The Walpole High School science department is set to travel to Rwanda, Africa in February, 2026 after the trip had to be cancelled last year due to a deadly disease outbreak. The Marburg Disease contains flu-like symptoms and is a similar strain to Ebola. The disease had 66 confirmed cases and was the cause for 15 confirmed deaths back in 2024. The unfortunate cancellation led to a lot of disappointment for the students that were anticipating this opportunity to experience a new culture and provide service to the communities.
“Canceling the trip was a rollercoaster of a ride because everybody was so excited, the trip filled up in half an hour and there was a lot of excitement for this trip and unfortunately we had to cancel it,” WHS science teacher Susan Wick said. Although the cancellation last year was hard for students, especially the 2025 graduates, the conditions to travel to Africa are looking favorable now.
The upcoming trip will be led by Wick along with fellow teacher chaperone Lindsey Reichheld and the 13 WHS students that are currently enrolled. The group departs Logan International Airport in Boston, on Feb. 12 and is set to return Feb. 21. Over the course of ten days students will be participating in community service projects along with touring the country. Wick has done many international trips and has previously visited Tanzania, Africa with WHS before, given her experience she has the knowledge to assist in guiding the students through this unique journey.
“I like to take groups off the beaten path and most people don’t get the opportunity to travel to countries within the continent of Africa,” Wick said. “I’m also really excited because we’re going on three different safaris.”
The upcoming trip is promising an experience of a lifetime where students will be traveling to Africa’s largest protected wetland, Akagera National Park and being able to participate in a morning safari drive through the savannah grasslands to spot various animals, and a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. The group will also be going out at night on a nocturnal game drive with expert guides and will be looking to spot carnivores that hunt at night time like leopards and lions.
The group will be spending some time in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda and will be visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial which is a place of dedication after the genocide against the ethnic group Tutsi in 1994. The students will learn more about the genocide and get the opportunity to visit the memorial and pay respect to all the lives lost. Also, students will get to speak with survivors about their experiences. Students will then head to the neighborhood of Nyamirambo where the streets will be filled with dancing, live music and food to participate in a sewing class at the local women’s center. The group will be taking an opportunity to tour the Norrsken House, Africa’s largest center for entrepreneurship. The students will get to take a look at the modernized environment where entrepreneurs work to help solve global challenges.
Although the students will be enjoying several experiences the focus of the trip is contributing to the community by participating in projects that will leave lasting impressions. Community service projects help communities that need support and improvement. Community service also brings people together and teaches skills like teamwork, responsibility, and how to be an effective leader.
“We never know right up until about a couple of weeks before we go exactly what our project will be. But in the past, we’ve done things like help build schoolrooms and help build vegetable gardens,” Wick said. Building the school rooms will be very beneficial to the community because it will provide a proper environment for students to learn and focus. By building these schoolrooms it should hopefully encourage more kids to show up for school because they will be in a safer and more comfortable environment where they can gain more opportunities to learn.
“I wanted to go on this trip to see new places and meet new people” WHS senior Sophia Malone who will be attending the upcoming trip said. “I hope to learn leadership skills”
The students are expected to receive over ten community service hours in the small village of Giperefe over the course of three days. Apart from working with the communities, the students will be educated on harvesting and seasonal planting and be shown traditional methods to prepare a meal. Furthermore, they will be working closely with local designers and be taught basket weaving, hive making and candle dipping with raw materials.
The trip is quickly approaching and is going to give students an exciting opportunity to explore different cultures and have a positive impact on the communities that they help along with learning how to be a leader.
