The seventh year of the University’s flagship international summer volunteering project has come to a close, with the 2026 cohort returning on Sunday, 23 August, after a month volunteering in Rwanda with our partner organisation, Azizi Life.

Fourteen undergraduate students from a range of disciplines, all recipients of either the Manchester Bursary or the Undergraduate Access Scholarship, brought diverse skills and experience to the project’s final year. They worked alongside Rwandan volunteers on projects focused on community research, digital media and storytelling, as well as exploring income generation ideas for the Azizi Life site in Byimana, Rwanda.

The trip was documented on the Team Rwanda blog, with each student writing a post about their experience. One student reflected: “Being part of the storytelling team was so nerve-wracking yet so rewarding. Being able to harness my creativity and see it evolve was incredible, and together with my team, I am so proud of the impact we were able to show.”

Before travelling, the Team Rwanda students were also tasked with fundraising. Together, they raised £4,907, with all proceeds going to Azizi Life’s Homes for Hope project. Through this new home-building initiative, Azizi Life will give local families the security of an affordable home of their own. The students’ fundraising will contribute to the first home build, with plans and space to construct 12 homes over the next five years.

This is a bittersweet moment as seven years of Team Rwanda comes to an end. Following two years of remote volunteering projects, 72 students in total travelled to Rwanda between 2021 and 2026 to volunteer with Azizi Life. A huge thank you goes to every student and colleague who contributed in some way, including project delivery staff, colleagues who offered advice, finance colleagues and School Hub staff who helped share the opportunity with eligible students over the years.

The Volunteering and Awards team is now developing a new international volunteering project in a different location, working with a new group of partners. Watch this space!