April 2025.
Kigali is orderly in a way that makes you feel slightly accused. The roads are paved and straight, the city is folded into hills so green they look rinsed, and right in the centre, there is a car-free zone, the kind of space that cities in other countries promise and never deliver.
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.@operationsmile and Rwanda made it!
Watching « The Making of a Surgeon « in Uppsala was deeply moving. This film is powerful story about people, partnership, hope, and the long journey of rebuilding a health system through investing in human beings.
A special appreciation to Dylan Williams for capturing it with such humanity and care and grateful to Operation Smile for their support. The film follows the inspiring work of Dr. Ntirenganya Faustin, representing so many others : surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, residents, and supporting teams who spend endless hours in theatres and hospitals every day saving lives, restoring dignity, and giving hope to families.
It is also the story of patriotic Rwandan doctors and health professionals who trained abroad and chose to come back home to serve their country destroyed by the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi and help rebuild our healthcare system. That spirit of service and commitment is what makes lasting change possible.
What makes this journey even more meaningful is that it could not have happened without the Government of Rwanda’s consistent and full commitment to put people at the center of every sector’s rebuilding. Expanding geographic and financial access to care, while investing in a skilled and dedicated workforce, created the foundation upon which partnerships like Operation Smile could truly succeed.
Even the strongest global partner cannot succeed without strong local systems and committed local professionals. Together, Operation Smile and Rwanda made it work.
The ambition to train 30 reconstructive surgery specialists by 2030 reflects not only a medical goal, but a vision for the future. One that aligns strongly with the Rwanda Ministry of Health’s 4x4 strategy to strengthen specialized healthcare and invest in the next generation of health professionals.
Deep appreciation to everyone bringing this story to the world , good partners, and to all the healthcare workers quietly serving every day with skill, compassion, and resilience. Behind every transformed life is a team that chose to care.
This week in Gisenyi, our Surgical Rotational Training Program went beyond the OR — kids of our volunteers and staff witnessed the incredible work their parents do. A glimpse into the future of surgical care and changemaking. ✨
#OSR#InspiringTheFuture#HealthForAll
At just 17, #Shami, a student at Kagarama Secondary School, founded the Girls Spark Fund to help girls in her Rwandan community return to school.
Moved by a 12-year-old who dropped out due to financial hardship, she used her own savings to pay the girl’s school fees and buy supplies.
Her initiative now unites girls to promote financial empowerment and community impact. “We may not choose how we’re born,” she says, “but we can shape our future.”
#HelloRwanda