From July 11 to 13, 2025, Friends of Ruanda e.V. brought together dedicated people from Germany and Rwanda for an inspiring Re:Connect weekend. Among them were former and current South–North and North–South volunteers, as well as new supporters and friends eager to engage with the association. For three days, the air was filled with conversation, fresh ideas, and shared visions for the future.
The program went far beyond internal planning. Together, we explored how global issues such as discrimination, racism, (post-)colonialism, climate change, education, gender, and sexuality intersect and influence our work. These conversations revealed just how deeply connected these topics are – and how essential it is to weave them into the fabric of our activities.
With the guidance of our chairman, Eliphaz Ntibizerwa, participants co-created ideas to strengthen the association’s capacity, aiming to remain a vibrant, committed community that promotes intercultural exchange and builds bridges across borders.
A highlight came on Saturday evening at the Africa Festival in Stuttgart: reggae beats in the background, cool drinks in hand, heartfelt conversations flowing, and dancing under the open sky – a moment where friendships deepened and our sense of togetherness grew even stronger.
Re:Connect 2025 proved to be the perfect blend of productive exchange, personal connection, and collective reflection – an important step forward in shaping a lively and sustainable future for our association.
