Living in the capital and elsewhere
Pleasant climatic conditions, an attractive natural area as well as a low crime rate, a clean environment, order and an infrastructure that works well in regional comparison are some of the special features that ensure an adequate quality of life in Rwanda. Living and working in Rwanda also offer the opportunity to be part of a society that is changing extraordinarily quickly against the background of the country’s special history.
According to neovideogames, Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is built on several hills. The city center is located on the “plateau” of the main hill “Nyarugenge”. The most important facilities for the service sector are located there. On the slope of the same hill is ” Kiyovu “, the residential area of the city preferred by foreign citizens. There, in the quiet green villa district, often shielded from the outside world by high walls and security guards, members of foreign missions, development workers and part of the higher-income Rwandan upper class live and work. The rental prices charged for this are above average and in most cases are regulated by the respective employment contracts.
Sometimes such rents are not justified, because Kiyovu is also the oldest residential area in Kigali and some buildings are in a correspondingly poor condition.
Kiyovu is currently experiencing massive modernization momentum as a result of a government decree. Owners are asked to adapt their old houses to the newly created “master plan” of the capital. This usually means the demolition of existing old bungalows in favor of cost-intensive multi-storey new buildings.
The ongoing reconstruction phase has resulted in a construction boom. Accordingly, a rapidly changing city of Kigali can be observed. The city has doubled in area in the last ten years. New residential areas, modern housing estates, high office complexes and shopping centers have emerged. The city administration has also had some successes on the public infrastructural level. Most of the main road connections within the capital were paved or repaired. Through a stricter police operation, the city administration has implemented a remarkable order in the area of safety, traffic and hygiene for regional conditions (for example, moped taxi drivers consistently wear the prescribed helmet and a safety vest.
The offer on the housing market is becoming more and more diverse. A limiting factor, however, is the energy and water supply. The amount of electricity and water available is already far inferior to demand. Electricity and water are switched off every now and then at irregular intervals. Although the shortage applies nationwide, certain places of residence and districts are high on the priority list when it comes to supply, while others are not. Solutions consist of in-house emergency power generators and water storage tanks.
The vast majority of the urban population live in poor conditions in the outskirts of the city. There is no running water in the self-built huts and a hole has to be dug in the ground as a toilet. However, there is a minority of very wealthy sections of the population in all residential areas. The emergence of a middle class can be observed, but the difference between rich and poor remains very large.
In the country people live in scattered settlements in simple circumstances. There is usually a lack of water pipes and electricity. Electric light is only available in the commercial centers on major roads, at mission stations and at the administrative offices of the districts.
With children in Rwanda
Rwandan society is particularly rich in children and also very fond of children. Small children in particular are often smiled at and spoken to by strangers. This provides easy informal contact options for parents.
Particularly in the upper classes of society there is a tendency to be observed that children are given little time by their own parents. Rather, their care is entrusted to the domestic staff. As a result, children are often at home, especially in urban areas. They are either driven to educational institutions or transported by school buses. They are rarely found on the streets. At private get-togethers (invitations, family visits and celebrations, etc.), however, parents are happy to take children with them.
For members of the “expat community” there is a manageable selection of privately organized day nurseries and kindergartens that are affiliated with international schools. The international schools in Rwanda include the Green Hills Academy, the Ecole Belge de Kigali (Ebk), the International School of Kigali (ISKR) and the Kigali International Montessori School.
Shopping
In the capital’s expensive supermarkets and shops, including a German butcher or baker, almost everything you need for daily life is available. Imported goods are more expensive than average due to the long transport routes and the high import tax depending on the category. Wines, for example, belong to the category of luxury goods and are therefore not affordable for the average consumer. Outside the cities, the supply of imported goods is more difficult. There is a wide range of fresh food on the local markets.
