visitors agree to the following guidelines, among others outlined in the policy:

• Visitors are not permitted to take photos or videos of students or staff without their explicit consent. If you wish to use an individual’s name or photograph, or publish materials about the Village on the Internet, you may seek permission by contacting communications@asyv.org.
• Visitors are not permitted to share their contact information with students.
• Visitors should not give personal gifts or cash to students.
• Visitors should avoid making promises, even small ones, as students take them seriously and may be disappointed if a promise is broken.
• Visitors should not spend time alone with students. Visitors should not go into a student’s bedroom under any circumstances outside of visiting the bedroom as part of a formal guided tour, and students are not permitted to spend time in visitor housing.
• Visitors should be mindful of our students' varying English abilities: speak slowly and clearly, especially with first-year students who may struggle with English. Don’t assume shyness is disinterest–it could be a lack of confidence in language skills.
• Respect Rwandan culture and the ASYV dress code by refraining from wearing short shorts, tank tops, or revealing clothing.
• Possession or use of illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, cigarettes, or vapes is strictly prohibited as is arriving at ASYV under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Be mindful of the activities happening at the Village and attempt to minimize any disruption to the rhythm of life.
• Respect the kids’ privacy and do not ask them about their background unless they offer to share that information. Be mindful of discussing personal sexuality, gender identity, or controversial topics, including current events and politics.

Respecting Our Culture

We’re so excited to welcome you to our home. Please remember that being in a new place means seeing, hearing, tasting, and experiencing new things. Respect cultural differences - take everything in by making time for active listening and reflection. You should also keep in mind that it is forbidden in Rwanda to use ethnic distinguishers. Please don’t ask students about their ethnic background, and be mindful of asking about other sensitive topics like orphan status and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. Some aspects of our culture to be aware of:

• Rwanda is a physical culture. People will often greet with a hug followed by a handshake. If you are shaking hands with someone older than yourself, place your left hand on your right elbow to show respect. If uncomfortable with physical interactions, kindly let them know your personal space preferences. Hugs, hand brushing, platonic handholding and arms around waists are common between the same gender or different generations.
• Rwandans may comment on physical features (e.g., “You’re big”). These comments are typically not offensive but reflect the observation that you are healthy or eating well.
• Rwandans typically have at least two names: a Kinyarwanda name and an English/French name. Feel free to ask for a shorter name to make it easier to remember.
• Girls have short hair in accordance with the government mandate for schools.

+ Village Terrain

Rwanda is known as the Land of a Thousand Hills—and with good reason! The Village is situated on 152 acres of hilly terrain. Walking paths are dirt, opposed to pavement. You can expect to do a lot of walking. With advanced notice, the Village is happy to arrange a vehicle to help you travel in the Village, if needed.

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes that you don't mind getting dusty. For a full list of packing recommendations, visit here.

+ Lodging

Visitors and short-term volunteers stay in our Guest Houses or in ASYV's new visitor center, the Intore Learning Community (ILC).

The Village provides sheets, a pillow, a light blanket, a small towel, and either a mosquito net for each bed or mosquito repelling device for the room. The bathrooms have hot and cold water. However, please note that the Village sometimes experiences brief power and water outages.

ASYV Guest Houses

In the ASYV Guest Houses, each room has simple furnishings of full or queen-sized beds and shelves, and a private bathroom.

ASYV Intore Learning Community Visitors Center

ASYV's Visitors Center is equipped with 27 dormitory-style rooms furnished with bunk beds and shelving units including three 2-person rooms, 23 4-person rooms, and one 6-person room. The building also has two self-contained rooms, which each have a single bed and their own private bathroom.

Dormitories have access to two sets of shared single-sex bathrooms with multiple stalls each.

+ Required Paperwork

To ensure the welfare of our students, all visitors are required to complete our Visitor Registration Form in which they will be required to agree to ASYV's Visitor Policy & Agreement. If you are traveling with a Service Learning group/another group trip, ASYV staff will share general information and any other required paperwork in advance of your visit.

+ Types of visits offered and what to expect

ASYV offers three types of stays:

• Individual guests and short stay groups – Individuals traveling to Rwanda can visit us for the day or stay overnight.
• Service Learning Trips – We offer high school, college, and adult groups the chance to get to know Rwanda and the Village in a thought-provoking and meaningful way.
• Retreat Groups – ASYV can provide a quiet, picturesque setting for your organization’s retreat or workshop.

What to Expect

Day Visit

Visit here to view rates for a day visit under the “Day Experience” dropdown at the bottom of the page. Payments can be made in advance of the visit at paypal.me/asyv or paid in person upon arrival. (Note that online payment processing incurs a fee of 3%. If you choose to pay online, please be sure to include the fee when making your payment.)

Rwandan francs and U.S. dollars are welcome. Please refer to the Forex Bureau for the most current exchange rates.

Typical Schedule

A tour of the Village is generally 2 to 3 hours long. It typically begins at the center of the Village at the Mango Tree and includes a visit to a family home, the amphitheater, the farm, the science and art centers, the school, and the dining hall. If you have specific points of interest, please let us know ahead of time and we will do our best to emphasize the relevant aspects of the Village.

We also encourage you to join our students for lunch in the Dining Hall at 12pm (1pm on Fridays).

*Please note that the tour is given on foot and includes a significant amount of walking. Please wear comfortable shoes and dress accordingly.

We recommend you bring the following items:

• Comfortable walking shoes
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Water
• Light rain jacket
• Camera
• Rwandan Francs or USD if you wish to pay for the visit in cash (ASYV can also provide an invoice. We can accept payment to our local Rwanda account, as well as our U.S. account.)

Overnight Visit

Visit here to view rates for a day visit under the “Overnight Stay” dropdown.

Overnight visitors typically begin their visit with a comprehensive tour and are invited to join meals in the dining hall, extracurricular programs with students, Family Time, and any Village-wide happenings like Village Time. A sample overnight visit itinerary with more information can be found here.

Depending on the purpose and length of your trip you may wish to schedule in specific activities during your stay. Please let us know well in advance if you have a specific interest in an area of the Village. Many of our students and staff have extremely tight, busy schedules and it may not be possible to set up a meeting or an activity on the day of your visit. We are always welcoming of ideas and are willing to accommodate any specific requests if they are made in advance of your stay. Please work with your contact at ASYV to plan your stay and create your schedule as far in advance as possible. Please let us know in advance of any specific dietary or room requests that you may have.

Service Learning Trips

ASYV’s trips offer an immersive visit to Rwanda and the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Through experiential education and reflection, participants engage in a meaningful exchange with students, staff, and peers, and learn about Rwanda’s history and culture. In turn, Service Learning participants cultivate an understanding of and commitment to global citizenship and a deeper awareness of our place in the wider world. Participants witness how Rwandans have changed their country's narrative and return home inspired to bring all they’ve learned to their own communities.

Visit here for more information about ASYV’s Service Learning program including rates and a sample trip itinerary.