After a long journey to Kigali, we finally got picked up at the airport by driver of our cooperation partner KIST (Kigali Institute of Science and Technology). He brought us to the very comfortable guest-house, where we will be accommodated during the time of this project.

On Thursday afternoon we were warmly welcomed by Mr. Kumaran from KIST, who showed us around and gave us primary information about Kigali and KIST.

On Friday we were invited to a presentation on innovative house construction, which is a collaboration of KIST and German institutions. Apart of the participating scientists, we had the chance to meet representatives of the German embassy and the GIZ.

At noon, we visited the “Jumelage”, a partner organisation of Rheinland-Palatinate and Rwanda, who will support our work in the next weeks. The staff of the “Jumelage” are all very qualified and helpful.

To get to know each other we had dinner with the students working with us during the construction at the bridge. Where we also could discuss among other things, the planing of the project.

The first days are passing very fast and we are very pleased about the help and friendliness of all the people we meet.