The Vision

 Umurage Partnerships Ltd (UPL) is a UK not-for-profit company limited by guarantee to empower the people in the village of Shyira, and Musanze, in Rwanda. We will build lodges for rent to tourists and Rwandans. These will generate income in perpetuity, to be used to start income generating ventures and encourage visitors.  Once we’ve proved this works it can be extended to other Rwandan villages.

Shyira, a Rwandan village for the twenty-first century.

SUMMARY OF DEVELOPMENT STAGES : 

  1. The Umurage Lodges.  This is the initial project to generate income; the design and build by a Community Benefit Company, (Umurage Development CBC) of several iconic, memorable lodges for rent in the prime tourist area of Rwanda where visitors come to see the gorillas. ALL profits from these rentals will be initially retained by the Umurage Development CBC and used to support and encourage new businesses in the community with rigorous monitoring to ensure funds are used responsibly.

2. Apprentice training; building a team for the Umurage Lodges and future building works.

3. Identify potential businesses and projects for development within Shyira Village and in the Musanze area. We propose to offer funding and mentoring.

4. Identify further sites for lodges in the South East of Rwanda on the Ikirezi Farms, on Lake Muhazi, in Shyira Village for visiting guests, or in Kigali; each group of lodges will be about 2 hours driving apart.

5. Shyira Village store, Shyira Cultural Centre and possible rentable guest accommodation.

6. Provide support for successful ‘Street Kid’ programmes and their offshoots, and to village children who can’t afford to attend school. ( detailed information available)

7. History of Shyira Museum. We have perhaps the only photographic record of the building of the hospital in 1935 and local life at the time and we would be prepared to help create a museum to encourage tourists to visit Shyira and generate income for the village, providing local support is forthcoming. The ideal venue for this would be the original hospital building which could also house a small boutique hotel to encourage visitors, provide employment and generate income for the village.