Storytelling Expedition Rwanda

STORYTELLING EXPEDITION

RWANDA

$2400 USD

September 1st - September 10th 2023

DESTINATION

Join the Storytelling Expedition to Rwanda explore the country as a citizen storyteller. In partnership with Red Rocks Rwanda, we will learn about their efforts in community-based conservation, and produce documentary stories that help further their work.

Red Rocks Rwanda is a social enterprise that connects community development with environmental conservation. By bringing under-served communities into the tourism supply chain, they catalyze sustainable community development projects that help people help themselves. Their many projects help local communities get access to education, health care and sustainable income that honours their traditional way of life while providing a sustained, reliable source of funding for the local organization through the tourism.

On this Storytelling Expedition, we are invited into the local communities that surround Volcanoes National Park, a top attraction in Rwanda. We will learn about a uniquely Rwandan approach to environmental conservation, cultural conservation, community engagement and economic development, all while documenting the stories of the local experts, leaders and changemakers.

EXPERIENCE

The Storytelling Expedition is a culturally immersive documentary tour and ethical storytelling workshop. We travel to learn from Rwandan experts, leaders and changemakers and practice our documentary storytelling in solidarity with their work.

The aim of this Storytelling Expedition is to document the stories behind the community-based conservation efforts in Rwanda championed by Red Rocks Rwanda. We will learn about the struggles and successes of individual community members as they have come to embrace community-based conservation and the impact it has on their lives and culture.

Our group of travelers will become a crew of citizen storytellers and work together to create a library of digital media assets that Red Rocks Rwanda can utilize to help further their mission. The videos and photos we create will be used to effectively share their story with global partners, government entities and potential visitors.

Each day of the storytelling project will provide opportunities for conducting interviews, arranging photo sessions and documenting what you encounter in Rwanda. The ‘deliverables’ that our crew produces may include micro-documentaries, social media video clips, photo essays, event photos, photo portraits, video interviews, photo galleries and anything else we determine could be valuable to our partners.

An Actuality producer will be on location providing mentorship, training and support as needed. You can contribute with your existing media-making talents or use the opportunity to expand your skills. Every traveler will receive in-depth training in ethical, collaborative story sharing as we navigate the complexities of producing on-location. Together we will learn how to become more conscious and responsible storytellers, travelers and humans.

TELL ME MORE

The best way to learn about our Storytelling Expedition to Rwanda is by signing up for the email series. You can expect more information on why we travel, how it works, and what to expect on location.

PRODUCTION SCHEDULE

Day 1 - Arrival

Friday, September 1st

Arrival to Kigali, Rwanda. You are met at International Airport and transported to our first guesthouse to meet up with the rest of your crew. Spent the remaining day resting, settling in or exploring the nearby neighborhoods. Our crew of storytellers gathers for the first time at a welcome dinner, hosted by your Actuality producer.

Arrival
Transport to guesthouse
Welcome Dinner

Day 2 - ORIENTATION

Saturday, September 2

After traditional breakfast served at the guesthouse, our crew departs via private shuttle to the town of Musanze, 95 kms north and near Volcanoes National Park. This is our basecamp for the rest of the expedition. After we arrive and refresh at the guesthouse, we receive and orientation and tour of Red Rocks Rwanda, meeting the leadership and learning about their mission. In the afternoon, we have a briefing on ethical, collaborative storytelling exploring what it means to share someone else’s story.

Breakfast
Transport to Musanze
Orientation + Tour
Ethical Storytelling Briefing

Day 3 - ENVIRONMENT

Sunday, September 3

Our crew visits the environmental projects of Red Rocks Rwanda including the community agriculture, tree nursery, and medicinal gardens. We identify compelling stories within these projects and document them with photography, video scenes, and interviews. In the evening, we review the footage from the day and discuss our experience.

Breakfast
Environmental Projects Tour
Storytelling Project Planning Meetings
Documenting Visuals
Interview Sessions
Footage Review + Feedback

DAY 4 - CULTURE

Monday, September 4

Our crew visits the cultural preservation projects of Red Rocks Rwanda including culturally rooted activities that are available for visitors. We identify compelling stories within these projects and document them with photography, video scenes, and interviews. In the evening, we review the footage from the day and discuss our experience.

Breakfast
Cultural Projects Tour
Storytelling Project Planning Meetings
Documenting Visuals
Interview Sessions

DAY 5 - EMPOWERMENT

Tuesday, September 5

Our crew interviews community members to hear their stories of success. We explore how sustainable, community-based tourism has changed their lives for the better. We also create empowering photography portraits of individuals and families, to gift back to our hosts. In the evening, we review the footage from the day and discuss our experience.

Breakfast
Interview Planning
Interview Sessions
Photography Portraits

DAY 6 - ARTS

Wednesday, September 6

Our crew visits the Kinigi art gallery to view works and meet young artists. We document the stories of youth from the communities surrounded Volcanoes National Park created an arts for conservation project. In the evening, we review the footage from the day and discuss our experience.

Breakfast
Kinigi Art Gallery Tour
Interview Sessions
Documenting Visuals
Storytelling Project Planning
Footage Review + Feedback

DAY 7 - EXCURSION

Thursday, September 7

A day off of storytelling. We venture into Volcanoes National Park for a hike to glimpse the golden monkeys.

Breakfast
Golden Monkeys Hike at Volcanoes National Park

Day 8 - Editing

Friday, September 8

Our crew spends the day processing, planning, and beginning to edit the media we documented. The Actuality Producer is available anytime for brainstorming, feedback and support in a comfortable co-working space.

Breakfast
Editing Workshop

Day 9 - Editing + Screening

Saturday, September 9

We ‘deliver’ any photography or short form video that is easily completed and share it with the community we collaborated with on a big screen. We plan a post production strategy for the rest of the stories still unfinished. We celebrate with a farewell dinner before saying goodbye and heading to the city of Kigali to prepare for departure.

Breakfast
Delivery
Post Production Planning
Screening
Farewell Dinner
Transport to Kigali

Day 10 - Departure

Wednesday, September 14

Time to part ways. You will be transported from the guesthouse in to the International Airport in time for your flight home.

Breakfast
Transport to Airport
Departure

COST

$ 2400 USD 10 days / 9 nights

9 nights semi-private lodging in traditional guesthouses
9 breakfasts + 1 lunch + 1 dinner
local expert guides + translators
storytelling expedition leader + producer
5 days of community project tours
5 days of documentary storytelling workshops
2 days of editing workshops
golden monkey trek in volcanoes national park
community screening
all crew transportation
airport transfers on arrival and departure

WE ARE A BAND OF CITIZEN STORYTELLERS
OUT TO REVEAL THE GOOD IN OUR WORLD

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join a Storytelling Expedition?

The Storytelling Expedition is designed for established media-makers who seek a purposeful travel experience. If you have an interest and experience in photography, videography, blogging, podcasting, or any other kind of digital storytelling, you’d be a great fit. Professional storytellers are welcome, but you do not have to be a professional to be able to contribute.

Do I need to speak the local language(s)?

No. Our expert guide will also provide translation into English whenever needed.

What equipment do we need to bring?

Each storyteller should bring a digital camera they are comfortable using, for photography, videography or both. Any kind of digital camera can be suitable, even most smart phone cameras. The most important thing is that you already know how it use it. If you have additional gear you would like to bring and use, you are welcome to.

Actuality Abroad will provide a variety of accessories, including sound recording equipment, to elevate the quality of your own equipment.

You can also bring a laptop computer if you want to be involved in editing content on location, but Actuality Abroad will have laptops for downloading, duplicating and processing on site.

We highly recommend purchasing personal property travel insurance to cover loss or damage.

Who owns the rights to the media we produce?

All the content produced on the Expedition that features the people or work of Red Rocks Rwanda will be licensed under Creative Commons (with attribution) so that every stakeholder can benefit from sharing it. Additionally, this content will need to be approved by all stakeholders (especially the individuals depicted in imagery) prior to any kind of distribution, including sharing on social media. We are diligent about practicing free and informed consent.

Actuality Abroad retains the official copyright in order to ensure that the above standards are implemented and and maintained. Additionally, our program participants often come from around the world but with Actuality Abroad holding the rights, we can assure that our media makers are protected by the Fair Use doctrine of the United States.

For every approved piece of content, each storyteller is encouraged to share/submit freely. Using the content for any value-aligned commercial or money-making purpose could be considered, but will have to be discussed and approved by all stakeholders in advance.

If you create any media outside of the Storytelling Expedition’s scope of work, you retain all rights to that content.

Do I need travel insurance?

Yes. Each traveler is required to purchase a travel insurance policy for the duration of the Expedition that includes medical coverage. We highly recommend that you also purchase trip cancellation and personal property protection as well. We recommend World Nomads, Safety Wing or Genki.

What health and safety protocol is required in Rwanda?

Each traveler will need to meet Rwanda’s health related testing and/or vaccination requirements for entry into the country at the time of the trip. As of now, there are no testing or vaccination requirements, unless you are traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever. Most of our travelers will not require a yellow fever vaccine.

Speak with your doctor or travel clinic about recommended vaccinations when traveling to Rwanda.

Can I use my company 'community service time off'?

Yes. If your company offers paid time off for community service or educational training, your experience on a storytelling expedition can fulfill the requirements for those hours.

TELL ME MORE

The best way to learn about our Storytelling Expedition to Rwanda, is by signing up for the email series. You can expect more information on why we travel, how it works, and what to expect on location.