World Environment Day and Kwita Izina ceremony program

Day 0: 23th/05/2010

Press Conference to announce the WED and Kwita Izina activities.

Day I - 29th/05/2010

Community Work (Umuganda) an official launching of World Environmental Day and Kwita Izina week activities highlighting the role of conservation of mountain gorillas.

Day II: 29/05 2010: Partnership with FERWAFA and Ministry of Sports and Culture in the promotion of WED-Kwita Izina event

Link WED and Kwita Izina with the CECAFA Soccer Cup tournament in Rwanda which will start on 15th -30th May 2010 as it will attract local, regional and international participants.

Day III: 30/05 to 31/05/ 2010: WED and Kwita Izina National Cycling Tour

To sensitize our communities and Rwanda citizens in whole on Environmental Conservation through Kwita Izina Cycling Tour. This event will be organized in partnership with Rwanda Cycling Federation and the cycling tour will be combined with exhibition of environment friendly products and a public campaign for environment management.

Day IV: 2nd /06 to 3rd /06/2010: TUNZA International Children’s Environment Conference

TUNZA is a word in Kiswahili (the common language of most East African countries) that means to "treat with care". The programme is based on a strategy that aims to provide young people with information and tools on how to "treat Mother Earth with care" and how to Act for a better world. Children from all over the world will be debating on how to participate in environment activities and influence the partners in environment to make better environmental changes.

Day V- 3rd June 2010: Environment and Conservation Conference and this will focus on “Celebrating the international year of Biodiversity” Plus Energy Globe Awards

a) This conference will be hosted by REMA and the RDB in collaboration with Partners. The Environment and Conservation Conference will bring together environmentalists and conservationists to share experiences and future plans in the conservation of the biodiversity, ecosystem management and green economy and protection of the mountain gorillas as well as other threatened species and their ecosystems. The conference will demonstrate Rwanda’s willingness and ability to play a regional role in environmental management and gorilla conservation.

b) On 3 June 2010 the Energy Globe Award and its international Energy Globe TV Gala will open this year’s UN World Environment Day in Rwanda under the auspices of UNEP and the Government of Rwanda.

Day VI, 4th June 2010: Umuganda for tree planting, Community Projects launching, general public and Community party “Igitaramo”

On 4th June will be an opportunity for Rwanda to carry out the community work (Umuganda) with international dignitaries while planting trees in Kigali at Nyandungu wetland. The emphasis will be on wetland ecosystem management for sustainable development

On the same date Rwanda Development Board will launch new community projects realized surrounding Volcanoes National Park as part of the Kwita Izina week activities. Since 2003 different community projects have been implemented through gorilla revenue sharing and support of Partners with the aim of alleviating poverty.

The traditional party called “Igitaramo” whereby different cultural dances are performed is a very exciting event organized by the Rwandan Community. This cultural extravaganza which involves different traditional dances such as superb “Intore dance “and “Ikinimba” will take place in celebration of the new born baby gorillas.

DAY VII, 5th June 2010: 6th Annual Naming Ceremony

5th June marks the first time Rwanda hosts the World Environmental Day at the global level and this will be celebrated in conjunction with the annual Kwita Izina Ceremony.

On this day, we shall be celebrating the successes of gorilla conservation by giving names to the new baby gorillas. The focus will be on “Raising global awareness of biodiversity conservation as we give names to our baby gorillas” with honored guests from International and regional Community Rwanda’s leadership, private sector local community, Gorilla Range States, and renowned conservationists and supporters of Kwita Izina.