2025 Rwanda FellowSHIP

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How does the Shooting Touch Rwanda (STR) Fellowship selection process work?

  • Prospective STR Fellows must submit an application no later than Friday, June 30, 2024 at midnight EST. Applications may be submitted any time prior to that deadline, and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Once Fellowship positions are filled, applications will no longer be accepted for those positions, so we highly encourage all applicants to apply early.

  • Top candidates may be invited to participate in a series of interviews with Shooting Touch staff, as well as a short “mini-project” assignment designed to simulate a task that is relevant to the Fellowship position you are applying for.

Are Fellowship candidates expected to have played or coached basketball?

  • No, you don’t need to be an athlete or coach to be a Shooting Touch Rwanda Fellow! While a strong understanding of the game is helpful, it is not required. If you are qualified for one of the Fellowship positions and interested in engaging with STR communities through the game of basketball, we encourage you to apply!

How much are Fellows required to fundraise?

  • Each Fellow is required to fundraise a minimum of $4,000, with at least 75% of that amount raised prior to the start of their Fellowship. These funds help Shooting Touch Rwanda provide high-quality programs focusing on sport-for-development, public health, and gender equity. The Shooting Touch team will provide Fellows with fundraising support including tips, tricks, and sample fundraising documents.

Can I apply for more than one Fellowship position?

  • Applicants are asked to apply for the position they feel most qualified for, however, if you are interested in multiple positions, please note so in the “Additional Questions/Comments” question on the Fellowship Application.

When does the Fellowship start and end?

  • Fellows will arrive in Rwanda the first week of January 2025 and will complete their Fellowship in August 2025 (exact dates TBD due to potential partnerships/professional development opportunities in late July/early August). Fellows must commit to a full seven months in Rwanda.

  • Additionally, trips outside of the African continent will not be approved once Fellows’ in-country programs begin (emergency situations excluded).

Do Fellows get paid?

  • Fellows will receive a monthly stipend to cover the costs of housing, food, transport, and other essential expenses. Travel to and from Rwanda (to begin and conclude the Fellowship) is also covered by Shooting Touch. Fellows are expected to manage their own budgets and cover their own costs for non-work-related travel and leisure activities. If Fellows budget effectively, they will have the opportunity to save any remaining amount of the stipend that wasn’t used for living expenses.

How will this Fellowship set me up for future professional success?

  • Fellows have a unique opportunity to gain experience at an expanding international nonprofit and become part of the robust sport-for-development community. Fellows are encouraged to network with our global health and equity partners, including Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, Paper Crown Rwanda, and Survivors Fund. Additionally, they are able to connect with representatives from organizations like the NBA, FIBA, ESPN, and Nike, as well as many other NGOs and companies connected to health, sports, and gender equity in the U.S. and around the world.

  • Former Fellows have gone on to achieve great professional success, including positions with esteemed international businesses and NGOs, major sports leagues and professional teams, and media, brands, and apparel companies; others have pursued advanced degrees or work in higher education as an educator or administrator.

Where do Fellows live during their Fellowship?

  • Fellows have the freedom to choose where they live, as long as they are able to effectively handle their assigned tasks and responsibilities from that location. Because most of our communities/basketball courts are located in Kayonza and Bugesera Districts (in Eastern Rwanda), most fellows have lived in those areas in order to easily access the communities they serve. Fellows have the option to live elsewhere, such as Kigali (Rwanda’s capital city) or Bugesera (another district where STR runs programming), but these options may require more extensive or frequent travel. Please note that the cost of living varies significantly based on where a Fellow chooses to live (for example, housing and food is more expensive in the city of Kigali than in rural Kayonza District.)

  • NOTE: During the first month in-country, Shooting Touch will house all Fellows to help them get acclimated, while also assisting in their long-term home search.

Will I have access to necessities like clean water, electricity, and WIFI?

  • Yes - regardless of where each Fellow chooses to live, everyone is required to live in a house with running water, electricity, internet, and access to filtered drinking water. The STR coaches who live in our communities are prepared to help Fellows find desirable accommodation in whichever area they select. The size and location of the house is entirely up to each Fellow.

What vaccinations and medications are required for the Rwanda Fellowship?

  • Vaccination requirements:

    • Diphtheri-tetanus-pertussis (Tdap)

    • Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

    • Varicella (Chickenpox)

    • Hepatitis A

    • Hepatitis B

    • Polio

    • Tetanus

    • Meningitis

    • COVID-19

    • Yellow Fever (not required by the country of Rwanda, but Shooting Touch recommends before travel, especially if you plan to travel to other countries in Africa)

    • Rabies (not required by the country of Rwanda, but Shooting Touch recommends before travel)

  • Medication requirements:

    • An 8-month supply of malaria medication

    • An 8-month supply of any prescribed medications

  • NOTE: Medication costs are the responsibility of the Fellow and will not be paid for by Shooting Touch. All required medications/vaccines should be readily available in your home country, but Shooting Touch is available to help coordinate if necessary.

How safe is it to live and travel in Rwanda?

  • In general, Rwanda is a very safe country and crime rates are relatively low. However, there will always be risk when traveling abroad, so it is important to remain vigilant, especially when in crowded public spaces, and to keep your valuable possessions in a safe space. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of State’s Rwanda International Travel Information page for details about Safety & Security, Travel Requirements, Travel Advisory Updates, and much more.