April Newsletter

Accreditation and loss

Urukundo Learning Secondary School is accredited.

This is a “Hope Made Real.”  Thanks to Urukundo’s dear friend Barbara Campbell and many other donors, the school is ready to receive students. The dedication will take place Saturday, July 11. Classes will start in September.

Barbara traveled from New Jersey, USA, to visit Urukundo in September 2024. She met the children and staff and fell in love with the babies in daycare and the foundation. She saw our need for a Secondary School and acted.

Her gift to build the Secondary School came from her heart. She planned to come back for the opening of the school. That cannot happen. Barbara passed away on April 12.

I know she will be with us in spirit on July 11 for the dedication. Remembering how much she loved the children warms my heart.

 A stone in her memory will be placed on the wall of the Learning Center.

Another “Hope Made Real”

Thanks to our generous donors, funds were raised, electric sewing machines were purchased, and machines and work tables assembled. They are ready for the teaching program at our Tom Nunnally Sewing Center.

Students looked a little perplexed viewing the new machines.

Sitting and ready to learn. What a blessing! Thank you, donors. Your gift is appreciated.

Project Daycare completed

The project of installing tile halfway up the walls was started in February 2024 by a team from Hebron Church of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

The project was to place wall tile in all rooms where messy, little hands could reach. This would make keeping the area clean easier. Washing is better than painting every year. Well, with one room completed by the volunteers, it became apparent that the project was very beneficial and every room needed the same treatment. It took two years, but it has been accomplished.

Nursery, cradle roll.

Small serving kitchen

Nap time quarters for 3-year-olds.

Even the trim is painted above the tiles. I think it looks great, and the kids and aunties love it.

Urukundo daycare aunties were presented with new clothes designed by the students at the Tom Nunnally Sewing Center. Decorative trim was created on the new electric sewing machines.

Looking good!

Message from Mama

Our kids have begun the final term of the 2025-26 school year. Preparing for national exams and graduation is a big deal for them and our staff. Every year, the graduation presentation is outstanding. We are blessed with the many talents of our students and our teaching staff. This year's ceremony on July 11 will be very special. We will mark the Urukundo Foundation's 20th anniversary; honor graduates from kindergarten, Primary 6 and the Tom Nunnally Sewing Center; and dedicate Urukundo's first Secondary School.

It is awesome to me that my commitment to serve for six years has now become 23 years. The foundation was recognized officially in 2006. It functioned successfully for three years before becoming official. Thanks to our generous donors and a devoted staff, we have survived and flourished for 20 years. There is much to celebrate. Join us in person or in your hearts.

Thank you.

Much love, 

Mama

March newsletter

March, March, March. You know what, I do not march well anymore. I do welcome the month of March because it is the promise of spring around the world. Daffodils show the color of sunrise, and trees begin to bud, robins sing, and life goes on.

I am happy to report that after several tries, our visitors in February returned home safe and sound.

This message from them but not verbatim:

We have arrived back home.

Once again, thank you for your hospitality. Everyone was so kind and helpful. I will miss all those who cooked and served our food, did our laundry, drove us everywhere, showed us the classes, and made us coffee every day. 

The children are delightful and on their way to being educated and responsible people. Your headmaster and teachers are engaged and have a great rapport with the students. The buildings and supplies are wonderful, and we enjoyed playing the math games.

Thanks again. What an experience!

Love from West Virginia

Sharing a memory

In 2023, my American daughter Patricia and I traveled to New Mexico to be present at the wedding of my Rwandan daughter Solange to Mark.

Now in 2026, Patricia has returned to New Mexico to visit her Rwandan sister Solange. So sorry I could not be with them

From left, Mark, Solange, Patricia and Patricia’s husband Dale.

Sewing students met with Mama

Students from the Tom Nunnally Sewing Center arrived at the gate.

Head teacher Epiphanie led her students.

Greeting Mama. I do like the hugs received.

They shared that they would like classes with electric machines to learn on. 

Rwanda now has sufficient electricity, and so the places that hire our students ask if they can operate electric machines. When they say no, the job goes to another person who can.

Our sewing school needs machines that run on electricity. We are looking to purchase electric machines (funding needed) to better equip our students for the job market. I decided, thanks to a donation from Lace Ladies in the UK, to purchase a sample machine. Several machines were evaluated. This machine was chosen. It comes as a unit that includes the work table. It is a beautiful, top-quality machine.

We hope to purchase 14 such machines. Funding appreciated. Basic sewing skills will be taught using the treadle machines, and advanced sewing will be taught using the electric machines. Advancement means better equipment.

A photo with Mama completed their visit.

Learning Center news

We are winners in boys basketball, music, and poem.

National Board President Oswald and Executive Secretary Eric congratulate the winning teams. First position in boys basketball, music, and poem (composition). Quite an accomplishment!

Our boys basketball team won the district title and will advance to compete for the province title. The trophy is special. Coach Olivier is proud of his boys with good reason. They are the best!

The administration treated the team and coaches to Fanta and cookies in celebration.

Music director Emanuel and the winning team.

Our music and poem (composition) team won first place again and moved to the next level. I'm unclear on how this works, but I am not confused that they are in first position. The next competition level is in April. These kids are winners on and off the field of competition.