Students in Rwanda Explore Russian Traditions

In 2025, Tomsk State Pedagogical University opened its second Center for Open Education in Russian Language and Culture — this time in the Republic of Rwanda. The new center in Kigali, like the one in Kenya, operates under the Institute of Foreign Languages and International Cooperation. Teachers from the Institute developed an educational program for Rwandan students that included Russian language classes and creative workshops introducing aspects of Russian culture and traditions.

The workshops were divided into three stages, each led by Vera Golubeva, Senior Lecturer at the Department of English Philology and Intercultural Communication.

During the first stage, participants learned about the origins of the Early Cyrillic alphabet, which helped them better memorize the letters of the modern Russian alphabet. They were also introduced to the ancient Russian bukvitsa and the distinctive features of traditional ornamental styles. In the practical part of the class, students created the first letter of their names and decorated it with artistic elements such as ligatures, floral motifs, and images of animals and birds.

The second workshop focused on traditional aspects of Russian everyday life. The participants learned about a traditional Russian home «izba», including the functional division of its interior, the significance of each corner—from the stove area to the sacred «red corner» — and the decorative carved elements used to decorate the home. Special attention was given to the role of window frames (nalichniki) in wooden architecture, illustrated with examples from Tomsk’s architectural heritage. Participants learned that nalichniki serve not only an aesthetic and protective purpose, but also reflect the homeowner’s social status.

To remember the material better, students assembled a model of a traditional Russian izba and played an educational game called «Pamyatka». The activity helped them consolidate what they had learned and further develop reading skills: by arranging the decorative window-frame elements, participants were able to read the historical names of various streets in Tomsk.

«Studying the bukvitsa helped the Rwandan students strengthen their knowledge of the Russian alphabet, while learning about such elements of traditional Russian homes as nalichniki became a key to understanding local traditions and daily life, — says Vera Golubeva. — Immersion in Russian customs and culture allowed the international students to form a more objective and diverse view of contemporary Russia and helped them to avoid stereotypes».



The series of cultural and educational activities ended with a traditional Russian tea party. The instructor spoke about Russian hospitality and invited the students to try traditional Russian treats that were entirely new to them—blini, pine-cone jam, and more.