Build Competitive Swimming in Rwanda

With your financial support, we can bring America’s passion for competitive swimming to Rwanda, in partnership with dozens of trailblazing swimmers in Rwanda who already believe in the sport, but just need the resources to realize their full potential.

A country whose high ambitions for its own development extend to an emerging competitive swim program, and has attracted the interest of talented young swimmers from rural communities, young Rwandan swimmers too often abandon the sport before reaching their full potential, due to a lack of resources. Your financial support will help:

(1) Talented swimmers from rural areas have the support they need to keep swimming;

(2) Rwanda’s coaches get access to training and resources to improve their coaching skills and continue coaching as a profession;

(3) Longer term, we hope to begin building a center of excellence that will help improve competitive swimming across East Africa.

More specifically, your generous contributions will support the following for Team Ishyaka (“Ishyaka” means “Determination” or “Enthusiasm” in Kinyarwanda, the language of Rwanda), and the building of a national swim program in Rwanda. Team Ishyaka is a group of swimmers currently living in rural Karongi, but who will benefit from greater access to resources upon relocation to Rwanda’s capital, Kigali:

(1) Fees associated with hiring experienced swim coaches in Karongi & Kigali, as well as their own continued training, including exchange visits for U.S. and Rwandan coaches to work side-by-side;

(2) Stipends & school fees for talented swimmers in Karongi who are unable to relocate, as well as those who are able to relocate to Kigali (which is closer to competitive swimming opportunities);

(3) Regular, well-organized swim meets for athletes around Rwanda, where talent is unlimited, but access to pools and swim competitions is very limited. A national swim program and culture cannot be built with one team alone, and by building competition, we benefit Rwandan swimming as a whole.

Who are “we?”

Ann Kelly Bolten: A resident of the Washington, DC area, Ann is mom to two boys who swim competitively for the Nation’s Capital swim club (NCAP) and in the summer, for the Somerset Dolphins of the Montgomery County Swim League (MCSL). Ann oversees a foundation targeting development initiatives in Latin America, the U.S., and Africa, including Rwanda, where she frequently travels.

Elise & Liban Mugabo: Residing in Rwanda, Elise & Liban are parents of a Rwandan-American family of 4 children, one of whom- Aragsan- is an active swimmer on the Rwandan National Swim Team. Aragsan trained with RMSC & the Rockville Rays in the summer of 2024, and brought what she learned here to her teammates back home. With a strong network in Rwanda, including the Ministry of Sports and the Rwandan Swim Federation, the Mugabos are on the ground, working day-to-day on the development and growth of Team Ishyaka and the Rwandan swim program overall.

Amy Power & Brian Smith: Residing in the Washington DC area, Amy and Brian are parents of competitive swimmers who benefited from many years of excellent coaching from NCAP. The entire family also enjoyed many summers swimming and volunteering with the Somerset Dolphins in the MCSL. Amy and Brian have lived and worked in Rwanda and several other countries in Africa.

Want to contribute in other ways?

Purchase equipment directly through the team's Amazon wishlist (https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/UTNEW1X87OT3?ref_=wl_share)

Donate equipment through Waves4Change (http://www.waves4change.com)

Thank you!