Rwandan group tackles mental illness through tourism

Irene Homveld is interrupted when the station wagon she’s riding in bottoms out on the uneven road. The car slowly descends a steep hill that, here in Rwanda, is one of many. A moment passes and she resumes talking.

“They’ve seen a lot, they’ve heard a lot, they’ve been in a very stressful time,” she says, “and I’d like to see how they cope with it.”

Homveld is referring to the survivors of the 1994 genocide, a humanitarian crisis considered to be one of the 20th century’s worst. The 55-year-old Dutch speech therapist has been on a long vacation in Rwanda for the past two months and will return to life in Holland in a few days. Before she does, she wants to have one last memorable experience.  

For roughly $35, Homveld is being driven to a community outside Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, to spend the day with a group of villagers who struggle with mental illness. The small, glossy flyer advertising these “culture tours” promises “a real taste of village life,” and recommends guests wear “comfortable clothes and strong shoes.”

Unbeknownst to her, Homveld is about to spend the day fighting stigma against mental illness.

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This story was supported by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.