Update: Former Citizen Ambassador Impacts Rwanda

People to People’s Citizen Ambassador Program has received mentioned in a newsletter put out by Eos Visions, a travel organization that brings professionals to East Africa. The newsletter tells the story of Richard Reckmeyer, dentist, former citizen ambassador, and founder of Rural Rwanda Dental. The non-profit is devoted to educating and instructing local health workers and teachers in basic dental care. By focusing on prevention, Rural Rwanda Dental seeks to improve the health and well-being of rural children and their families.

Reckmeyer visited Rwanda for the first time on a safari tour in 2006, and he immediately fell in love with the country. In 2008, he accepted an invitation to join a Citizen Ambassador Healthcare and Medical Education delegation to East Africa. Reckmeyer’s time as a citizen ambassador and subsequent travel experiences inspired him to become actively involved in the sub-Saharan nation’s development. A year later, this inspiration manifested itself in Rural Rwanda Dental.

In October, Reckmeyer will once again travel to Rwanda with People to People—this time as a delegation leader. He will be leading a team of oral health care professionals to Kigali, the capital city. The delegates will familiarize themselves with Rwandan dental care and visit surrounding historic and natural sites, including memorials of the infamous 1994 genocide.
 

For a full itinerary check out this pdf.
 

UPDATE:  October has come and gone, and Richared Reckmeyer's latest delegation have returned from their time in Rwanda.  Photos from their programs can be see at this gallery, posted by Reckmeyer. 

In an email to the delegates, Reckmeyer wrote, "Thank you for being such a special group of people. Your chemistry and eagerness to learn about Rwanda and the state of its oral health care were outstanding – it was my pleasure to be your leader."

Here is a small sample of the photos in the gallery: