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.

Sewing Center News

The story of the Sewing Center is in my book, “Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo” on Page 216.

A success story to be shared. For Urukundo, the Sewing Center is an example of Hope Made Real.

A pleasure for my day. I received in my office a smiling young woman and an invitation to her wedding.

Marie Claire Cyuzuzo graduated in 2015. This was our first graduating class. She received the Tom Nunnally Award for Excellence, which awarded a sewing machine.

After graduation, Marie Claire went to work using her machine and made enough profit to buy two cows for her family. A year later, she bought a second machine and gave it to a young woman who could not afford to purchase a machine. Paying it forward. She then hired that person to work with her as her first employee.

Her goal after her wedding is to work hard, add more sewing machines and expand her business.

In her own words: “I thank Urukundo Sewing Center for the great education they gave me and Urukundo Foundation in general for the basics they have given me to start my life, including the sewing machine I got as an award.”

Class of 2015. Started with four students and in just a day grew to five. Marie Claire is the last student on the right, next to the gentleman tailor.

Marie Claire and our head teacher, Theresa Mukabanana.

Sewing students graduate

The Sewing School graduation took place, but there was no parade of the students, no gathering of parents and friends, no student participation to celebrate achievements accomplished during the school year. It was different.

The new auditorium is such a blessing.

In spite of the pandemic, the sewing school class of 2021 held a simple graduation ceremony and celebration on July 8. It was my honor to be present.

Distancing and masks were observed.

Seated with a fellow graduate, the young lady wearing glasses is Nelly Nukubana. It was our pleasure to honor her with the Thomas Nunnally Award for Excellence for being the top student. Each year, the Forest Hills Rotary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, honors the late Tom Nunnally, founder of our Sewing School, by presenting this award in his name.

The prize is a sewing machine.

Teachers Epiphanie and Theresa and Mama present the sewing machine to Nelly.

Speakers for the occasion:

Headmaster Irene presented the students to receive their diplomas.

Urukundo Foundation’s acting director Jean Marie Ntwari accepted the graduates as the Class of 2021.

Guest of honor. Yep, it is me.

Teachers Theresa, Epiphanie and Udahemuka

Graduation photo with speakers, staff and students. Love it.

Students take a risk to get a group photo with Mama.

Urukundo’s outreach

It is with great pleasure that we share with you that the Urukundo Learning Center technical school was selected by the government to participate in the government’s program to help poor families earn an income by providing technical training to a family member in order to work toward a better life.

Our technical school is the Sewing Center. We have 54 students enrolled in the new sewing program. This program will last for three months and includes teaching materials and a nourishing lunch. Those with young babies can make use of the day care for free.

Our three teachers (standing) are up to the challenge. The government is contributing an amount for each of the 54 students. Urukundo is paying the balance of the cost.

The Coronavirus and Urukundo

Our timetable for recovery has been a slow but steady one. Rwanda took steps very early in February to detect anyone coming into the country carrying this nasty virus. In March, the airport closed for all but a few flights coming in and going out. Kyle Jerro, an advisor to the board of Hope Made Real International, and Carol Falke,the board president, were able to catch two of the last flights out.

Kyle to the UK.

And Carol to the USA

On March 21, Urukundo went into lockdown with our university kids and Claude in secondary school coming home. All seven are still home waiting for the travel ban to be lifted. That is scheduled to happen June 1.

We remained in total lockdown until the middle of April when handing baby layettes out the gate for newborns became possible. But still in isolation.

May 1 was the first date for partial opening. At this time, travel was opened but only inside each province. Distancing is to be maintained, and masks must be worn in public.

Our sewing school made masks and distributed them in the compound and to neighbors

Our teacher Theresa models a mask.

No public transportation. Motos and bicycles could be used for transportation of merchandise but not people.

May 16 brought another change. We could now deliver baby gifts to the mamas at the birthing center, observing the center’s rules of conduct. Needed employees were allowed to come back to work. The daycare, church and school remained closed.

I remained in isolation until May 10. It was my delight to be able to walk the compound and on the road in front of my home, wearing a mask.

Sewing Center moving into the future

New trainer Epiphany became part of the Urukundo family at the Sewing Center. We welcome Epiphany and the wisdom and talent she brings with her. She joined head trainer (teacher) Theresa.

Trainers at the Sewing Center. Theresa and Epiphany.

Our students now have two qualified trainers, and the school is blessed.

Epiphany is a mom with three children. She has 20 years as a trainer in sewing plus computer skills, and, for a bonus, she understands and speaks English. This is a big help to Mama and the school.

With the new classroom, we now have the facility for teaching our sewing students other subjects required by our curriculum, including English. Our English teacher, Remy Paul, meets with the students in the classroom twice a week.

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.

Sewing Center completed

The completed addition to the Sewing Center classroom makes a great building.

Front view of Sewing Center, which is a school of technology for sewing. When funds become available, the stones in front will be covered by cement. All in good time. These stones also help control mudslides on our property, especially where new construction has taken place and the ground is soft.

Rear view. Notice the storm clouds moving in.

More cement work to be done. Cement is US$10 a bag.

Inside classroom

Funds were raised for 45 desk-chair combinations. We thank all who picked up the challenge, and now every student will be comfortable attending class in January.

The room already is a blessing. We will find many uses for this room. At present, it is being used to prepare for graduation. Gowns are kept in storage each year to be used the next year. This is the first year we were able to wash, iron and hang the gowns, thanks to having the new classroom available. It makes graduation easier on the staff. Working ahead is good.

All graduates came to the room to be measured and fitted for a gown. Their name was attached to the gown that fit, and the gowns are arranged in alphabetical order by first name. This will make it easier to distribute the gowns the day before the ceremony.

Later, the room will be used to measure and fit new students enrolling in the 2020 year. It is so wonderful to have space to work that does not disrupt classes.