“Yes I can”,......... everything can be achieved if staying optimistic.
「我可以的」....... 只要保持樂觀，沒有事情是不能成就的。
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I was arranged a trip to visit Nyungwe
National Park by the Rwanda Development Board, and was taken cared of by Kambogo,
the Tourism Warden at the Park during my stay.
Kambogo wore a heartful smile all the
time, and I could always feel his sincerity and passion. He shared he is now
living a happy life because he has been achieving what he planned. He love his
job at Nyungwe National Park very much.
Knowledge
is the Power
Growing up in Kitabi, Kambogo came from
a poor family with 7 siblings. His mom told them if you want to develop you
have to study. He saw successful people around and he had confidence he could
do the same. At last his siblings just finished the basic primary education and
are now living simple village life, while he was the only one went to higher
studies.
In University Kambogo was majoring in
Geography and Languages, and was a Secondary School teacher for 2 years after
graduation. He thought if he could teach students he could also teach tourists.
The basic requirement for a tour guide was degree holder and good communication
skills. Kambogo had good proficiency in English and French. When he saw the
advertisement in guiding, he applied and passed successfully.
The
Road to the Tourism Industry
Kambogo started as a tour guide without
any related knowledge. He liked his job and was motivated to learn from his
colleagues about different tourism products. There was also job training to
facilitate. Through guiding tourists Kambogo was performing well and got
promoted to be a professional guide. It was another challenge for him as he
needed to learn new skills for the new position. However, he saw it as an
opportunity for him to go further. In 2009 he went to South Africa for 3 months
to learn the basic tourism management skill, and to Japan for 1 month training
too.
After working at Nyungwe National Park
for 8 years, Kambogo admitted he never thought of working in the other 2 National
Parks. Nyungwe is a good school with very rich biodiversity, plants and primates.
The most important thing was there was opportunity for him to have promotion
and training.
Realization
of Own Dream
Through working in tourism management,
Kambogo kept thinking how to perform and how to equip himself further. He got
skills and training in tourism. He likes working in a multi-cultural
environment. His insights came, he decided to set up a private tour company to
sell Rwanda to the world.
So what would be the basic requirements
to have his own company? Kambogo thought. First he would need a driving permit,
so he went on learning driving. He needed further studies, so he spent 3 years
in a tourism school. He wanted to have his own house, so he worked with the
bank to sort things out. Kambogo enjoys making short plans and he feels
satisfied once they are achieved.
The next plan is to start his company
within 3 years. Kambogo needs to have ideas what packages he needs, so he will
need to talk to successful person in the industry, to gather information and to
get new ideas. He will then need to start the basics like the websites for the
company. The last but not least, is to be ready to kick off.
Helping
Himself while Helping Others
Nyungwe area is one of the most
populated area in Rwanda with more than 500persons/ km2,which is also a sign of
poverty. Kambogo needs to think how local people can also benefit as more
tourists come to visit the park, so he decides to open a community based
tourism company. Visitors can learn about people’s culture, their normal way of
living, traditions, handicrafts, dance, etc. At the moment there are less than
3 Eco-tour companies in the whole country, and Kambogo believes it is the best
way to bring direct benefit to the local communities.
Why risking to start a private company
than working comfortably in a government office? Kambogo shared there are 2
advantages. First thing is he can continue developing himself by getting new
skills and experiences in tourism, at the same time sustaining his family. Second
advantage is he can contribute selling and telling the good images of his own
country, landscapes, hills, gorilla, chimpanzees, peace, cleanliness and
smiles.
Rwanda is still a young destination with
only 3 national parks, and very few tourism resources developed yet. Kambogo
believes there are still a lot of opportunities to help people to understand
Rwanda. He wish Nyungwe will be a famous tourist destination in years to come,
with good hotels and a lot of tourism activities available.
“Yes I can”, Kambogo shared with me his favorite
quote. He believes everything can be achieved if staying optimistic.
At
last, Kambogo gave me a traditional wood carved handicraft as the present for
exchange. It was a woman with traditional hair cover and clothes, holding a traditional
Rwandese pot, with either milk or beer inside, to her husband. It is a respect for
the wives to do this gesture to the husbands in Rwanda culture. Just like the
present itself, Kambogo wishes to introduce his country culture to the world.
盧旺達旅遊局給我安排了一個Nyungwe森林國家公園之旅，負責接待我的是公園主管Kambogo。相處數天，常常看見他面上掛著從心而發的微笑，我可以感受到他對工作的誠意和熱情。Kambogo說，現在生活過得很愉快，他可以成就自己的計劃，也十分喜歡自己的工作。
知識就是力量
在農村長大，全家有七個兄弟姐妹，媽媽說要有一番作為必須讀好書。看見周圍的成功人士，Kambogo有信心自己也可以做得到，當其他兄弟姐妹只完成小學教育，過著簡單的農村生活時，最終只有他一人完成大學學歷。
在大學主修地理和語文，畢業後當了兩年中學教師。他想，假如自己有能力任教學生，為甚麼不可以任教遊客呢？當導遊最低資格是大學畢業和有良好溝通能力，他擅長英文和法文，當看見導遊招聘廣告，他立即申請並成功受聘。
踏上旅遊業之路
剛入職的時候完全沒有相關旅遊業知識，但Kambogo熱愛他的工作，主動跟同事學習，公司也提供培訓。透過接待遊客，由於工作表現良好他被晉升為專業導遊，要學習更多的技能，不過，他視挑戰為一個進步的機會。2009年他到南非三個月接受旅遊業管理培訓，之後又到日本一個月受訓。
在Nyungwe國家公園工作了八個年頭，卻從來沒想過要到另外兩個國家公園工作，因為這裏有多樣植物和靈長類動物，是一間很好的學校，最重要是有晉升和受訓的機會。
發現自己的理想
透過擔任旅遊業管理工作，Kambogo不斷思考怎樣繼續進步和裝備自己。有旅遊業相關培訓和技能，又喜歡在不同文化的環境工作，他有了新的啟發，他決定要成立自己的旅行社，把盧旺達推銷給世界。
那麼需要甚麼基本條件才能成立自己的公司呢？Kambogo第一樣想到的是考取駕駛執照，於是他去學車。他需要更多的資歷，於是他又花了三年修讀旅遊。他想有自己的房子，於是他跟銀行商討可行的方法。Kambogo喜歡作短期計劃，每當計劃實踐後他都感到很滿足。
下一個計劃，是三年內開辦旅行社。他需要知道有甚麼類型的旅遊項目可以提供，他要跟行內有經驗的成功人士詳談，收集資料和獲得啟發。然後，是製作網頁，最後，就是開業。
助人 自助
這個Nyungwe地區是全國其中一個人口密度最高的地區，每平方公里超過五百人居住，這也代表著貧困。當越來越多遊客到訪國家公園，怎樣同時間令當地人受惠呢？Kambogo決定開辦一家社區為本的旅行社。訪客可以了解人們的文化、日常生活的方式、傳統、手工藝、舞蹈等等。現時全國只有三家社區為本的旅行社，他相信這是令當地人最直接得益的方法。
為甚麼要開辦私人公司不安安定定打政府工呢？Kambogo說有兩個好處，第一是可以繼續磨練自己，學習旅遊業的新技能和經驗，同時也可以養妻活兒。第二是可以向別人推銷自己國家美好的東西，群山美景、野生動物、和平潔淨和有善微笑。
盧旺達總共有三個國家公園，暫時只有很少旅遊項目，仍是一個很年輕的目的地。不過，Kambogo相信這是一個機會讓別人認識盧旺達，他希望Nyungwe國家公園有朝一日會是一個著名的旅遊景點，有很好的酒店和旅遊配套。
「我可以的」，Kambogo跟我分享他最愛的座佑銘，他相信只要保持樂觀，沒有事情是不能成就的。
最後，Kambogo送給我一個木雕手工藝品作交換禮物，那是一個頭戴傳統頭飾，身穿傳統衣著，手持一個傳統容器的婦女木雕。Kambogo說那個容器裏面有可能盛戴著牛奶，又或是啤酒，在盧旺達的傳統文化裏，那代表妻子給丈夫的一種尊重。這份禮物，跟Kambogo的夢想一樣，希望把自己國家的文化跟世界各地的人分享。
