My name is Jean D’Amour Maniragaba, and I’m writing to you from the green hills of Musanze, Rwanda, Charming village, a place of volcanoes, lakes, and hardworking farming communities.

I’m reaching out with humility, hope, and a simple request for support.

A few weeks ago, I received news that still feels unreal to me: I was selected as "an International Scholar" to attend the Global Agritourism Conference 2026 in Scotland this June.

For someone who grew up in a small rural village, this opportunity means more than just attending a conference. It is an opportunity to carry the voices and experiences of my community to an international stage.

The scholarship generously covers my participation in the conference itself but there is one challenge I cannot solve alone:

It does not cover my flight ticket or visa expenses.

That is why I have created this fundraiser.

Who I Am

I was born and raised By a single mother in Remera village, Musanze, in a farming family. My childhood was shaped by the rhythm of agriculture planting, harvesting, and learning from the resilience of rural life.

Today, I am the founder of Start-up social enterprise known as Eco Terra Vista Tours and The Agro-Tourism Park By Eco Terra Vista Tours' initiative near Lake Ruhondo in Rwanda

Through this project, we are building something we call Ubumuntu Journeys. In Kinyarwanda, Ubumuntu means humanity, kindness, and shared dignity.

Our work connects farming and tourism so visitors can experience real rural life while farmers earn new income. Together with local farmers, youth and single mothers in our community, we are creating opportunities where very few existed before. Today, more than 24 rural families benefit from training, farm experiences, and tourism activities linked to our project.

These are the people whose stories I will carry with me to Scotland.

Why This Conference Matters

This trip is not just travel for me.

It is a bridge between two worlds. When I stand in our fields with farmers who have never travelled beyond the next district…When I mentor university students who dream of transforming rural Africa…

When I sit with mothers who started small businesses after our training programs…

I realise that their stories deserve to be heard globally.

At the Global Agritourism Conference 2026, I will:

The paper is now available online at: https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/tw-2025-0035/html

Everything I learn there will come back with me to our village.

My Fundraising Goal: €2,000

To make this journey possible, I need to cover the costs not included in the scholarship.

Here is the estimated budget:

Round-trip flight (Kigali – Aberdeen, Scotland)

Estimated cost: €1,500

UK Visa application & processing fees

Estimated cost: €150

Local Transport in Scotland & documentation costs

Estimated cost: €450

Total goal: €2,000

My Dear Friend,

TBH,Except for my scholarship covering only my participation (Registration fee and Activities), the remaining expenses including but not limited to flights, visa, transportation, and accommodation will be entirely my responsibility, which I can manage as a young social entrepreneur who started everything by myself. However, all of this is grounded in a strong belief in the impact of the agritourism sector on local farmers and their rural development, which is the responsible tourism model I align everything with. TBH,Without your support, I cannot see myself on this global platform at the Global Agritourism Conference scheduled for June 2026.

That's Why (My Main Cause) I’m Asking for Help:

I have built my social enterprise step by step, starting with almost nothing...Every income we generate goes back into supporting farmers, improving our farm experiences, and creating training programs for rural youth. Indeed,,International travel costs are simply beyond what I can manage alone right now while keeping our community work running.

So today, I am asking for something simple:

Not charity but support for knowledge exchange.

Support for the idea that a young rural entrepreneur from Rwanda can sit at the same table with global experts and contribute something meaningful.

The Ripple Effect of Your Support

If you help make this journey possible, the impact will not stop with me.

Your support will help bring back knowledge that will:

One opportunity can ripple through an entire community.

How You Can Help

Every contribution brings this goal closer.,,For example:

• 40 people donating €50 would already reach the goal

• 20 supporters giving €100 would make the journey possible

• Even €10 or €20 moves us closer step by step

And if you cannot donate, sharing this page is also a powerful way to help.

From the rural hills of Remera,Musanze to the gathering spaces of Scotland, this journey is about connecting rural voices with global conversations.

Thank you for believing that knowledge should travel both ways and that rural communities have wisdom worth sharing with the world.

As we say in Rwanda:

Ubumuntu ; We become human through other humans (Humanity).

If you believe in this journey, please consider supporting it today.

With gratitude,

Jean D’Amour Maniragaba