Not just what we do — what has changed because we did it. Photographs, stories, and voices from Rwanda and Canada.
What begins as a connection can change the course of a life.
For approximately twenty years, Building Bridges with Rwanda has brought Rwandans and Canadians together through education, mentorship, cultural exchange and community development.
Our impact cannot be measured only by projects completed or buildings constructed. It is seen in the lives people have built, the opportunities that grew from relationships, and the friendships that have endured across continents and generations.
What began as an effort to support Rwanda's rebuilding became something larger: a community of people learning from one another and building bridges between Rwanda and Canada.
People. Young Rwandans who found mentors, education and networks through BBR have become professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders — many now mentors themselves.
Place. In Gashora, BBR worked alongside local partners on education, agriculture and livelihoods. The COVAGA Innovation Centre remains the most visible expression of that partnership.
Relationships. Visitors shared meals, learned from local families, and experienced Rwanda beyond the tourist itinerary. Friendships have lasted more than a decade — and knowledge travelled in both directions.
New stories land here as they happen — this page grows month by month.
BBR, IBADRE, and RR25 welcomed scholars, students, community leaders, and the public for an evening of dialogue: what can the world learn from Rwanda's journey of reconciliation and nation-building?
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A vital Black History Month conversation with members of the African community on housing precarity in New Westminster — turning challenges into solutions.
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With CAMH at the University of Toronto, BBR is empowering African youth (18–26) to document their experiences and advocate for change at the intersection of race, climate, and homelessness.
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A powerful presentation by Lama Mugabo on Rwanda's recovery — how homegrown solutions and traditional knowledge rebuilt a society and turned tragedy into triumph.
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A unique, collaborative, and transnational reflection tour — informing, engaging, and inspiring participants on the transformation of Rwanda that Africa is witnessing today.
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Kwibuka means "to remember" in Kinyarwanda. On the 30th anniversary of the genocide against the Tutsi, an international group of scholars examined the construction of memory and legacy.
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The people who lived it say it best.
Rather than asking the world to teach Africa, the symposium invited participants to consider what Africa, and Rwanda in particular, can teach the world about reconciliation, resilience, and rebuilding.
— From the RR25 Symposium, May 2026
The documentary Reflection Tour to Rwanda, produced by Dr. June Francis and Lama Mugabo.
Coming soon.
