Rwanda

Our Actions

Supporting the Creation of the First Public Library of Rwanda

The Kigali-Virunga Rotary Club, with the support of many international partners, began in 2000 to build the first public library of Rwanda in Kigali, respecting international standards. It was a turning point in the history of Rwanda. 

For the occasion, BSF selected and sent 15,000 books and documents in French and in English for the Public Library of Kigali in 2010. We also purchased 4,000 locally-published books and documents. The construction of the library ended in 2011. 

A partnership with the group CAIRN.info allowed the library’s users to access electronic resources.

Towards Better Inclusion of Congolese Refugees

In the Nyabiheke Refugee Camp, Bibliothèques Sans Frontières (Libraries Without Borders), Handicap International (Humanity and Inclusion) and the Rwanda Development Board have partnered together with the goal of strengthening the inclusion and access to services in host communities for Congolese refugees suffering from certain psychological and mental disorders. Thanks to the Ideas Box, activities for raising awareness about disabilities and mental health have taken place regularly. The primary objective is to build fundamental skills for empowering users, thereby giving them a better chance to pursue their academic studies and professional development.

Strengthening the Abilities of Great Lakes Inter-University Network Libraries

The inter-university network of the Great Lakes Region (RIGL) consists of 24 universities from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda. The sustainability of this network depends on the uniformity of practices regarding governance but also regarding educational content and documentary resources. 

From 2012 to 2014, BSF supported the construction of the network by organizing a training seminar for the heads of libraries of member universities. This seminar allowed librarians from the 24 universities to meet, gain awareness of the opportunities of working in a network, and work together to develop frameworks for their joint work.

The creation of centers of excellence in each of the three countries has enabled student exchanges. In order to support the implementation of these centers of excellence, BSF teamed up with the partner universities to develop resource centers specialized in the fields concerned. Today, 150,000 students and teacher-researchers from the 24 RIGL member institutions benefit from improved access to resources and information.

Our Work in Rwanda