This sign was posted in the community, advertising the opening of the O-Level Secondary School. The school will begin with grades 7 and 8 (S1 and S2) and add grade 9 later.
Special visitors in August
Rafiki, his wife and children visited. Rafiki and I go back a long way. He was my first technical support person. A few years later, I attended his wedding. It was a pleasure to meet his children.
The children enjoyed the activity room.
Extra special
It is always an extra special pleasure when my grown Urukundo kids come home to spend time with Mom.
The visit by Tresor, Sandra, and grandchild Eva did my heart good.
Eva being cute.
This visitor in my side yard was very special. Didn’t stay long.
Taking precautions
This lightning arrestor protects the Secondary School from dangerous lightning storms.
Changes that matter
Preparing the entrance wall at the school campus for posting important information. A clean white wall to write on.
Hope Made Real logo on the left; Urukundo Learning Center insignia on the right.
The same wall features values, vision, and mission for all to see and read. Great to see the Hope Made Real emblem and school insignia in print.
The artistic messages on the outside Learning Center wall.
Creating a Center for the Arts
Last month’s newsletter focused on how the Urukundo music program grew. This month’s newsletter looks at the creation of Urukundo’s Center for the Arts, which includes a library.
My home for girls was an idea that, over time, became a reality — the first “Hope Made Real.” Our first home in Gitarama had no books. There were none and none available. My first plea for help was, “Please send me some story books, especially Bible story books.” The response was heartwarming. Books came. My bedroom became my office and a place for books.
In those early days, space was limited. I put a small shelf in my bedroom, and our first library was established. Really, you had to use your imagination to call it a library, but it was the beginning. I collected reading material in Kinyarwanda, but more in English. The library kept growing; with every move, we always made space for library books.
Most of the books we received then were picture books. Kids can read pictures whèn words are not understood. The library stayed in my bedroom for many years.
The shelves just kept getting bigger. Moving to a house of my own when we added boys gave me an empty room and a space for the library where the kids could sit and enjoy the books. That didn’t last long because we moved the boys to our present location, and both the office and the library went back into my bedroom.
Our first real library was in the original Hope House, which is now the head office. This building was our first attempt at a multi-purpose building. A place where kids could play, have parties, have devotions, and an area to have shelves set up for books and a mat to sit on to read. It really did feel like a library. This happened after we moved to our present location. Finally, the library was out of my bedroom.
Even here, visitor Jeanne Willis, a volunteer, sat on the floor to share books with the children.
After several years and the establishment of a learning center, the library was moved into the school compound. This made it more accessible for our students.
Pastor Margarie Glascow, a dear friend, gifted Urukundo Foundation in her last days with a donation, which was used to establish the Glascow Center for the Arts, which became a Hope Made Real. This refurbished building included the library.
Thanks to Carol Falke, president of the International Board of Hope Made Real, excellent books arrived.
Carol brought precious books in suitcases.
As the school grew, a place for study and research became necessary.
The space between the library and the retaining wall would work.
This required taking down the library outer wall and building a new retaining wall to hold the mountain. While visiting with Pierce and Katie Keeting’s family in the Philadelphia area earlier in the year, I received a large donation to improve the library. Work started at once. Thank you, Keetings.
We now have a study space with tables, chairs, and a quiet environment.
Visitor Erin Friday and teacher I’rene inspected the new study area. It appeared this should be a completed library project, but it wasn’t. The library also contained many educational toys and games, but only the teachers had access to them.
Urukundo needed four more classrooms, so we built five rooms close to the library, but they are not connected to it and are on a slightly different level.
By now I am sure you have guessed where this is going. The library was overwhelmed with activities and had little space to read and enjoy books. With an extra room, we could have an activity room where kids could use our educational toys and games, work with puzzles, and enjoy break times.
In no time, we realized the activity room and the library should be one to operate efficiently. Both the library and the activity room were too small. To meet the need, we again found space between the buildings to enlarge the activity room. The process began.
Front construction. Back view. When all the walls were removed and the roof was extended, it became one big room.
The expanded Center for the Arts was finished in June 2025.
Cream-colored area is the library; the first large window is usable space that connects the library and activity room. The area after the two columns is the activity room.
Inside the refurbished activity room
A place for art
Stenciling, coloring, and drawing
Floor games and table games.
Miniature train track sets teach our future engineers.
Instructor Clyde Santana from the USA introduced theater through puppets, a great art form. The enlarged and combined Center for the Arts made this possible.
The Center for the Arts: an exciting place to be.
Here are some comments from library and activity room students; a librarian; and a volunteer.
Queen Karen, the 2025-26 academic year’s best reader:
“The library is a place where I feel at home. When I sit here for reading, I feel happy,” she said.
“In the library, I can make friends with whom we would read together. My friend is called Arcange. She likes books about animals,” she said.
Other students also have lots of comments about Urukundo’s library.
“I think there is more in Urukundo’s library.”
“I can talk about library, but let me talk about some.”
“I can speak English because of reading books.”
“I learn new words when I read.”
"I like pretending to cook with pots and pans."
"Playing with kitchen toys helps me learn about cooking."
"I enjoy making imaginary meals for my family and friends."
"Kitchen play is fun because I can be a chef."
"I learn the names of different kitchen tools while playing."
"Playing with kitchen utensils helps me be creative."
"I like mixing, stirring, and serving food in my pretend kitchen."
"I like playing with baby dolls because I can pretend to take care of a baby."
“Playing with dolls teaches me how to be kind and responsible."
"I enjoy dressing, feeding, and putting my doll to sleep."
"Baby dolls help me use my imagination."
"I like pretending that my doll is part of my family."
"Playing with dolls is fun and helps me learn caring skills."
After spending time in the library with the children, Doreen Mileto, one of the volunteers from the USA, said, "I am impressed by this library. It offers a wide variety of books and provides a peaceful place for students to read, learn, and succeed."
Clemantine, the library assistant, is a real asset. She organizes activities and connects reading material with activities. She welcomes everyone and offers help where it is needed. Thank you, Clemantine.
Getting a head start
New game at the daycare during school summer break.
Message from Mama
Dear Reader,
As we look forward to the start of a new school year, I want to thank everyone who helped to make a difference in our children's lives and made the last 20 years a success. It could not have happened without your caring and sharing. My vision is that the next 20 years will continue to be as productive for Urukundo Learning Center and Hope Made Real as the last 20.
Life goes on. Care, share, and love.
Mama Arlene
July newsletter
On June 26, Urukundo Foundation and Urukundo Learning Center held a commemoration to honor the victims of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.
Four buses transported students from the Tom Nunnally Sewing Center and employees to Kabgayi Genocide Memorial, where many innocent victims are laid to rest.
Upon arrival, we participated in a Walk to Remember, visited the graves, and laid flowers as a sign of respect.
The President of Ibuka spoke. Ibuka translates to “remember” and is the name of an organization dedicated to the genocide survivors. He explained that the Urukundo Foundation demonstrates its commitment to supporting the Rwanda government’s efforts to preserve the memory of the genocide, not because it is required, but because it reflects the true meaning of its name, Urukundo (which means “love” in Kinyarwanda). He also expressed that Rwanda, especially Muhanga District, is blessed to have the Urukundo Foundation because of its valuable contributions to the community.
The Executive Secretary of Cyeza Sector also thanked the Urukundo Foundation for working hand in hand with the sector in its daily activities. He said he felt blessed to serve as the leader of the sector because of the foundation's presence and requested that his sincere gratitude be conveyed to Mama Arlene for choosing Cyeza as the home of Urukundo Foundation and for the remarkable work being done to support the community.
Some of the genocide survivors who have received financial support from the Urukundo Foundation also shared heartfelt messages of appreciation. They expressed how the assistance has transformed their lives and said they hope to visit Mama one day to personally thank her for the kindness and support that have made such a positive difference in their lives.
Mama and kids
Mama encouraged the kids boarding a bus to take the national exams. This exam is important as it determines if and where our kids will go to secondary school. In past years, our students have done well on the national level exams.
Kindergarten graduates visit Mama’s house. These are the same children you will see singing “We are the World” at the graduation ceremony.
Graduation celebration
We honored our graduates on July 11 with a celebration, including a ceremony, a parade, cultural presentations and awards.
Urukundo has 135 Primary 6 graduates.
There are 120 children in the kindergarten graduation class.
The Tom Nunnally Sewing Center has 14 graduates.
At the exit of Urukundo Learning Center, the cultural drums kept the beat for the parade marchers.
Non-graduating students started the parade.
Kindergarten came next.
Primary 6 graduates marched in.
Community parade
Our parade stopped traffic.
The community saw Urukundo graduates. We are community.
Students entered the main gate to Urukundo Village and the site of the graduation presentation.
Preschool tent
You really need to see these 3- and 4-year-olds. They fill a large tent. They sat on mats and were so very patient. I am so proud of them. Years from now, they will be graduates of Urukundo Learning Center.
Honored graduation guests
Gilbert Mugabo,vice mayor of the Muhanga District
Oswald Ruremesha, president of Urukundo National Board of Directors.
From left: Mama, Headmaster Viateur, Vice Mayor Mugabo and National Board President Oswald
National board members, from left: Juliette, Antoine, Theoneste and Félicité
Some more of our honored guests
Parade on site
A salute to the families, friends, honored guests, and fellow students.
Students paused in the parade to pay their respects to Mama and Vice Mayor Mugabo.
Kindergarten starting the presentation
Our new first graders signed and sang, “We are the World; We are the Children.”
So beautiful! It made me cry. Should have had an audio. They made a world globe with arms above their heads.
Our star performer, student Divine Mutabazi Ishimwe, sang her winning song from the national music competition for those assembled.
Two students on keyboard
Luc Hategekimana
Samuel Niyibikora
Urukundo’s band played through the presentation.
Speakers
Headmaster Viateur welcomed all to the graduation ceremony.
Eugene, president of the Parents Committee, spoke.
Divine and Christa were speakers for Primary 6.
Rwanda traditional culture was the theme for the graduation celebration.
Leading the presentations were traditional dancers. The celebrants in the presentations included teachers and students.
Practice, practice, practice. Near perfect.
The dance is unique.
Boys and girls worked together to succeed.
Showing off a bit. Rwanda students also did modern dancing. Way to go, kids.
Sustaining life
Parade of implements used.
Three mats displayed early life. From left, family life; recreation and early transportation; and agriculture (milk, eggs, beans, sorghum and tools).
Tools on the third mat are visible here.
Sorghum on stone and tub for making banana beer. Auntie teaching the procedure.
Igisoro is a game played in the marketplace.
Traditional wedding presentation
Guests arrived at the wedding with gifts.
Transport for the bride
Announcing the wedding to take place
The bride met the groom for the first time.
Groom’s family viewing the bride
Bride was accepted.
The groom and bride shared a wedding drink. Milk. The cow is a valued part of the marriage ceremony. The groom offers cows as dowry for his intended wife.
Traditional cow dance. You can hear cows mooing in the background.
Our beautiful bride
Kindergarten presentation
On the first day at school, the mama was sad. The new student cried.
Teachers did their job.
Students learned.
At the end of the term, they are ready for Primary 1.