Adding color and fun. Making the school wall more friendly.
See next month's newsletter for further developments.
Graduation
In the past, our graduation has been in November. Rwanda has long been trying to change the school year from January to November to September to June. The school year missed because of Covid-19 allowed that to happen.
Yes, our school year now is in sync with other countries. Is it a better plan? We will see.
Practicing begins for graduation. The basketball field works well.
The kids worked hard to present their talents and knowledge to parents and friends.
Primary 6 ready and waiting.
Quote from a student: “We are ready. We will show our parents and friends what we have learned during our school years.”
We present to you, our followers, a taste of the graduation, hoping you will read our Special Report for a more comprehensive visit.
Our traditional dancers.
The Sewing Center models.
Kindergarten graduates.
There is much more. Be sure to visit the Urukundo Graduation 2022 Special!
Graduation Special
Graduation at Urukundo Foundation / Urukundo Learning Center.July 2022.
We started off with practice on the basketball court in early July.
Band and Marching unit in practice.
Adding the school band to the graduation ceremony is exciting for the kids.
The day finally arrives July 22nd, 2022.
Trucks bring tents and chairs and the setup work begins.
A platform was constructed for the band with a cover. 5 hours in the direct sun would have been bad for the students, their director, and instruments. Band set up ready to work.
Primary students anticipate a very special day. Are we ready? Yes, we are.
Urukundo Students wow! A vision to behold.
I marvel at the growth in numbers, from past graduations with about 15 graduates to the present graduation with 117 graduates. More children are receiving an education every year. Because you care, Urukundo is making a difference.
Kindergarden
Ready for a march to the football field for the ceremony.
Primary 6
Primary 6 graduates are all set to follow Kindergarten graduates.
Jubilation
The march begins to the football field. Primary 1 and parents on the march. We honor our neighbors with a parade.
P2 students parade.
P3 you can see the age difference.
P4 in Sports clothes.
P5 our future 2023 graduates.
The sewing Center graduates complete the marching line.
P6 and Sewing Center grads strut their stuff.
Through the main gate of Urukundo Village.
The parade continues.
We have arrived.
New this year.
A bandstand and a wonderful band and director Emmanuel.
Our own band instruments. We are still renting the sound system.
Violins
Drums
Piano
Guitar
Presenting for our parents and friends.
Precision marching.
Saluting the honored guests as they pass, A Rwandan tradition.
Music is essential. Chorus is accompanied by music supplied by the learning center band.
Primary 6 leads the National Anthem.
A special moment for a little sister
Older brother is graduating and leaving the school. He will be missed by his young sister who is also a student. The two of them sharing a song together touched my heart..
Traditional Music.
Girls, traditional dancing.
Traditional Dance. Boys and Girls.
Honored guests, even me. Urukundo’s Headmaster, Viateur, Mama, and Olive, Mama’s assistant.
Urukundo Director Jean Marie, Jeanne d’arc executive secretariat Kinihira sector / Ruhango District, and Oswald the President of the Urukundo National Board were among the honored guests.
Daniel Habyarimana. Director of Education for Muhanga District was the guest speaker of the day.
Awards were given to outstanding students.
Best student Albertine Tuyishime Uwase at Sewing School.
Director of Music gives award to Primary One student Luc Hategekimana who plays the piano in the band.
Awards for best grades from P1 to P6 were given to these 6 students.
There were many more awards given.
I was privileged to be the mom when Claudine was given a special award. Claudine received an award as an outstanding student.
Claudine receiving her special award.
On presenting Claudine’s award, headmaster Viatiur said Claudine has proven that disability is not an inability.
Claudine is our only graduate from Urukundo Home for Children this year. Claudine is family.
We are Claudine’s family. Her Mama, Claudine, Chantel her Urukundo Auntie, Seraphine her older Urukundo sister.
Claudine's advisor Libby, Claudine, and Olive, Mama’s assistant.
A presentation by the Sewing Center students.
Fashions for special occasions.
An everyday dress can be elegant with matching head dress. Men's shirts are part of the tailoring program.
Stylish jackets enhance any outfit.
Knee-length attire is now in fashion.
Perfect for a dinner date.
The Sewing Center students learn the basics of sewing & tailoring, learn to create designs, and are willing to model what they feel are their best creations.
Each student received a sewing starter kit. Their teacher Epiphanie and Headmaster Viateur assisted me in presenting the gifts.
In conclusion, thank you for taking the graduation journey with me. I hope it gives you pleasure and a good look at what Urukundo Foundation with your help is able to provide for the students in our school.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL GRADUATES.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Ok, When is it my turn? The future in his eyes.
Wonderful group photo. Love it.
May 2022 Newsletter: Advocating education
The focus of this May newsletter is a journey in our library.
A school library should be a place where children want to go and experience learning through reading and activities. Urukundo Learning Center’s library is such a place.
Library in action.
Train leaving the station. All aboard.
This train goes to the library where we will meet librarian Assumpta and assistant Viateur, who is a teacher, to keep us on track.
Assumpta and Viateur lending a hand.
Reading and being read to are, of course, first and foremost on our journey.
Reading materials, research materials and teaching materials are available for both children and teachers.
Library books are so important for all age groups.
A good area for study and research is also important in a library.
Along with the academic aspect, we also use visual and hands-on learning.
Preschoolers and numbers. Magic with a whiteboard easel.
Domestic animals, life on a farm and tractors are new concepts, but learning ones.
From domestic animals to African safari animals to the vehicles used are exciting.
Teachers get educated on different animals and vehicles and how hands-on can be a fun way to teach.
Moving on
Hard hats and jackets are worn as we learn about construction. The person in the white hat is Carol Falke, president of the Hope Made Real International Board.
Building as construction workers or just kids with a dream, our kids get to test their imaginations with different construction materials.
A new kind of car?
Bendable parts and an imagination.
Tinkertoys
Now to the domestic angle.
Shopping, cooking and eating.
Dressing up to go shopping.
Shopping carts are necessary.
Pizza, cupcakes or cookies, anyone?
Vegetables and fruits make a healthier diet.
Let’s cook.
Time to set the table. Let's eat.
Now we pretend to eat a delicious meal. Imagination and pretend make a delightful experience.
Creative educational toys make our library a place of enjoyment while learning takes place.
Creating objects with Play-Doh is a step toward life skills.
Pottery is good practice.
This one with flowers added is unique.
Play-Doh can also be used to make animals. There is just no end to ideas.
February 2022 newsletter
Share the love month
The first visitors in Urukundo’s new residence were Margie and Bruce Krogh from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. They are former residents of Kigali, Rwanda, and friends to Urukundo Village and Learning Center.
Arriving on a Saturday evening, Bruce was the logical speaker for the Sunday morning service. Divine (one of my university graduates) acted as a translator in both English and Kinyarwanda.
Divine and Bruce at the worship service.
The women’s choir sang and danced praises.
Pastor Yves and Bruce served communion.
The congregation was so pleased to have these special visitors.
On Monday, the Kroghs visited the school.
Margie and Bruce got acquainted with new headmaster Viateur.
Visiting the classrooms was on the agenda.
Witnessing a reading group in the library proved to be a special event.
Margie's passion is the music program at Urukundo Learning Center. She has long been a monthly contributor supporting music for kids.
Emmanuel, head of the music program, gives Margie some pointers.
The violin section and the chorus entertained our guests.
Not to be outdone, the guitars, the drums and keyboards joined in. They presented quite a concert.
Truly it was the highlight of Margie’s visit.
I was so excited to see them when they came that I forgot the camera. No incoming photo. I decided to get a photo as they were leaving after their visit. OK, so it is a bit in reverse. Not the usual. They have promised to return before going back to the USA. I look forward to that visit.
Climate change
The violent storms we are experiencing are beyond any I have witnessed in the 20 odd years I have been in Rwanda.Tropical storms are expected, but wind and rain, mixed with lightning, rumbling claps of thunder, and hailstones big enough to dent your car are a little much. The storms are truly testing my new residence and the hilly land around the Learning Center.
Damage in front of the preschool.
Rwanda’s flag is no longer surrounded by mud.
Benjamin and his crew went to work, and the mud is no longer a problem. Safer for the kids. Now the children can run and play without mud. I am happy.
Living on a mountain is always exciting. Rwanda is all mountains. There is no choice.
Watching a mountain erode in the form of a mudslide behind the primary school. Retaining walls are a must. We cleaned up the mud, but it will take some time to build the retaining wall to prevent further damage. We know each storm will make it worse. The ground is so soft.
Dining room open
Exterior view of completed construction.
Interior view of completed construction.
Lunchtime at Urukundo Learning Center. Kids, kids, kids. The tables in the front are for the staff and teachers.
Kitchen workers are ready to serve. Amin, Seraphine, Gilbert and Onesmo.
Teachers enjoy good food.
Water is an essential part of life in Urukundo. Pastor Yves, Mama and Sarah deliver water after the kids start eating. From experience, I know kids tend to drink in place of eating. Mama’s rule: eat and then drink.
School resumes
With government permission and Covid-19 protection in place, Urukundo Learning Center doors have re-opened for all of its students in January.
This was the first time for preschool and Primary 1 through 3 since the pandemic began. It was the first day ever in school for the 3-year-olds..Students in Primary 4, 5 and 6 returned in November.
First day back to school.
They came.
On foot
By bicycle
Even moto
And, of course, by Urukundo’s bus
Lining up for the wash station.
Washing hands. Math teacher Elias assisting.
This 3-year-old is ready.
For the little ones, cleaning their hands with a squirt bottle sanitizer seemed the best method. Teacher Rosemary does the honors.
One of our cleaners, Gerald, is the helper in this task. Little ones are too short to use the wash station.
A temperature check is necessary. Science teacher Eugene shares that responsibility.
It takes many helpers to reach our goal of every student and teacher checked. Head of Discipline Viateur helps to move students faster to class.
These new students are waiting for classroom assignments in Primary 1, 2, and 3.
Our preschool has three levels: 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds. Little faces tell the stories.
Face masks are a problem for some.
This 5-year-old is not at all happy to be back in school.
Rethinking. OK, he remembers. Maybe it’s not so bad.
Teacher Solange, with 4-year-olds, works magic with distractions. Tomorrow will be better.
Older preschoolers are glad to be back. Teacher Callixte with 5-year-olds.
Preschool teacher Sylvia with 3-year-olds.
Primary 3 students and their teacher ready for serious study.
Graduation at last
While we wait for the National Exam results, we have our own graduation celebration. All children from preschool to Primary 6 and the Sewing Center students invite their parents and friends to come and see what they have learned in the past year.
The day starts very early at the school. Kids and parents gathered with the graduates at the school for the walk to the main road and up the street to the Urukundo main gate and then to the site set up for the graduation.
The march from the school to the site of graduation is a spectacular parade.
Blue and gold are the colors of the kindergarten graduates.
Awesome sight. What a parade! The graduates sing as they march to Mama’s gate. They enter and proceed to the soccer field where many tents are erected to protect guests from the sun and possible rain. This is the rainy season, you know.
We were blessed with a no rain day.
Primary 6 in caps and gowns. Each group has different colors. Black and green is Primary 6.
It is about one city block on the main road from the road to the school to Mama’s gate. Neighbors come out to watch and cheer the graduates on.
Sewing Center students bring up the rear. We are so proud of these young adults and their accomplishments. White and blue really stand out. One of the school projects is to make their own caps and gowns. They did a good job.
Entering mama’s gate. Teachers walk with the kids.
Greeting Mama and Pastor Yves. What joy! Until last year, I walked with the children and loved it. It is hard for me to not join the march, but age has a way of slowing us down. So I wait at my home gate and greet the students as they enter. I am honored to have Pastor Yves there with me, also greeting the kids.
Older grads wait while kindergarten kids are seated. It is quite a process. My home is in the background.
I do walk from my home to the celebration and make a grand entrance.
Left to right: guests of honor were Fortune Mukagatana, Muhanga vice mayor of social affairs; Florence Marie Uwanyirigira, Rwanda Parliament deputy; myself; my assistant, Olive Nyiracumi; Clare Effiong, leader of Esther’s Aid Culinary Arts School; Jean Marie Ntwari, executive director of the Urukundo Foundation, and Angelique Westmark, a volunteer from Germany.
What an interesting group! We were honored.
The Primary 6 graduates of last year were special guests.
Our university students came to support the younger students and to share in the program.
It was such a thrill for me to see so many of our university students arriving. They seldom are home together, so it was special for them also.
What a group!
This year at graduation we featured the development of the music program, starting with the All School Chorus.
The All School Chorus led us in the national anthem
Music is appreciated in our school. Being able to introduce music to our students is such a blessing.
This young girl learned to play the keyboard. This is an accomplishment worth doing.
African drums and guitar add to the music program and are so special. Drums are a part of the culture.
These drums were rented for the occasion. Some day we will purchase our own. They can be purchased here in Rwanda. We encourage both types of drums as great musical instruments.
Our orchestra is made up of flutes and violins. Wonderful music was presented by our own students. Parents were impressed. More instruments are needed.
Last but not least in the music program, our children respect their heritage and learn cultural singing and dancing.
We are very proud of our progress in developing the music program.
Developing an art program is next on the agenda.
This group is amazing.
Precision marchers from Primary 4 and Primary 5
In sync
Certificates were presented to kindergarten graduates. Each was signed by Mama and Headmaster.
Primary 6 students receive certificates after National exams. The Sewing Center certificates also are given at a later time.
The Tom Nunnally award for an outstanding student in the Sewing Center went to 22-year-old Germaine Iradukunda. This award is given each year by the Forest Hills Rotary Club in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, in honor of deceased Rotarian Tom Nunnally.
Presenting the award is head of the sewing center, Theresa Mukabanana, and Florence from Rwanda Parliament.
It is difficult to get a really good group picture of all the graduates, but we tried.