Cross-cultural Learning in Rwanda

Sometimes a picture does convey a lot.  If one reads it carefully, and knows the context.

At one point in late July in Rwanda, 4 students were working in a house, wiring the house for LED lighting, powered by a battery charged by a solar panel installed on the roof.  In the foreground, a (Hong Kong) student from PolyU is fixing a LED light to the wall. Behind him his partner (black) student from South Africa is shining a light on the workspace.  In the back, near the front door, a Rwandan student from a vocational school is installing an electrical cable to the wall.  While her partner, another PolyU student (from Hong Kong) is connecting another cable. 

In the mean time, in another house, a student from Beijing Normal University is installing a light switch on the wall, neat the real entrance.  Her partner, another PolyU student, is passing her some equipment.  All under the watchful eye of their professor from PolyU. 

In yet another house, a Rwandan student is installing an outdoor light outside the rear entrance.  The owner of the house is supporting him by steadying the tree trunk that the student is standing on.  

At yet another house, PolyU students and a Rwanda youth team up to put a solar panel on the roof. 

Why do we get so many people from so many universities/institutions from so many countries involved in this one project?  Why isn’t it just PolyU students installing solar panels by themselves?  The foremost reason is that we envisage service-learning as a means to cross-cultural education.  We believe learning about different people, culture and beliefs helps us to open our minds, accept diversity, and enhance mutual understanding.  It also reduces misunderstanding, prejudice, and bigotry.  Ultimately for a kinder, better world.  

How does this happen?  Naturally, the PolyU students were the ones trained to install solar panels and wire up a house for electricity, throughout the Spring Semester at home.  When we arrive in Rwanda, PolyU students then help to train students from several partner universities of PolyU, from Mainland China, South Africa and Philippines, as well as the students from the local vocational school.  Together, they then enlist the house owners in designing the layout of the wiring for individual houses.  When the foreign teams left, the local students, suitably trained, can help with maintenance and repairs.  

Further behind and beyond, the professors and staff design the service-learning subjects, secure the funding, find the local partners, decide on the suitable communities, procure and ship the equipment and material, negotiate with partner universities and institutions, sort out the logistics, transportation, lodging, food (how do you feed hundreds of people in the field?), safety and health challenges (which and how many vaccinations?), …  These are the non-glamourous but critical operations.  

This is to acknowledge the contribution of the team that put together the program that enable the participants to have a great exotic journey, very meaningful and fulfilling experience, and fantastic photo opportunities.