Visitors

What could be more wonderful than to have two daughters come home at the same time? That happened to me in September.

My Rwandan daughter Solange arrived on Sept. 16.

Read about her in my book “Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo” on Page 74. Her story is unique. She moved from Rwanda to McAllen, Texas, when she was about 13. She became a citizen of the USA and now lives in New Mexico, USA. This was her first visit home since leaving Urukundo as a little girl.

Accompanying Solange were her fiance Mark and his sister Ana. Solange was surprised at the many changes at Urukundo and in Rwanda. While at Urukundo, they visited Akagera National Park and the King’s Palace at Nyanza.

Urukundo Director Jean Marie (right) led them on a tour of Urukundo.

They stopped at the new dental facility.

The day care children greeted Mark.

Solange got lots of hugs from staff who knew her as a little girl.

They are hikers and sightseers. Solange enjoyed showing her guests her country, Rwanda.

Aline walked with them.

The next daughter to arrive was my youngest daughter, Jacque, who arrived on Sept. 18. I do have three daughters in the USA plus two daughters-in-law.

Jacque was accompanied by her husband, Sean. His smiling face made my heart sing.

Spending time with the little ones at the daycare was a highlight in their visit.

Daycare manager Anitha looks on with an approving smile.

A special vehicle is needed for a visit to Akagera National Park and the King's Palace Museum.

Urukundo has access to such a vehicle through Let’s Go There Africa.

So much to see and do. My favorite photo is my son-in-law and the big horned cow.

Sean petting the royal cow at the King's Palace.

Notice he did not pet the elephants at Akagera National Park.

August 2022 Newsletter

No one is indispensable, and I am delighted to share with you, my followers, that the Urukundo Foundation functions very well when I am not functioning.

August has been interesting. Healthwise for me, it was scary. I have had many cough and cold episodes. In Rwanda, it was seasonal. With so many seasonal changes in Rwanda, the bug did not just go away as it usually did. It decided to hang around and introduce a friend. That friend’s name is pneumonia. Yes, I have had the pneumonia shot along with many other shots and that shot probably helped me survive. But it did not keep me from the infection.

Being a stubborn woman, I chose not to seek medical help and so allowed the infection to become severe. Two weeks after a hospital stay of six days, I am back home and healthy again.

Lesson learned: At any age, do not be your own doctor.

The proof is in the pudding.

Celebrating

Three busloads of Urukundo employees were treated to a day trip to Gisenyi, the resort capital of Rwanda, to celebrate the successful end of the school year. This trip was Urukundo’s thank you for a year of achievement, and all employees participated. It was a day to relax and enjoy.

Buses stopped for a short break.

Taking a break is a good time for photos.

A good time was had by all.

From my window

Last night, I watched the most beautiful sunset out my office window. It dazzled the senses.

This residence and my window are opening a whole new world to me.

In the early morning, I watch the children on their way to school. They are such a happy bunch.

All morning long, I see the playground full of children and their activities. Kids of all sizes and shapes participate in many activities.

Today I watched a game of passing the baton. That game consists of two equal teams on opposite ends of a field. The goal is for each team member to carry the baton and run as fast as possible around the opposite team, return to their team, pass the baton to the next runner and continue this until all on the team have made the run. Of course, the team that finishes first is the winner. I remember playing this same game when I was a kid. I hope you do too.

When I do not go to the dining room to help serve the kids lunch, my window is the perfect place to watch hungry children come running to get to the food waiting for them.

It is fun to see older children taking the hands of younger children and walking them to lunch.

Outside the lunchroom, they wash their hands and shake them dry.

Then they go into the dining room where their food is already waiting for them. There are no pre-arranged seating positions. They are seated as they come in. Amazing to me is the fact that there is no “I want to sit here” or “I want to sit there” or “I want to sit with so and so.” They simply set where our manager Delphine guides them. These kids are wonderful.

I can also watch my dog on her adventures.

Ollie walks Soso to school and returns to guard my office door.

Ollie is a protector.

During the day and into the night, my window is the showcase for the drones that deliver medicines, blood and strategic supplies to many parts of Rwanda. It is best after 6 p.m. because it is dark, and the red and green lights on the drones flash across the sky.

The drone was there, but it was faster than my finger on the button. The evening sky is beautiful.

My window into the world is amazing. Don’t you agree?

Sports Day

Feb. 19 was Sports Day at Urukundo Foundation.

Volleyball and footeball (soccer) were the games to be played. The teams were made up of teachers and parents.

Teachers’ volleyball team

Parents’ volleyball team

To play on the parents’ team you must have a child enrolled in Urukundo Learning Center.

Teachers in black, parents in yellow. Notice the referee standing on a chair. It was a close match. The parents were the winners.

A group photo. I got to pose with both teams.

Teachers’ soccer team.

Parents’ soccer team.

This game ended in a tie. That was good for me. No winner. No loser. Just good exercise.

Closing thoughts

This has been a very interesting month at Urukundo. A new residence in progress, our first visitor in more than a year, memories awakened from 2002. So many things have happened in such a short time.

I do hope, my dear friends, you know how much I appreciate being able to share it all with you.

Much love,

Mama

April 2021 Newsletter

Greetings from Mama Arlene

April is the month of new beginnings. Well, for Urukundo, it is a month of developing a new system for our kitchen. Thanks to some early gifts, we were able to start. We will continue as funding becomes available. After much discussion, the decision was made. Considering the health problems for our employees breathing smoke and the environmental effects of destroying our forests for firewood, we decided to go ahead with installing the propane gas for cooking.

We will rebuild the kitchen when funds are available. Yes, it truly is a new beginning. For months, I have been anticipating what changing from wood to propane gas might be like. Well, dear friends and family, here in pictures is the answer. In capital letters, I declare: ANOTHER HOPE MADE REAL.

Propane tank arrives.

It takes a lot of men to lift such a heavy object.

OK. Job well done. Tank off of the truck.

Celebration of another Hope Made Real.

A platform was built. The tank now has a permanent resting place.

We must protect our neighbor and secure the land where the propane tank rests. It would not be good to one day find our tank sitting on our neighbor’s property. Yes, a retaining wall and a fence to protect the tank for safety reasons are necessary.

Tanker arrives for the first time to fill our tank.

We have gas.

Protection for the tank.

The tank has its protective house. Painted blue, of course.

Kids shop

New backpacks were the order of the day.

Backpacks and school shoes all in one shopping trip. A successful trip for Diane, Benita and Joyce.

In closing, sharing a laugh

Everyone needs a chuckle from time to time. Happy laughter is good medicine.

Having a sense of humor is an essential requirement when living in Rwanda.

I have found a small shop in town where small cups of ice cream can be purchased. I love ice cream. Especially vanilla.

Did you know that if you go shopping in Rwanda and you buy small cups of ice cream for Mom, then proceed to stop at several markets for other items before going home, you will not have ice cream an hour later? You will have a flavor-of-the-month container of milk? My secretary, Eric, found that out this month. Well, now he knows that you purchase the ice cream last, then go straight home.

I didn’t have ice cream, but I did have a good laugh.

Mama Arlene

A New Year

The new year started in grand style.

Breakfast with mama.

Delphine, the auntie in charge for the day, along with Claudine, Sarah, John and Soso, joined Mama for breakfast the morning of New Year’s Day. A wonderful meal was prepared by the Urukundo kitchen for us. It consisted of juice, porridge, scrambled eggs, vegetables, pizza rounds, chips, avocado, papaya and the ever-present little bananas. To top off the breakfast, Soso accidentally upset his juice into Claudine’s plate and lap. This made it the perfect breakfast ending, with laughter and mopping up. For me, it was a pure joy just being together.

Following the usual tradition of my youth, I made a New Year's resolution. I am asking: Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Is it broken already? Mine is to walk outdoors for at least a half-hour every day. I am working on it. I must walk inside the campus and not on the street due to the Covid-19 virus. With the accessible walkways constructed in 2020, it is now possible.

Providing a smooth walkway rather than steep irregular steps from my backyard to the campus area makes my walk easier.

Benjamin’s arm is also appreciated.

Meeting the challenges

Urukundo has dealt with many challenges since its founding in 2006. Needless to say, 2020 is the most challenging yet. The major 2020 challenges are sustaining our employees with wages during the shutdown caused by the virus and the new requirements put in place by the Ministry of Education to reopen our school safely. Required are 15 wash stations between classrooms, head thermometers and a quarantine room for isolation should it be needed.
Another challenge is making these mountainous school walkways to classrooms handicap accessible. As I indicated last month, we are doing our best to make that happen. Photos show the work being done.

The long path from the library, with the steps gone, to the primary level classrooms below, makes even walking more comfortable.

There were many steps from the porch to the ground level, and the steps are no more.

There are no more steps from the school office downhill to the teacher resource area.

Our workers appreciate the new walkways. Easier to keep clean.

The slant makes sure rainwater moves away from the building and is not a problem. Dealing with torrential rainstorms and excess water damage are also on the list of challenges we have met and continue to handle.

Fun with photography

Keeping kids busy during the time of no school has been challenging for Urukundo’s staff. We used music for some and photography for others. Give a kid a camera and an interesting experience takes place, not just for the kid but also for the mama (me). I have two cameras I protect with my life. It was hard to give the cameras to the kids, but it was necessary. I am pleased to say they took care of the cameras as I would myself.
I am no judge of photography, but I know what I like, and I like their ideas of good photography. They are very creative and artistic. I have chosen just a few to share. I am sharing these photos taken by the kids, without comment.

Your comments would be appreciated, please.

I repeat, comments, please. Photography for art’s sake.