Mission & History
History PDF Print E-mail

Outward Bound Rwanda is a team driven vision by a group of enthusiastic people, who saw both a need and an opportunity, in addressing the social economic challenges Rwanda is facing today. The exploratory team saw the need to develop character, resilience, and attitudes of service in the building of a peaceful and stable Rwanda, and viewed this as an entrepreneurial venture where by engaging in social change by building peace and developing character can be a source of income and sustenance to those involve. OB Rwanda is therefore a social entrepreneurial venture.

The core of the Team is young people, who enjoy great mentoring from an elderly more experienced circle. The Exploratory team comprise: Ndekezi Maarifa (education), Grace Kemirembe (Management-finance), Clement Kayitare (Education and NGO), Enid Ingabire (Management-Marketing), Annet Mwizerwa (Law), Pierre Sibomana (UN- Finance and Budgeting), and Pauline Rutazana (Political-Science). The team has coherently worked together from 2006 to-date.

The Team draws inspiration and leadership from Ndekezi Maarifa who has a background of Outdoor Education and International Exposure to Quality, Safety and Programming of Outdoor experiences. This was a long vision that he held from his Instructional work at Outward Bound Kenya between 1999 and 2004.

The Team for Outward Bound Rwanda gained confidence of individuals of integrity and commitment who have joined the exploratory team to form the Board of Directors/Governor. We have Ambassador Seth Kamanzi- Senator, Steven Balinda- Director of Prisons Rwanda, Odette Uwizeye- Academics, Gildert Nteziryayo- NGO.

After lots intensive research and consolidation of the Board Members, and significant exploration of the Viability of an Outward Bound School in Rwanda, Outward Bound International granted Outward Bound Rwanda the official exploratory status that gave the team mandate to begin marketing, fund raising, and developing programs.

One of the requirements of the exploratory status is to send a member of the team to travel and see operations in other Outward Bound Schools. The Executive Director of Outward Bound Rwanda has spend the last one year traveling to the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia, to study visit OB Schools, attend conferences and developing support networks.

The year 2008 begins with registration of OB Rwanda as a local NGO in Rwanda, and operations begins.
 
Why Outward Bound in Rwanda? PDF Print E-mail

OUTWARD BOUND

Founder of Outward BoundMore than 60 years ago, Outward Bound began as an educational methodology to inspire character development and leadership, helping individuals realize their human potential to become compassionate and courageous citizens. It was founded by a German Jew Educator Kurt Hahn, in 1947.

OB Rwanda is a Not for Profit Educational Organization conceived, governed and operates locally. CLICK HERE to Listen to Ndekezi the Director speaking about Outward Bound Rwanda.

OB Rwanda is inspired by need for the acceleration of the Social-economic development in Rwanda, to catalyze: the process building relationships of trust, courage, compassion, tolerance, cooperation and determination, and leadership and character through adventure and challenge in the Outdoors. The idea is when people are in a challenging but supportive environment say climbing a mountain, situations demand greater teamwork, leadership, communication, trust and so on to succeed. The Instructors then facilitate the learning experience.

Through OB Rwanda programs, people who have lived through the conflict, will be challenged to realize their potential and be inspired not settle for anything less. The core beneficiaries of OB Rwanda programs are the Youths and the vulnerable: survivors of assault, survivors of genocide, people with disabilities and others.

The Need

The Genocide broke the social fabric of Rwandans. The youth of Rwanda, need life skills in leadership, conflict resolution, and governance.
Through the democratization and decentralization, responsibilities are bestowed on ordinary citizen.
Read more...
 
Mission Statement PDF Print E-mail

The mission for Outward Bound Rwanda is: to stimulate character development, peace building and the resolving of conflicts between people by impelling them out of familiar environments, setting new challenges through safe but demanding adventures, and providing experiences which inspire self reliance, responsibility and teamwork, confidence, compassion, tolerance, understanding, community service and environmental stewardship.
 


Outward Bound Rwanda