Upcoming Mission Trip

Impact Hope Mission Interest Form
Impact Hope Mission Interest Form

AFRICA Mission Trip to Rwanda
August 10-24th, 2025

Travel With Impact Hope To Empower and Encourage Refugee Students In Rwanda at Our Summer Trade Program!
 

We Need YOU!

Support and teach useful life skills to Congolese Refugee students by traveling overseas to Rwanda. Our students are very eager to meet you and learn skills that will help them build a better life for themselves and their family.

Mission trip dates are August 10-24th, 2025 for the vocational trade program held at Rwankeri Academy in Northern Rwanda.  
GAME PARK SAFARI INCLUDED!

Seeking Volunteers:

This upcoming trip will occur during the refugee students’ summer break. This allows our students more time at a safe boarding school, instead of sending them back the entire summer break to the camp’s living conditions, giving them more opportunity for success.

To do this, we provide instruction in technical and life skills. We are looking for individuals or groups who can assist our teachers in the following areas:

  • Maintenance and Repair
  • Sewing
  • Gardening
  • Carpentry, Plumbing and Electrical
  • Health and Hygiene
  • Bookkeeping, Personal finance, Budgeting
  • Art/Music
  • Advanced Computer Skills
  • Conversational English
You will enjoy times of singing, worship, playing games, soccer, and much more with these young adults. We provide the opportunity for team members to share life experiences with our students as they love to hear from you!
 NOTE: Terrain consists of hills; all attendees MUST be able to walk uphill and navigate uneven surfaces without assistance.

Typical Schedule:

(This schedule is tentative and subject to change) 

Sunday, Aug 10:

  • Fly through Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands, then on to Kigali (KGL), Rwanda, arriving by evening on Monday Aug 11th. Stay at the Adventist University Guesthouse. (You lose a day flying to Africa and gain it back upon return to the States)

Tuesday, Aug 12:

  • Breakfast, Visit Impact Hope office & Kigali Tailoring Center and travel to Rwankeri Adventist Academy for the Summer Trade program.

Wednesday-Friday, Aug 13-15:

  • Work/teach in assigned areas (English training, Gardening/Agriculture, Sewing/Tailoring, Culinary, Hairdressing, Plumbing/Electricity/Maintenance, Bookkeeping – Personal finance & budgeting, Advanced Computer Skills, Art/Music).

Sabbath, Aug 16:

  • Spend Sabbath with students at Rwankeri; Optional hike/walk.

Sunday, Aug 17:

  • Visit Impact Hope’s year-round Vocational Trade School called the Center for Hope, Tailoring Business and Bakery

Monday-Wednesday, Aug 18-20:

  • Work/teach in assigned areas. 

Thursday, Aug 21:

  • Leave Rwankeri and travel to the east to stay overnight near Akagera Game Park. Stay at a Safari Lodge one night.

Friday, Aug 22:

  • Akagera Game Park Safari drive. Return to Kigali for the night.

Saturday, Aug 23:

  • Church service at AUCA, Optional visit to Genocide Memorial or rest. Depart for the airport in the evening.
  • Fly through Amsterdam (AMS), then home by Aug 24.

Costs:

2 Week Mission Trip Fee: $1600.00 USD, includes the following:
  • Three meals per day and bottled water
  • Lodging: Housing is basic but clean
  • All ground transportation within Rwanda (airfare not included)
  • Entrance fees for any tourist sites visited as a group
  • Supplies and other expenses directly related to the mission trip

Personal Expenses:

Each participant is responsible for purchasing their own airfare, travel insurance, and tourist visa. This is separate from the mission trip fee.
  • You may book your own airline tickets (after Impact Hope has approved your application). If you would like a travel agent to book your flights, we recommend Butler Travel. Their team can assist in coordinating flights so the majority can travel together on the same airline. You may contact Butler Travel by phone or email.
  • Travel insurance prices are dependent on age, type of coverage, and length of trip. Please ask Butler Travel about different options available. Travel insurance, which includes Medical Evacuations, is a required expense. 
  • Tourist Visa is $50 and is granted upon the time of arrival (called Visa-on-Arrival) at the Kigali Airport. 
  • $300 in emergency expenses is recommended.
  • You may wish to bring extra funds for discretionary spending.

Trip Preparation:

  • Arrange for airline travel, visa and insurance as described in the section above
  • Visit the CDC website and get recommended vaccine information for Rwanda.
  • Make sure your passport is current -it must have an expiration date no earlier than 7 months after your arrival date in Rwanda.
  • Email a digital scan (.jpg file) of your passport to Liz at liz@impact-hope.org 
  • Pay your $1600 mission trip fee by July 15th to secure a place on this mission trip. You may pay by check, credit card online, or by calling the Impact Hope office at 503-673-3905. If giving online, under “Donate,” enter $1600 and note “Mission Trip Fund.” If mailing a check, send the mission trip fee to the Impact Hope office:
    Impact Hope
    P.O. Box 28
    Gladstone, OR 97027

What to Bring: 

  • A flexible attitude—Be flexible! Be flexible! Be flexible! Be prepared to adjust as needed, including in the areas of working, living, traveling, dietary issues, and interacting with the host organization. Bring a positive outlook and an encouraging spirit! Remember you will be visiting a developing country that is not at all like your country. 
  • A desire for adventure—that is, a willingness to try and experience new things.
  • A humble desire to serve rather than be served.
  • Enough clothes for one week (refer to dress code below). Clothes can be washed at Rwankeri Adventist Academy at the guest housing.
  • Slip-on type sandals/flip flops and sneakers or other closed-toed shoes
  • Bible and a notebook
  • Personal hygiene items, including one roll of toilet paper (just in case)
  • Bath towel – travel towels are light and dry fast
  • Mosquito repellent
  • Malaria medication
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Airborne® or similar immune-system-boosting supplement
  • Charcoal tablets/capsules for upset stomach
  • Ciprofloxacin in case of “traveler’s diarrhea” 
  • “European style” outlet adapters for your cameras and phones.

NOTE:  If you have severe dietary restrictions, this may not be the trip for you. Please limit your personal belongings to one personal item i.e. purse/backpack and one carry-on and ONE 50-pound bag. In a second 50-pound bag, each participant should expect to help take supplies over, such as materials or tools.

Optional items:

  • Travel pouch or money belt that can be hidden to hold your passport and money
  • Flashlight
  • Camera
  • Rechargeable Batteries
  • Battery Charger
  • Hat
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Water bottle with filter
  • Small-sized backpack or fanny pack
  • Granola bars or similar non-perishable snacks

*Electrical service in Rwanda is 220-240 Volts. Ensure any electrical appliance you bring is rated similarly or is dual-voltage (i.e., 120/240 V, 50/60 Hz) and that you bring the “European Style” power adapters and converters necessary for your electronics. (Note: Many cell phones or camera battery chargers are dual voltage and do not need converters).

Dress Code:

Men and women should wear pants and short/long-sleeve plain shirts. Sleeveless shirts or shorts are not recommended, except for the day at the Akagera Safari Game Park. Dresses should be AT LEAST knee length. Please dress in a conservative and professional manner. Because of the climate, lightweight, breathable clothing is recommended.

Guesthouse at Rwankeri

The 2 homes are basic and clean. Due to the location, electricity, hot water, as well as water pressure and internet is limited and is occasionally not available – It’s a mission trip 🙂 

To join our interest list, click the button below!

How to Learn More & Apply!

Impact Hope Mission Interest Form
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