Rwanda

David — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 12:35:26 -0500

Would you be willing to explain more about why "People don't need electricity, they need jobs." don't those two things kind of go hand in hand? What is the current state of things in Rwanda? I'd be interested to read about it...

David
Toledo, Ohio, USA

Rwanda Journal: Vision 2020

Courtland Walker — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 18:44:33 -0500

Editor's note: NextBillion staff writer Courtland Walker recently returned from a 10-day trip to Rwanda. Over the next week, he will post reflections on his trip as part of the Rwanda Journal series.

The most recurrent thought during my time in Rwanda was, "What’s the first step?" I kept doing a hypothetical in my head: You have a million dollars. Do you pave roads? Do you put up more power lines? Do you put a floor in every house? A bed net? Do you buy tractors? Fertilizer? Laptops? Cell phones?

"People don't need electricity, they need jobs." That response, from my sister who has been in-country for three and a half years and seen first-hand both the education and health systems in Rwanda, has been on my mind since my return.

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Rwanda

Rwanda Journal: Vision 2020