When and why did you first come to Rwanda?

I first came to Rwanda at the end of 2008 during a work placement from my university’s Cooperative Education Program. I was currently completing a degree in Neuroscience in Canada, and I came to Gitarama to help design science programs for a new school that was being built for an NGO. After arriving, they informed me that they had lost all the funding and were no longer building the school. After a few months of being soccer coach and school tutor for the children who lived on site, I wanted to do something more related to my degree. I came to Kigali a few months later, and began working as an assistant to the administrator at a school for disadvantaged children and adults. I helped out with the cooperatives, the general operations of the school, and when we lost our Primary Two teacher, began teaching math, science and English to primary two students. I stayed in Rwanda for about 9 months for the first time.

What brought you back to Rwanda?

During my first stay in Rwanda, I met some really great kids. After getting to know them, I began helping them with school fees.  A few friends of mine and I sent two of the boys and two of the girls to boarding school. When back in Canada, I kept in daily to weekly contact with one of the boys whom I now refer to as my little brother (because of complications with adoption). I came back in 2010 for Christmas holiday, and New Year’s celebrations, to spend time with my little brother.

After finishing my degree, I came back to Rwanda in 2012 to run a life skills training program through an NGO that I had started. Once the program finished, I began looking for work to stay and be full time guardian of my little brother. But finding a job was much harder than I had anticipated (even with the ability to speak intermediate Kinyarwanda!), and that is when some very encouraging friends of mine helped me start a business here.

What was that like, starting a business here?

The application process is very straight forward, and much more reasonable than back home. Rwanda is really encouraging entrepreneurs, and there were very few roadblocks. I was assisted at RDB by very helpful and cheery staff, and my official business registration was handed to me no more than 24 hours later!

Can you tell us a bit about your business, Life Aquatic?

Life Aquatic aims to provide quality swim instruction through a unique style of water skills instruction! In combination with university level research on the biomechanics of swimming, my own personal teaching experience, and what I learned through my knowledgeable supervisors in Canada, I have begun a way of teaching swimming which is unique to Rwanda.

Can you give a bit of information on your background in swimming?

I have been swimming for as long as I can remember, and teaching swimming since I was 16. I finished all 12 of the Red Cross swimming lessons by the time I was 11, and then joined competitive swim clubs until I was old enough to start the life-saving and water safety instruction courses. Immediately upon completion of my courses I was hired as a swim instructor in Canada, and have been teaching swimming since 2005.

What makes your swim instruction so different?

I taught at a pool in Canada for over 6 years where the swimming program coordinators had designed a unique instruction program which focused on progressions through balance. The program was based on information gathered from numerous swimming conferences and the practical theories of Ernest Maglischo, a national championship winning swim coach for 38 years and holder of a PhD in exercise physiology. I found the program very effective in achieving balance and reducing drag in swimmers, ultimately facilitating stroke and increasing speed. In university, I took upper level kinesiology courses, through which I studied the biomechanics of stroke, forces acting on a swimmer, and the intricate movements which best propel a swimmer through the water.

I have combined my years of experience in various pools and environments, my studies, and all of my formal training to best assist swimmers through the progressions of swimming acquisition and stroke precision. I adapt my lessons to the individual swimmers, make lessons fun with games, and focus on comfort and movement in the water.

Life Aquatic offers distinct levels with measurable outcomes. Life Aquatic offers report cards which outline progressions, strengths and weaknesses, and help both parents and students monitor how they are doing.

When are classes held and who can join?

Anyone can join! Adults or children can come learn to swim. The youngest age I currently teach is 3 years, however baby-swim classes are something I will look into adding to the curriculum for the future. Younger children and lower level swimmers are put into class sizes of maximum four students, while older children and upper level swimmers are put into class sizes of maximum six students. Classes are mixed, however I have had some requests for female only classes. Female only classes can definitely be offered if there is enough demand.

Private and group lessons are offered anytime! Classes are taught at Nyarutarama Sports Center on Saturdays and Sundays between 10am and 1pm.

How do people sign up? How do they know what level to enroll in?

Visit the Life Aquatic Facebook page for information on programs, camps, lessons, and pricing: www.facebook.com/lifeaquatickigali. Once you have decided which type of lesson is best for you, sign up by contacting me directly at brittney.merryweather@gmail.com.

The best way to accurately enroll in the right level is through an assessment via a private lesson. However, through email, I can also guide a verbal assessment through questions. Often, students can get shuffled after the first lesson to better match students of the same level and comfort in the water.

What is on the horizon for Life Aquatic?

Well, my next step is to start a Water Polo league! I have some water polo balls being sent from Canada, and I would love to teach/play/coach water polo. If registration in lessons is high, I would also like to train more teachers and expand. Ideally, it would be awesome to one day have my own pool where I can also offer water aerobics, swim teams, competitions, and water related trainings including water safety and rescue.

Do you have old clothes? Old games? Or any other object you don’t use anymore?

Come sell it all at The Belgian School (EBK) June 1st from 10am until 5pm.

You can rent a space of 2 metres squared for Rwf 5,000.

Sign up at Mr. Innocents’ office or contact us at 0786 159 328.

Phone: 0786 159 328

Today I went to the place One Love – nice place near Cadillac. There will be a big event/concert on the 11th of May – with a V.I.P Night & Concert.

With Jah Bone D. from Switzerland, Jay Polly, Jean Peal Samputu, Nzayisenga Sophie, Natty Dread, Strong Voice, and Jazz and Rock Band.

Website: http://onelove-project.org/index.htm

In November 2011, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially designated April 30 as International Jazz Day in order to highlight jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people in all corners of the globe.

Join Kigali’s event at 6:30 pm at the public library in Kacyiru.

Hours: 6:30 pm – 10:30 pm
Website: http://360events.rw/international-jazz-day
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/584368534920541
Twitter: @360eventsRW

What: First Friday is a monthly gallery night series hosted by The Office to celebrate and promote art, creativity, and community in Kigali.
Date: Friday, May 3rd
Time: 5 pm to 9 pm
Where: The Office
Cost: Free!

Guillaume Sardin of George Pericles will be exhibiting his Rwandan Heraldry project, a series of culturally inspired iconography and etymology, as well as his originally designed furniture pieces.

Join us for refreshments, good company, and inspiring art. All artwork will be available for purchase

George Pericles and Rwanda Heraldry: http://cargocollective.com/georgepericles/Rwandan-Heraldry-Project

Phone: 0728 OFFICE
Email: deskspace@theofficerw.com
Website: http://www.theofficerw.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/?q=#/events/646899262002198
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheOfficeRW

Since returning to Rwanda in 2011, one of the highlights each year for me has been the Kigali International Peace Marathon. To be honest, I have only run the half, but given the altitude and hilly course, I consider this race an accomplishment for all runners – those running the 5K “Run for Fun”, marathoners, half-marathoners, and relay participants. It sounds silly, but everybody is a winner when they finish something like this in a place called “the land of a thousand hills.”

2013 marks the 9^th annual race, which will be held on May 19^th. This year, the organizers will introduce a new route in which marathoners will repeat the course twice, as opposed to four laps in previous years. Johnson Rukundo, the General Secretary of the Rwanda Athletics Federation, told me that the organizers set a target of 5,000 runners this year. Last year, over 47 countries were represented, and the Federation hopes to reach out regionally – and internationally – to an even greater extent this year.

The theme of the marathon this year is “Sport as a Pillar for Peace and Development.” The Kigali marathon began with the idea that sport could be a way of building peace after the events of 1994, and given the news from Boston this past week, there is a lot to reflect on in terms of racing as a peace-building activity. In my own experience, the camaraderie among runners is one of the reasons I keep coming out for more races.

According to Johnson Rukundo, the Federation likes to say “run for a reason.” There is a great deal of potential for this event to foster community participation and integration. The Athletics Federation uses the funds raised to sponsor widows, orphans, and those who were left behind in 1994. Every runner is running to support someone. Johnson says that “this year, we want to use funds to pay the tuition for one year of some athletes who are orphans but don’t have enough money for school fees.”

The Federation is planning a number of events leading up to race day, and is in the process of recruiting corporate and non-profit sponsors for the race. The Ministry of Sports and Culture, Bourbon Coffee, World Vision, the Soroptomist Society, Inyange Industries, SURFO Industries, and Adama International have so far stepped up to the plate. A mini “expo” will be held in a marathon village outside the stadium May 17^th to 19^th, as well as a concert prior to the race. Details on these events are forthcoming.

For more information, refer to any of the following websites and social networking sites or call Johnson Rukundo directly. Open up your wallet (real or virtual), take out Rwf 2,000 (Rwandans and residents) or Rwf 6,000 (everyone else) and sign up from today until May 17^th. Since we are running for a cause, the race organisers have asked companies and organisations to sign up as groups of 30 and pay Frw 250,000 to really give their support. When you are registered, get your number and t-shirt from the Marathon Tent outside the national stadium closer to race day. Come and join the rest of us who are crazy enough to run these distances in the land of a thousand hills!

Now if only we could get a few more restaurants to offer up a nice post-race brunch… who’ll be up to that challenge?

All of the Details

Phone: For more information, call Johnson Rukundo, Secretary General of the Rwanda Athletics Federation, at 078 859 0136.
Twitter: @KGLPcMarathon
Facebook: Kigali International Peace Marathon
Website: http://www.kigalimarathon.org

You can sign up by:

• Stopping by the Rwanda Athletics Federation Office at the National Stadium.
• Inquiring at your local Nakumatt Supermarket (Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda).
• Texting the federation with your name and the type of race you would like to run and paying using your mobile money account (MTN Mobile Money: 078 922 7303 / Tigo Cash: 072 294 0584 / Airtel: 073 058 8899)

Great Food • Vendors & Exhibitors • Kid\’s Activities • Entertainment • Family
Yard Sale Tables • Raffle Prizes & Lots More
Entrance Rwf 500, children under 6 free
Date: Saturday, May 11th
Time: 11 am to 3 pm
Where: International School of Kigali, Kimihurura
Cost: Rwf 300

We know it’s been a while, but this Friday, May 3rd K-TEAM takes you higher!!

HOW HIGH?!?!

Let go and allow us to take you away as we transform Aberdeen House into a stunningly sexy oasis of good drinks, good music and good times!

—————————————————-

Enjoy drinks from the fully stocked Aberdeen Bar or indulge in an exotic, designer cocktail made with SKYY Vodka or deliciously fruity SKYY Infusions from the special SKYY Cocktail bar as we officially launch the brand in Rwanda.

Enjoy good music brought to you by our featured DJs, our very own, Makeda, and Kigali favourite, DJ Karim.

Free goodies will be passed out by our lovely SKYY girls throughout the night and just when you thought you couldn’t go any higher, our special raffle will be drawn for a grand prize that will elevate you to new heights!

Dresscode: Cocktail Attire – Please no sneakers or unsightly hats.

21 and over.

DIRECTIONS >>>>>>>

Aberdeen House Boutique Hotel

From K-Club continue straight for 200 metres on the road leading to Kagugu. Aberdeen House is on the right side.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/162781793887159
Twitter: @teamkigali