Socio-Economic Activities in Our District
Primary 4 · Social and Religious Studies
Socio-Economic Activities in Our District
Lesson 3 of 4
14 min
Mugisha lives in Musanze District. In the school holidays he takes a bus to visit his cousin Keza in Burera, the district next door. "Your farms look just like ours," he says, looking at the fields of Irish potatoes. "Yes," laughs Keza, "but we have something you don't have. Tomorrow I'll show you the border with Uganda!"
A neighbouring district is a district that shares a border with yours. On a map, it is the district on the other side of the line around your own district. For example, Musanze's neighbours include Burera, Gakenke and Nyabihu.
Both districts are in the Northern Province, close to the Virunga volcanoes.
| Musanze | Burera | |
|---|---|---|
| The same | Many farmers grow Irish potatoes. Both districts have tourism, markets, schools, health centres, churches and mosques. | |
| Different | It has the largest part of Volcanoes National Park, where most of Rwanda's mountain gorillas live. Visitors from all over the world come to see them, so many people work in tourism: as guides, in hotels and as drivers. | It lies along the border with Uganda. At the Cyanika border post, people and goods cross between the two countries, so there is cross-border trade. It has Lakes Burera and Ruhondo, and Butaro hospital, which is known for treating cancer. |
Neighbouring districts are often the same because they share a similar climate (weather over a long time) and similar soil. Cool weather and rich soil suit Irish potatoes on both sides of the border line.
They can also be different because of:
Now compare Musanze with Nyagatare, far away in the Eastern Province. Nyagatare has low hills and wide grassy plains, and it is warmer and drier. There, many people keep cattle. Far-apart districts are usually more different than neighbours.
Districts trade with their neighbours. Farmers carry their harvest to the market in the next district, and buyers come back with things they cannot make at home. In this way every district gets what it needs.
Tip
Same land, same work. Different land, different work. When you compare two districts, look at their land, their weather, their water and their special places.
Answer: A district that shares a border with your district.
Answer: Growing Irish potatoes (or tourism).
Answer: To see the mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park.
Answer: Cross-border trade with Uganda.
Answer: Musanze has cool volcanic mountains; Nyagatare has warm, dry grassy plains. Different land and weather lead to different activities.
What you learned today
Sources and credits
The comparison table and the rest of the lesson are written by Ganzaa.
This lesson adapts CC BY-SA material and is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Quick check
Burera is a neighbouring district of Musanze.
