Rwanda Facts

Muraho! That’s how you say “hello” in Kinyarwanda, one of the languages spoken throughout Rwanda. This beautiful country in Africa draws in many tourists with its sweeping savanna. Learn more Rwanda facts below.

five Facts About Rwanda

Here are five fun facts about Rwanda:

  1. Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa.
  2. Hills and mountains dominate Rwanda’s landscape, inspiring its nickname, “the land of a thousand hills.”
  3. Rwanda is home to endangered mountain gorillas within its Volcanoes National Park.
  4. This country features beautiful savannas that are home to wildlife such as lions, leopards and even giraffes.
  5. Rwanda is known as a top coffee producer, exporting millions of pounds every year.

Where is Rwanda?

Rwanda is located in East-Central Africa. It shares borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Key Challenges in Rwanda & Our Response

Rwanda is known for its beautiful rolling hills and incredible wildlife, but it’s also home to many children living in poverty. People in impoverished communities face many challenges, from a lack of clean water to frequent natural disasters.

Rwanda is located in East-Central Africa. It shares borders with Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Unsafe Water Puts Children at Risk of Disease

According to UNICEF, only 57% of people living in Rwanda have access to safe drinking water within 30 minutes of their home. Children are often tasked with traveling to gather water, keeping them out of school. Or they must drink unsafe water from nearby rivers and swamps, which makes them sick with diseases like diarrhea and intestinal parasites.

Our Response: Providing Clean Water, Hygiene Training & More

Compassion partners with local churches in impoverished communities to provide children and their families with access to clean drinking water, medical checkups and health care. This enables children to stay in school and protects them from dangerous diseases.

We also teach children how to care for their bodies with good hygiene, keeping them healthy and safe.

Natural Disasters Prevent Children From Thriving

Throughout Africa, natural disasters are common. Dangerous flooding, landslides and droughts can severely damage crops and destroy homes. Children and families already in need can’t afford emergency supplies and have no savings to help them recover, pushing them further into poverty.

Our Response: Delivering Relief When Disasters Strike

Our partner churches throughout Africa are on the front lines, providing critical relief with our Disaster Relief Fund.

Through this fund, we provide children and families with emergency food and water, temporary shelter, counseling, medical care and more when disaster strikes. Families don’t have to face disaster alone; our church partners walk alongside them until they’re back on their feet.

A young girl wearing a patterned dress stands in a doorway while smiling for the camera.

Caption: Photo by: Isaac Ogila

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A young boy wearing a checkered shirt sits at a wooden desk while holding a pen and smiling.

Caption: Photo by: Doreen Umutesi

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A group of children wearing school uniforms stand at wooden desks with their hands clasped together as they sing.

Caption: Photo by: Emily Turner

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A young girl wearing a brown flowered dress holds a chicken while laughing.

Caption: Photo by: Emily Turner

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Our Impact in Rwanda

Compassion International has proudly served the children and families of Rwanda for 43 years. In that time, we’ve seen thousands of children released from poverty through child sponsorship.

110,005

children served (and counting)

440

churches serving

43

years of serving

From Genocide Orphan to Hope Giver

Orphaned during the genocide against the Tutsi people, Emma found hope in Christ through the love and care of the local church. Now, he leads a national ministry helping kids living in poverty. Watch his inspiring story.

See Story
A Young Girl’s Invention Fights Hunger in Rwanda

Sekata’s family struggled to find essentials like food. An education was far from something they could afford. That all changed when the local church stepped in. Sekata received an education. And now she’s using it to build a mobile app that fights hunger.

See Story

How You Can Help Vulnerable Children in Rwanda

You can join Compassion’s fight against child poverty in Rwanda in three key ways:

  • Pray: Jeremiah 33:3 tells us that if we call on God, he will answer us. When we lift children living in poverty up in prayer, God hears us, and we can trust he's working on their behalf. Join us in praying daily for children living in poverty by becoming a prayer partner.
  • Donate: Children living in poverty face many challenges, from a lack of medical care to dangerous living conditions. You can provide immediate support by donating to fulfill a right-now need.
  • Sponsor a Child: By sponsoring a child, you empower a local church to meet the critical needs of a child's body, mind and spirit as they journey out of poverty. Through sponsorship, you'll help deliver medical care, hygiene training, education, malnutrition monitoring and so much more to a child in need. But most importantly, you'll help introduce them to the hope of the gospel, which changes everything.
Sponsor a Child in Rwanda