James Mills is a web developer in the North East of England and founder of Refresh Teesside »
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Karen McLauchlan is the Evening Gazette's deputy business and features editor - with special interest in all things industry, property and arts related » 
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Deloitte, which has 23 offices across the UK including Newcastle, is among the country's leading professional services firms » 
ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » I was very excited to visit a reforestation project yesterday that is funded by Shared Interest through our Carbon Offsetting Project. Last year we donated money to REDO (Rwandan Environment and Development Organisation) and here I am getting to see the 500 trees they planted on our behalf - contributing to RwandaâÂÂs overall aim of replanting a million!
One thing that strikes me about Rwanda as I go out to visit the project is that it is one of the cleanest countries IâÂÂve ever seen. There is no rubbish on the streets; roundabouts are beautifully maintained, filled with well-watered grass, plants and sometimes even a water fountain! In its mission to fight pollution the country has even gone as far as banning plastic carrier bags; a problem which haunts many other African countries.
I was surprised by this until I heard about Umuganda, a âÂÂcommunity dayâ on the last Saturday of every month. This means that between 7am and noon all households must participate in activities for the good of the community.
Examples include planting trees, cleaning up streets and creating new dirt roads. Businesses must close (can you imagine that back home?!) and everyone reports to their community leader. Even the President and foreign visitors must join in! In return you get a stamp in your book, which is required to access health care and education services.
Ok so thatâÂÂs the more serious message. Now for my more surreal experience at Millies Collines. Joan and I were checking out their training rooms with their event manager Dieudonne (his name translates as GodâÂÂs Gift!) As we were leaving the hotel, a huge black limo pulled up. Out came two guys, who I was informed - as people pushed past me to take photos â were âÂÂP-SquareâÂÂ, NigeriaâÂÂs hottest new rap artists!
The event manager said that he could get us two VIP tickets to the Kwita Izini Concert tonight, which is part of next weekâÂÂs gorilla naming ceremony. This is an annual event where 40 new baby gorillas will be named. Intrigued? IâÂÂll tell you all about it in my next blog.
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