hdjhdjjdd absdjd dbdnd njnjj

1. Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO 1
10-May-24
Reasons for considering
Butaro as best tourism
village by UNWTO
BURERA YOUTH COMMUNITY
UNWTO-BUTARO VILLAGE APPLICATION
Burera District,
Butaro Sector,
Rusumo Cell,
Butaro Village
BYC Address:

2. Burera Youth Community (BYC) is youth organization founded in 2018.
It intends to develop cultural based tourism and environment conservation in
Burera destination.
It is headquartered in Butaro Sector, Burera District, Northern Province of
Rwanda.
Our vision
Support sustainable community development to conserve natural resources,
protect our culture and heritage and maximize the socio-economic benefits
of tourism, leading to an increase in visitation and recognition from UNESCO
2
10-May-24
Introduction
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
Butaro village is the exceptional area with unique history, basically related to the
belief of former Ndorwa Kingdom, with particularity of Queen Nyabingi.
This area host traditional evidence for number of believes, either local, domestic
and international community that believe in Nyabingi ritual.

3. Around 3000 people benefit from tourism through our main village and five
satellite destinations due to our tourism extended services.
About 50 retailer sellers at Rusumo Cell, 20 sellers around BYC headquarters
benefit from domestics and foreigner visitors
3
10-May-24
Economic aspects
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
Awards:
Labor ministry (1000000 RwF), Ministry of youth (1500000 RwF) and project with
Partners in Health (1270000 RwF).
As for donations:
MasterCard foundation through (1)Horwath we have been granted 2800000 RwF for
signpost and docks buildings , (2)ESP incubation, we obtained a grant of 1500000
RwF for accelerating our activities. (3)Inkomoko Foundation under MasterCard, we
got a grant of 2000000 RwF to improve museum and heritage Center.
International Culture Exchange, so far, we received grant of $900 from KUKATONON
Oregon in our collaborative project of Youth Summer program.

4. In capacity building by vocational trainings, through under ficus shadow
program (UFSP) we have:
Class of tailors : 15 students have been graduated last month
Class of designers of baskets in partnership with partners in health (PIH): 12
students have been graduated already.
4
10-May-24
Social aspects
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
The community obtain job in different activities of BYC:
 30 members of Traditional troop (dancers and singers).
5 environmentalists for improving environment department
7 IT center workers at Rugarama
Around 20 workers by wages in one way or an other along
the monitoring process of the heritage center

5. So far we pioneered four teams/clubs
Vegetables Fruit & Flower Farmers Initiative: 10 members; 7 women & 3
women
Rugezi birdwatching club; 17 participant: 9 males and 8 females
Rugezi football team: 23 players.
Twin lakes cycling tour: Av. Of 31 cyclists
5
10-May-24
Social aspects
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
So far we managed to build 5 proper toilets and 20 kitchen garden
To fight against malnutrition, we planted fruits and vegetables on area of three
hectare in buffer zone of Rugezi swamp to help 50 people those who cannot afford
to pay the food, 5 schools and military camp.

6. We have regular championship that we undoubtedly consider as the essential social
aspect in the village.
In yearly basis, we organize:
Rugezi conservation cup (8 sector teams)
Twin lakes cycling tour (14 teams attend)
6
10-May-24
Social aspects
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
Attend international cultural exchange (I.C.E) project
conducting 4 collaborative project/programs
(i)Kwanza Ketu Fest (ii) Spring young and young adult
program and (iii) Summer Youth Program (now it’s ongoing)
This boosted application of using technology to
communicate especially during COVID-19
This boost the talents of young in the
village and surrounding environment
BYC in virtual meeting with Kukatonon Oregon
in I.C.E breaker project

7. The village is located in vicinity of Rugezi marshland, one of 7 Important Bird
Area (IBA) in Rwanda.
Through its conservation initiative, Burera Youth Community conserve:
Historical plant species such as Ficus Tuningii and Erythrina Abbysinica
Endangered bird species (Bradypterus graueri) and Balearica regulorum
Threatened bird species: Papyrus yellow warbler (Calamonastrides
gracillirostris)
Vegetation dominated by Papyrus sheltering fauna diversity include 194 bird
species
7
10-May-24
Environmental aspects
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
Of those approaches include:
Daily monitoring of Rugezi marshland: Team of 5 conservationists manage this study
Design 3 ha botanical garden primarily include historical trees, fruits and vegetables
and ornamental species in buffer zone of marshland.
Government restoration of 90%+ of the wetland and our restoration of ~10% of the
northern part of the marshland due to b.g, awareness and monitoring.

8. Environmental conservation awareness raising in
Rugezi:
 2 Championship, where the 8 football sector
teams adjacent to Rugezi meet and play football
for the purpose of awareness raising regarding
conservation of endangered species.
Twin lakes cycling tour, attended by 30 cyclists
across Burera destination.
8
10-May-24
Environmental aspects
We also conserve twin lakes and their surrounding valleys
and lakeshores through public talks ( monthly talks after
community activity).
 Two seed nurseries for restoring some of historical and
fruit species.
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO

9. 9
10-May-24
Referential facts
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
After community activities at The Roots of Nyabingi Heritage Center
(Left) and group photo of the team after the visit at the village (right)
Traditional shooting (Left) and Rugezi marshland monitoring (right) Sharing activities for both males and females/Experience

10. 10
10-May-24
Conclusion
Burera Youth Community (B.Y.C) UNWTO
Given the world-class nature of our tourism attractions and the depth and breadth of
sustainable community tourism development initiatives that support positive socio-
economic and environmental outcomes, Butaro village deserves to be considered for
being a “Best Tourism Village” by UNWTO.
The global recognition will enable us, our partners and residents in the community and
region to increase the benefits of tourism through the improvement of our attractions
and product and services offerings, leading to the further sustainable development of
the village and the rural region in which we reside.
We have a solid foundation and operational systems from which to grow our impact and
foster progress efficiently and effectively.
This will lead to our realizing our vision of becoming recognized by UNESCO for culture
and natural heritage preservation for future generations.
Thank you very much for your attention and consideration!