Back to Cows and College

I'm in the middle of typing a blog on College, and here finally a photo I was try to upload into the cows bit has popped into this blog - anyway I am not removing it - here is Rog and the cow hand and Paul.

Colleges - In Kigali, everything to do with Technical education is developed by the Workforce Development Agency. They vet colleges, curriculum, equipment and advise Colleges on what they want for their nation

So today we met Denis at WDA, and what a tall man he is - if only I could upload my pictures you would see a picture of me breaking my neck to talk to him.

Anyway, now that we are staying at Solace, and this place is really heaven, I hope that I will be able to upload photos even if I have to do it overnight!

Sorry got side tracked by my frustration at the download speeds. Anyway, Denis offered for us to meet with each of the heads of department, and also Albert the director of WDA. It is Albert I particularly want to meet because we would like to get a joint proposal together with ourselves and the Scottish Colleges. Albert is on holiday, so I will have to be patient, and hope he comes back before we leave.

Denis has also put us in contact with the Association of Colleges, and the curriculum develop team - so thats at least more meetings next week

No Red Tape in Rwanda

Moving fast or what.

We have been in the country 2 working days, and today we met with the Vice Mayor. There had been a bit of the technical problem with the land deed.

No problem for this very pragmatic and able lady. She just called a team meeting there and then, and the decision was made. Then in the afternoon the surveyor went out to the land and today a new land deed with the correct details has been done.

Fantastic! Ownership and deed problems resolved.

Then, she commanded me to produce a masterplan proposal and business plan for the College, so I have been working solidly on it. Tonight the Rwandan team will debate it, and tomorrow it goes to her with the Project Masterplan - also done today.

But what of Roger?

Well following our meeting with the planning department, he has been advised that all plans will be on A0 sized paper. So instead of him watching Macfarlane slave over his business plan, he is cutting and pasting madly, and tomorrow we will try and get the plans finished for final checking and then into planning department on Monday.

And if you think that is all we have been doing - think again!

Rog and the Cows

Paul the church pastor was eager that we see a bit of local Kigali countryside, so in between several meetings he took us out to see his cows.

Situated about 5 miles east of Kigali, we went through pretty rough roads and much poverty, to eventually arrive at a very pretty spot at the head of the valley. Here we met his hired farm hand - see photo, and journeyed down the valley to this pretty pathetic river that supplies the local area with just enough water to survive and produce.

I am pretty impressed with the work the Government in Rwanda has been doing to encourage investment, agriculture, construction, education and health care. Given the adverse publicity that it got from our press prior to the election, I have to say that there is far more very positive action happening, and it is obvious the people are reaping the benefits.

Mind you, it would be good to know if there area strategic plans to harness the rainfall better so that they have plenty for growing.

As to Roger and the cows - well they looked pretty under - nourished - similar to Rog, but at least he is now getting stuck into a vegetable panini - he did not seem to want the beef one!

Dancing the Aisles

Well this is pretty shocking to the Church of Scotland mentality. Church service started at 9.30 and lasted until 1pm. But the real difficulty was coping with the charismatic nature of the service, dancing, raising of hands and speaking in tongues.

Roger says he did raise a hand once - though I cannot confirm this. As far as I was concerned, tapping my feet was about as far as I would go. There is one photo of me smiling (definitely not a CofS act) and perhaps a slight sway of my hips - but your not getting to see it unless I accidentally upload it!

Photos are very slow to load - so apologies for the lack of pictures - I will try and load as many as possible.

After the service we went with the Rwandan team to the site and a newly built Medical Centre by Solace Ministries. We now have a pretty good understanding of how the Rwandans construct their buildings, so Roger is sitting with me at the UTC drawing more plans.

The Rwandan team are also looking at building a church on the site, and now want a guest house - for all you Scots people that want to come out and help with the various work - and as part of the guest house, some shops, restaurant, medical centre and goodness knows what else. I am not sure Rog will get all the designs for this done by Wednesday night when we next meet!

So lots happening and much to do - off to meet the Mayors district team, in charge of everything in the area - just trying to pursuade them that we are good guys and that we want the best for their people and district. So no problem there then!

Touchdown Rwanda

After 24 hours journeying, Roger and I have arrived in Kigali. No problems with the flight, though 4 hours in the Java Cafe in Nairobi Airport was pretty stuffy.

We were collected in fine style by John Mutesa, and after a 25 minute ride down very bumpy streets we found our accomodation.

We each have our own rooms which is a luxury - Roger will be glad to be able to get away from me some of the time.

On Friday we had a very hectic day, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial - A very peaceful place, but incredibly troubling. Being brought face to face with the reality of human inhumanity, was humbling. To realise that genocide is almost a regular feature of human history spanning all world cultures, makes one very thoughtful of what factors change our thought processes from creating to destruction.

We also visited the church where they have an active bakery, the land registration centre, and the land that we have purchased for the new College. The latter is really exciting, and Roger and I spent an hour going over the plans and the site.

Tonight we meet the Core Team who will support the transition. We have had useful contact with Department for International Development, and are planning meetings on Monday with the Workforce Development Agency, the Department for Education, and the Mayor of the District. we are going to be very busy.

In the mornings Paul, Roger and I discuss team development, general planning and timescales and in the evenings I am trying to create a College Development plan - a bit on the hoof - but essential if the College is going to be viable in the long term.

Great Fun and in the end potentially personally very rewarding.

More later - keep in touch with the blog, and is you want to email me with advice etc - garymacfarlane1@me.com - or just blog it!

Every blessing from Roger and I. Hope you enjoy the photos - when we can get them loaded - download speed not quite Broadband speed!

Learning from the Experts

When you take on the building of a Vocational Training College, you soon find out that, as a GP, you really do know nothing about anything educational.

But when the Ihumure College needs to actually function successfully, you start to ask a few questions like:

• Is there a set Rwandan curriculum for each subject - no
• What equipment will we require in the College - good question - depends on curriculum
• Will business in Kigali employ our students - only if they have very relevant skills
• What are the relevant skills - well that depends on what business needs
• Has anyone done this stuff before - yes - college principles, and the Scottish Government were involved in the Malawi with the same work

So I gave Linda McTavish, principle of Anniesland College a phone, and before I know it I am meeting her, David Loudon from the engineering section, and on Monday, Frieda Loughran from the Adam Smith Institute

What a great team they have, and Linda was brilliant at steering Jean Wilson and I in the right direction.

So when I return from Rwanda, we will possibly have a meeting with a few college principles to discuss some partnering approaches to answer some of these questions.

The photos are for the Rwandan team, and the Workforce Development Agency - so that we can get into discussing details re rooms and equipment. The WDA do the endorsement of the College. They also have requested some help from us in developing curriculum - hence the importance of the Scottish Colleges getting involved. Otherwise a GP and an architect would have to do it, and that spells real disaster!

Many thanks to Anniesland College - Fantastic Group of people and great leadership!

We leave on Thursday for 3 weeks - Kigali Here We Come!

Well where on earth is Rwanda? Africa I think. Yes, of course its Africa, but its rather big.

Well pretty well right in the middle.

To show you exactly where the Ihumure Vocational Training College is going to be built here is a reference for google maps which shows the exact piece of land - just North of the airport

Just scroll back to see where exactly it is.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?t=h&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=-1.965052,30.156484&spn=0.010251,0.006813&z=17