Rwanda hosts more than 9,000 foreign university students, many of whom will spend Christmas and the New Year in the country instead of travelling home. As the festive season approaches, several students shared how they plan to celebrate the holidays while away from their families. ALSO READ: RDB issues nighttime guidelines for bars, entertainment businesses Speaking to The New Times, the students said they will use the break to rest, travel, reflect, and spend time with friends. For Manuela Many, a Congolese student, the holiday is a chance to relax and explore Rwanda with friends from Gabon, Chad and Congo. She is organising simple activities, including a hike on Mount Kigali, a visit to Lake Kivu, and quiet evenings with games, music and shared meals. “It’s a moment of connection, a chance to slow down, appreciate friendships, and create warm memories,” she said, adding she is also eager to try local cuisine. “I want to taste brochettes, isombe, or even igisafuriya,” she noted. ALSO READ: How to spend this Christmas without breaking the bank Ibrahim Maâzou, a student from Niger studying at Africa Leadership University (ALU), said the end of the year is a time for rest and reflection. He plans to stay in Kigali during the holidays. “The end of the year means a recap of what I’ve achieved, what I’ve done so far, and my resolutions for next year,” he said. Gayna Merveille from Chad and Bikie Ella Shany, a Gabonese graduate student at ULK, say the festive season is an ideal time to travel within the country. “We plan to organise a trip to Karongi, a place that allows many foreigners to discover Rwanda differently. We’ll visit waterfalls, Chateau de Marara, and more,” said Shany. For Merveille, the season is also about rest after months of academic pressure and giving back. He plans to visit an orphanage, making his holiday both personal and meaningful. ALSO READ: Chorale de Kigali ushers in Christmas with soulful hymns Not all students experience the season the same way. For Mohamed Dahab, a Sudanese student at ALU, the holidays come with mixed emotions. “I’ve been in Rwanda for over a year and haven’t been back to Sudan. I’m used to celebrating with my family. It’s a little tough being here without them,” he said. “Luckily, I’ve met so many new friends here, and I’m able to celebrate these moments with them,” he added. From a diplomatic perspective, Michel Mbadinga, the Consul of Gabon in Rwanda, said foreign students often organise end-of-year activities within their national groups, sometimes working with others. “At the moment, we have not yet catalogued all student activities, as we are still in the process of establishing the Gabonese Embassy in Rwanda. But I can assure you that several initiatives are already underway among them,” he said. He encouraged more joint celebrations in the future. “It would be desirable for us to consult and reflect together on joint activities in the future. This would allow us to celebrate in a more united way, share our cultures, and strengthen our bonds not only during the festive season, but also beyond.” For Ma-igna Dezoumbe Lazeu, Deputy Representative of Chadian students in Rwanda, the festive season is an important tradition. “We plan to gather for three days to celebrate the end of the year,” she explained. “The joy we see on people’s faces, the feeling of having a family in a foreign country, and our traditional dishes that remind us of home all of this makes this time of year very special,” she added. Nick Kayiranga, a Congolese student at ALU, said the festive season marks both relief and transition. “It means the end of the semester and the end of the year. I’m finishing my second year and starting my third next year.” Jemima Mulongo Benza, a Congolese student urged her fellows to be cautious with spending during the festive season. “Let’s celebrate, but let’s also think about the after,” she said.
