MSU Denver Rwanda Study Abroad Trip

MSU Denver Rwanda Study Abroad Trip
In July, 2025, 8 students from MSU Denver will travel to Rwanda, a country in East Africa, for the learning opportunity of a lifetime! Dr. John Rief (Communication Studies) and Dr. Ali Thobhani (International Studies), in collaboration with two nongovernmental organizations, IDebate Rwanda and the Global Livingston Institute, will guide these students through a variety of experiential learning opportunities including observing at the Dreamers’ Academy, a high school debate camp for students from all over East Africa, visiting the Ellen DeGeneres Campus of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, participating in the Umuganda, a national holiday dedicated to nationwide community service, and attending the Giants of Africa Youth Summit. The goal of the trip is to provide our students with insights into Rwanda’s development of democratic culture, its ongoing efforts to promote sustainable agriculture and food access, and its cultural and ecological significance. We will also delve into the history of Rwanda including its pre-colonial and colonial eras, the 1994 genocide, and its efforts to cultivate opportunities for its post-genocide generations.

Your Support
Thanks to the generosity of the Global Livingston Institute and the Department of Communications Studies at MSU Denver, we have managed to bring the costs of this trip down to about $4000 per student. However, this is still a major cost for our students to manage. We are asking our colleagues, family, and friends to help support the 8 students going on this trip by donating to this project today. The money raised here will directly offset student costs for participating in this trip which include things like tuition, airfare, room and board, faculty costs, ground transportation, entry fees for attractions, and pre-travel costs like securing passports, visas, and required vaccinations.

Please note that donations to this project cannot be directed to specific students. The total amount raised here will be evenly distributed to the students going on this trip to defray their costs.

Study abroad trips can be canceled for a variety of reasons. If this trip is canceled, the money raised here will go to supporting MSU Denver Debate, our Dialogues Program, and other related activities here at MSU Denver aimed at supporting our students to engage in civic life and promote democratic action.

Check out this video of a faculty trip to Rwanda in preparation for this summer's study abroad program.