Mercer On Mission
Mercer On Mission
Business • Counseling

Rwanda

TRAVEL DATES:
May 13 – June 5, 2025
GENERAL INFO:
Mercerians travel to Kigali, Rwanda, each summer to work with widows and orphans of the 1994 genocide. In partnership with nongovernmental organization Groupe des Ancient Etudiant Rescapees du Genocide, they teach business skills to Rwandan entrepreneurs and provide training in a group treatment model of trauma therapy.

Meeting a Need

Three decades after the Rwandan genocide, which resulted in the deaths of over 800,000 people, much remains to be done in the healing process. Traumatic experiences get passed on through generations, and the whole Rwandan society suffers from collective trauma. Many of the widows and now-grown children struggle financially, and most have never shared their stories or dealt with their trauma, making it difficult for them to achieve anything beyond their basic survival needs.

Mercer’s work in Kigali helps the Rwandan people establish sustainable sources of income and cope with their painful pasts, thereby improving their quality of life. The program aims to be a force multiplier that strengthens efforts toward community recovery.

What You'll Do

Business students and faculty will organize and conduct workshops that teach Rwandans skills in business, marketing, operations management, accounting and finance, and project management. Working in groups, the Mercerians will help the business owners create marketing plans to improve their profitability and efficiency.

Counseling students and faculty will train Rwandans in a narrative model of trauma assessment and intervention. During small group sessions, local participants will go through a series of modules, learn how to teach them to others, and practice leading sessions. The hope is that they will share what they learned with others in their communities, creating a growing network of people who can support the genocide survivors.

Both business and counseling students also will participate in a variety of activities to give them a better understanding of the Rwandan culture, including touring the Kigali Genocide Memorial.

It was emotional. It was intense. It was sad. It was scary. But it was also incredibly empowering, beautiful and uplifting. It was the most fulfilling experience of my life. A lot of these people have never shared their story. They really embody survival, empowerment and bravery.

Abby Jones
Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, ’23

Academic Courses

Students are required to sign up for six hours of credit. The registrar will enroll you in courses for your program, including one class from each of the program's faculty.

  • MKT 377/BUS 625: Special Topics: Marketing in Emerging Countries
  • MGT 377/BUS 625: Special Topics: Social Entrepreneurship

Or

  • COUN 611/813: Special Topics in Counseling: Cultural Immersion-Rwanda
  • COUN 611/813: Special Topics in Counseling: Trauma Narrative Treatment

Faculty

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Interested?

Students interested in participating in a Mercer on Mission program will need to complete an online application before being considered for admission.
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