From Gorgie to the Equator: Chalky’s Rwanda Blog

Hearts' Community Football Department has just wrapped up its fifth trip to Rwanda, and wow, what a journey it’s been!

This blog is short as we’ll let the pictures do the talking.

Once again, this incredible trip was pulled together in partnership with Scottish Football for Rwanda (check them out at rwandafootball.org) and included Hearts coaches, grassroots club volunteers, and our friends from Saltire Roofing and Building in Edinburgh. (Saltire is our long-time partner for Walking Football, so we knew they’d bring the right energy for this project!)

Combining Scottish And Rwandan Coaching Cultures

Pivotal to the trip was the delivery of Scottish FA coach education courses which was delivered in partnership with the Dream Team Academy and the Rwandan FA. This provided both grassroots and performance coaches in the country with an opportunity to experience Scottish coaching and to benefit from practices and sessions that can be taken back and adapted for their groups. Our gratitude goes out to the Coach Education & Development Department at the Scottish FA for their assistance and foresight in helping make this delivery possible.

And, of course, the trip wasn’t just about the courses. Our group dove into hands-on coaching sessions at local clubs in the capital Kigali and rural parts of Rwanda. Adapting to the terrain (let’s just say it’s a bit different from what we’re used to in Scotland) the team did spectacularly well to adapt to the terrain and hundreds of kids the sessions attracted.

We often help with kit where possible and a few local clubs are now fashioning  the famous maroon and white to help further look the part on game-days or at practice sessions. Division 2 club La Jeunesse FC have since gone top of their league – must be the new duds spurring them on!

A special invitation to meet Richard Mugisha, Vice President of the Rwandan FA (FERWAFA) was received, and it was a great opportunity to discuss the challenges and opportunities for football development in both countries.

Beyond Football

It wasn’t all about coaching. The group took time to visit Genocide Memorial sites, which was a deeply moving experience, and spent time at social projects like the Batsinda ex-Street Kids Centre (learn more here). These visits offered a different perspective and an incredible chance to connect with the community.

A Special Connection: Bisesero Hearts FC

A feel-good story. During a previous trip, we gifted Hearts kits and training gear to Bisesero Football Club in a rural area in the west of Rwanda. We initially weren’t aware but they had since renamed themselves Bisesero Hearts Football Club! To celebrate this amazing connection, we presented the club with a plaque inscribed in the Kinyarwanda language: “Kwishimira ubucuti bwacu mu mupira w'amaguru”—which translates to our Gorgie lingo as “Celebrating our friendship in football.”

Thank You, Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

Trips like this take an incredible amount of planning and effort, but they’re so worth it. And we couldn’t do it without some amazing people who make it all possible.

From Scotland:

• Mark Fleming & Carey McEvoy, Scottish Football for Rwanda
• Stephen McIntosh, Saltire Roofing & Building

From Rwanda:

• Ben Kayumba & Clement, Good News Guest House / Good News International
• Jacques, Evelyn and Thomas, Dream Team Football Academy https://dreamteamfootballacademy.rw/
• Rachid Weah, the consummate coach and all-around good guy

Special Thanks

A huge thank you to the Heart of Midlothian Shareholder’s Association, whose support made it possible to donate new goals to both Dream Team Football Academy and Bicesero Hearts FC.

Another big shoutout to William Purves Funeral Directors, whose donation is funding a children’s football project in a deprived area of Kigali. Thanks to their generosity, a skilled football development coach is training local parent volunteers twice a week for three months, paving the way for a new community football club in the area.

Until Next Time

Rwanda, you’ve captured our hearts once again. These trips leave lasting memories for everyone involved—Scottish travellers and Rwandan hosts alike. Here’s to many more collaborations, connections, and friendships in the beautiful game.

If you want to learn more about the amazing work being done or want to get involved in a future trip, check out Scottish Football for Rwanda or follow our own updates at https://www.facebook.com/heartscoaching/?locale=en_GB