Empowering Community and Preserving Culture: UNESCO-Funded Project to Boost Sustainable Tourism in Musanze

On December 20, 2024, Ikirenga Art and Culture Promotion, in collaboration with the Red Rocks Initiative for Sustainable Development (RRISD) and the Rwanda National Commission for UNESCO, launched the project “Cultural Evolution: Empowering Community through Human Sciences and Sustainable Tourism” at the Red Rocks Intercultural Center in Nyakinama-Muko Sector, Musanze District.

Funded by UNESCO with a $30,000 investment (nearly 42,000,000 Rwf), the initiative aims to interlace cultural heritage, human sciences, and sustainable tourism, fostering community engagement and economic empowerment in Musanze District.

This ambitious project is designed to promote sustainable community development through arts, education, and socioeconomic strategies. It celebrates local traditions, art, music, and educational practices, while emphasizing environmental conservation and economic growth in the region.

Over the next five months, training sessions will take place at the Red Rocks Cultural Center. Initially, 100 youth and women from six cooperatives in Nkotsi, Muko, and Kinigi sectors will be trained. These participants will, in turn, share their knowledge with others, benefiting a total of 500 individuals across the district.

Bakunzi Gregoire, the Founder of Red Rocks, expressed enthusiasm for the project’s potential:

“This project we have initiated is supported by UNESCO Rwanda, which aims to further develop cultural heritage tourism. They have seen what we have done, said we have done great work, and wanted to support us. They will help us train our members and the cooperatives we work with in cultural heritage tourism, especially in this area, though we will also reach out to other districts.”

Gregoire emphasized how the partnership could elevate community-based tourism to new heights:
“The tourism we were doing was at a community level, but with an organization like UNESCO, which has additional expertise, we hope they can bring insights into our activities that will help us advance further. They have knowledge we do not, and the training they provide over these five months will teach us many things while also allowing us to share insights with them.”

UNESCO official Dominique Mvunabandi, who serves as the Director of the Science, Technology and Innovations Unit at UNESCO Rwanda National Commission elaborated on the broader vision of the initiative:
“This project aims to train stakeholders, especially those around Volcanoes Biosphere Reserve, in heritage and culture, particularly focusing on the unique aspects of this area. We will enhance their understanding of what heritage is and how it can benefit the community.”

He also hinted at future expansions:
“This first phase will last for five months, but it is a starting point. Beyond Musanze, we have opportunities in Nyungwe National Park, recognized as a UNESCO heritage site, and the Gishwati-Mukura Biosphere Reserve. After this project, we will explore ways to extend our reach.”

Some youth and women engaged in crafts at Red Rocks expressed satisfaction with the outcomes of their work.

Nisingizwe Adrian, a young artist, said:
“I study during the week, but on weekends, I work here to earn money from my artwork.”

Similarly, Niwemukiza Erneste, who weaves items from beads and threads, noted:
“The market here is strong, and visitors always find something to buy.”

Parents crafting decorative mats and trays also benefit, selling some of their products for 12,000 Rwandan Francs while preserving traditional skills.

The project also seeks to capitalize on Musanze’s vibrant tourism industry. Rwanda’s tourism sector contributed over $445 million in revenue in 2023, with Musanze District playing a central role due to its proximity to Volcanoes National Park. While gorilla trekking remains a major attraction, cultural experiences are increasingly drawing tourists.

A Rwanda Development Board (RDB) representative, Claudine Rubagumya, Tourism Product Development Analyst at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) applauded the initiative:
“Nkotsi village is known worldwide. We are pleased that, aside from the gorillas, we are also making strides in sustainable tourism by preserving biodiversity, caring for the community, and providing cultural experiences. With this project, tourists will pay for quality services, and the benefits will return to the community.”

With UNESCO’s support and strong local collaboration, the “Cultural Evolution” project aims to establish Musanze as a global leader in sustainable and culturally enriched tourism, creating lasting benefits for the community and preserving Rwanda’s rich heritage for generations to come.