Types of Visits Offered and What to Expect

Types of visits

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. 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 an overnight 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.

While You’re in the Village

Food and Water

ASYV has two dining facilities: our main dining hall for students and our Intore Learning Community (ILC) dining area.

Meals in the Dining Hall are provided “family style” and will be eaten with the staff and students. It is advisable to arrive on time, as the food will be served at the starting time. The variety of food of the Village tends to be somewhat limited. 

Breakfast in the Dining Hall consists of a freshly baked roll and homemade porridge. Because breakfast is early, most visitors enjoy breakfast in our Intore Learning Community Visitor’s Center (ILC), which typically includes bread, cereal, fruit, and omelets and is served buffet-style.

Visitors may also schedule lunch or dinner in the ILC dining facility.

Lunch and dinner in the Dining Hall usually consist of rice, beans, a starch (such as potatoes or green bananas), and an additional vegetable. Most days, the food in the Village is vegetarian. Meat is served infrequently, and there are always vegetarian options available. Please notify us in advance if you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions due to religious practice. ASYV is familiar with dietary requirements (e.g.: Kosher and gluten-free diets) but may not be able to accommodate all needs. 

While it is strongly recommended that you try to eat most of your meals in the dining hall with the kids, you may arrange meals in the ILC or consider bringing some additional food items (such as oatmeal, instant noodles, granola bars, etc.) that can be prepared using electric hot water kettles.

The food at ASYV is thoroughly cooked and safe to eat. When fresh salad is served, it is also safe to eat (though that may not be the case when eating raw vegetables and fruits outside the Village.) Much of the food served in the Village comes from our farm, and meals are cooked over hot fires and in boiling water.

The dining hall hours are typically as follows:

  • Breakfast: 6:00-6:50 am (weekdays) / 7:00-8:00 am (weekends)

  • Lunch: 12:00-1:00 pm / 12:00-1:00 pm (Fridays)

  • Dinner: 6:00-7:00 pm / 7:00-8:00 pm (Fridays)

*Note: The schedule may be subject to change due to special events and holidays.

ASYV Canteen

The Village has a small store that contains soda and snacks for purchase. It is open daily during the academic year.

Local Town

The nearest Village is Rubona, approximately 1.5 kilometers away (20-minute walk) from ASYV. Rubona has an open-air food market every Tuesday and Friday where additional food, such as fruits and vegetables, can be purchased. All visitors and guests require permission from ASYV staff to leave the premises.

Kigali

Kigali has several grocery stores and markets for additional items.

*Note: The change in diet may cause stomach-aches or minor illness, as is the case with travel anywhere. To avoid these complications, take general precautions: drink bottled or boiled water; make sure food is fully cooked and dairy products are pasteurized; and wash your hands often!

Water

You can use the water from the taps for washing and we have hydration stations located around the site that provide filtered drinking water. The rainwater collected in cisterns should not be used for cooking or drinking, even after boiling. It is only intended for cleaning and flushing toilets.

Laundry

Laundry service is available at a rate of $5 per basket. Laundry is washed by hand and air dried. Speak to a member of the ASYV Visitor Team to arrange laundry service. 

Cell phones

Our students do not have phones in the Village so, be mindful of when you are using  your own electronic devices, especially your phone. Phones should generally be put away during programming with students. 

Internet

The Village is equipped with wireless Internet, though connectivity in Rwanda (like in much of Africa) may be slow due to lack of bandwidth. You will receive information to log in to the WiFi.

Electricity

The electrical current used in Rwanda is 220V — the same as in most of Europe. Plugs used in Rwanda take 2 round prongs (same as most of Europe, except the UK). Adapters will be necessary if your country uses a different plug. Most electrical devices have a built-in transformer that can accommodate a range of 110V to 220V, so a converter is unnecessary. If any device does not have such a transformer (such as a hair dryer or electric shaver), it’s probably best to leave it at home.

The Village’s electricity supply is generally good, though the power goes out on occasion. There are outlets to charge phones and computers, but electricity is expensive so try to minimize the number of items that require charging regularly. Additionally, the power supply can fluctuate at times, which may be damaging to electronic devices, particularly computers — so do not leave anything plugged in if the power goes out (when it comes back on is typically when there can be a power surge.)

Health

Doctors and Health Clinics

There are many private doctors, health clinics, and hospitals located in Kigali. Most doctors in the city have a working knowledge of English and/or French. For a general list, please refer to the U.S. Embassy’s website: https://rw.usembassy.gov/medical-assistance/.

ASYV Clinic

ASYV has a Health & Wellness Clinic on-site and nurses are available to treat general ailments or first aid needs. In the event of a more serious medical emergency, participants are directed to contact the nurse on duty in the clinic by visiting the clinic directly or by calling the emergency clinic phone number (+250 780303304). The nurse on duty can refer the case to Rwamagana Hospital (~30 minutes away), Legacy Clinic (~1 hour), or King Faisal Hospital located in Kigali (~1.5 hours away) and a Village van and driver can provide transfer for a fee of $60 to be billed after the visit. Should a visiting group need an ambulance stationed at the Village for emergency evacuation, this can be arranged ahead of the trip at cost.

Safety & security

In Rwanda

Rwanda is typically a safe, crime-free country and has recently been listed as one of the safest and cleanest countries in Africa. Agahozo-Shalom is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for its students, staff, volunteers and visitors. We constantly stay abreast of the security situation and subscribe to the U.S. State Department’s security updates. We encourage all visitors to enroll in the U.S. Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) at https://step.state.gov/step/ prior to traveling to Rwanda.

Please do not give money or food to kids that ask. An unintended consequence of your gifts may be kids relying on this kind of giving rather than going to school. 

Keep valuables secured and be cautious in crowded areas to prevent theft or loss, which is more common in busy public spaces like markets. 

Avoid using your phone in public as it increases the risk of being targeted by thieves. It’s safer to stay alert and discreet.  

Travel in pairs. 

At the Village

Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village is extremely safe and the grounds are surrounded by a fence and monitored 24 hours a day by our security personnel. Anyone who enters or exits the grounds must check in with security. Additionally, the Village is located about 40 kilometers East of Kigali, Rwanda's capital city. It is in a rural location and surrounded by family farms on the rolling hills of the Eastern Province. In the case of any emergency, one should contact the International Visitor Fellow(s) or Hospitality Manager, in addition to either the Executive Director or Country Director. Contact information will be shared with you upon arrival.

Jill Radwin