The Cumbria-Rungwe Community Link is the longest-running commonwealth youth exchange charity, with a mission to link young people in West Cumbria to students in Rungwe, Tanzania since 1987.

 

The cultural exchange operates on a biennial timeline where in the first year, Cumbrians aged 15-18 are invited to work together, fundraising and preparing for the inward visit. The first year culminates with an Inward visit in June/July, where a small group of Tanzanian students and leaders visit Cumbria for three weeks. The second year is devoted to raising funds for community and educational projects in Rungwe, and preparing for a month-long outward trip in summer. The group fly to Tanzania to reunite with the friends they met during the inward trip and learn more about the Rungwe community. The group also enjoy a weekend trip to Matema Beach on Lake Nyasa, and a safari in Mikumi National Park.

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We have continued fundraising for community improvement projects over the last two years, but our operations have been rocked by the pandemic. Covid-19 forced us to cancel our planned 2020 Outward visit and dramatically changed the way we have operated since. In light of easing restrictions, we have restarted face-to-face meetings and relaunched our cultural exchange to a new group of young people, with a plan to host an Inward visit in 2023 and an Outward trip in 2024!