Celebrations

Community Christmas on Dec. 21

Christmas for community children was a bit overwhelming. We knew it would be more than last year, but the over 600 who attended was more than we expected.

Kids arrived early, waiting for doors to open at 1:30 p.m.

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Seating plan went well.

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Hope House is full and runneth over.

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Overflow. On outside retaining wall and steps.

All children were served inside and outside.

We decided that we could not use chairs this year. Mats were placed on the floor in Hope House. Benches were along the far wall for teens. Chairs on platform were for mamas with babies.

Ok now we are ready. We think.

Boxed milk, meat sumbosa and juice for those who cannot tolerate milk were the treats for the day.

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Entertaining so many children, it was necessary to have not only a system to serve refreshments but also to give gifts and have an exit setup so that there was crowd control. Interesting!!

Plan A. Give refreshments, collect trash. Girls line up for Door No. 1.

Boys line up for Door No. 2.

Receive gift, exit building. It worked.

Didn’t need Plan B.

Door No. 1 girls.

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Door No. 2 boys.

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Executive secretary Eric and Johnny.

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Claude, Luki, Aline, David, Soso and John helped serve the kids and did the outside cleanup after the finish. They did a great job. Thanks, guys.

Ready for Christmas

Claude, Aline, Luki, Claudine, Egide, John, David, Diane and Soso

Claude, Aline, Luki, Claudine, Egide, John, David, Diane and Soso

Graduation 2018

All non-graduating and graduate students gather at school for the parade to the foote ball field.

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Students and graduates coming together.

Students and graduates coming together.

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Starting the parade to the site of graduation. Ready, set, go!

Starting the parade to the site of graduation. Ready, set, go!

Kindergarten Graduates and the Preschool teacher, Erneste.

Kindergarten Graduates and the Preschool teacher, Erneste.

Primary 6 graduated, pictured with the Primary English teacher, Ignace.

Primary 6 graduated, pictured with the Primary English teacher, Ignace.

Sewing Center Graduates with the teacher of tailoring, Desire.

Sewing Center Graduates with the teacher of tailoring, Desire.

Walking the distance from the Learning Center road to Mama’s gate.

Walking the distance from the Learning Center road to Mama’s gate.

Mama & Pastor Yves join the Kindergarten parade at Mama’s gate. We’re so happy that the road was completed before this event.

Mama & Pastor Yves join the Kindergarten parade at Mama’s gate. We’re so happy that the road was completed before this event.

Primary 6 graduates, Mama and Pastor Yves.

Primary 6 graduates, Mama and Pastor Yves.

Sewing Center, Mama & Pastor.  The walkway beside Mama’s house leading into the compound from the main road.

Sewing Center, Mama & Pastor. The walkway beside Mama’s house leading into the compound from the main road.

Entering the Foote Ball field.

Entering the Foote Ball field.

The Kindergarten is seated.

The Kindergarten is seated.

After seating the Kindergarten class the parade proceeds, with P6, Sewing Center & undergraduates arriving at the field.

After seating the Kindergarten class the parade proceeds, with P6, Sewing Center & undergraduates arriving at the field.

Speakers for Graduation

Our Master of Ceremonies was Remy Paul Dushime, teacher of English.

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The Headmaster of Urukundo Learning Center, Irene Dushimana.

The Headmaster of Urukundo Learning Center, Irene Dushimana.

The Vice President of the Parent-Teacher committee, Dilexi Birasa Aloys.

The Vice President of the Parent-Teacher committee, Dilexi Birasa Aloys.

Our Guest of Honor was Valerie D Mukamutari,  Exective Secretary of the Cyeza Sector.

Our Guest of Honor was Valerie D Mukamutari, Exective Secretary of the Cyeza Sector.

Mama with Olive translating.

Mama with Olive translating.

The speakers for Kindergarten Talia Ruremesha and Hope Bertha Isingizwe.

The speakers for Kindergarten Talia Ruremesha and Hope Bertha Isingizwe.

Talia gives Mama a hug.

Talia gives Mama a hug.

Certificates

Benita receiving her certificate.

Benita receiving her certificate.

Emily receives her certificate. She’s now in Primary 1.

Emily receives her certificate. She’s now in Primary 1.

Jacob almost lost his hat but hangs on to his certificate!

Jacob almost lost his hat but hangs on to his certificate!

Kindergarten.

Kindergarten.

Sewing Center.  Certificates for all. So proud of them.

Sewing Center. Certificates for all. So proud of them.

Although P6 graduated from Urukundo Learning Center, they will receive their certificates after the results of the National Exams.

Although P6 graduated from Urukundo Learning Center, they will receive their certificates after the results of the National Exams.

Some of the non-graduating students who are participating in the graduation ceremony.

Some of the non-graduating students who are participating in the graduation ceremony.

Urukundo Foundation & Sewing Center pays tribute: awards and celebrations

In loving memory of Tom Nunnally, our benefactor and the thinker, who envisioned a school for sewing at Urukundo Learning Center.

Each year in Tom’s memory, Forest Hills Rotary in Pittsburgh, PA awards a sewing machine to the most outstanding student the class, to help that person start up his or her own business.

Tom’s wife Carolyn also chose to present each graduate with a kit of basic tools needed to work as a sewer. Tom’s Legacy at Urukundo will live on.

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Displaying the award: Theresa, Head of the Sewing School along with teacher Redemptus Nderendebe,  the tailoring teacher Desire Uwimana, and Laurien Sebomana, honored guest from Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Displaying the award: Theresa, Head of the Sewing School along with teacher Redemptus Nderendebe, the tailoring teacher Desire Uwimana, and Laurien Sebomana, honored guest from Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

This year’s award went to Teddy Uwurukundo and is presented to him by Madam Valerie Mukamutare, the Executive Secretary of the District, and by Redemptus Nderendebe, a teacher at the Sewing Center.

This year’s award went to Teddy Uwurukundo and is presented to him by Madam Valerie Mukamutare, the Executive Secretary of the District, and by Redemptus Nderendebe, a teacher at the Sewing Center.

The manager of the sewing project presents certificates.

The manager of the sewing project presents certificates.

The certificates and sewing starter kits were such precious gifts.

The certificates and sewing starter kits were such precious gifts.

Special awards given to outstanding Primary and Preschool students.

Special awards given to outstanding Primary and Preschool students.

The parent of the year award was presented to Celestin Ndayiziga. This award was given to the parent who was most active and helpful to the teachers and in the Learning Center.

The parent of the year award was presented to Celestin Ndayiziga. This award was given to the parent who was most active and helpful to the teachers and in the Learning Center.

Special guests were interns from GO ED. The girls lived and volunteered at Urukundo for a month.

Special guests were interns from GO ED. The girls lived and volunteered at Urukundo for a month.

Jean Marie, Juliette, Olive, Theresa & Erneste join graduates for photo.

Jean Marie, Juliette, Olive, Theresa & Erneste join graduates for photo.

Remembrance photo.  Next year we will have risers. Our Primary 6 kids are as tall as the students in the Sewing Center so only the hats of those students are visible. Live and Learn.

Remembrance photo. Next year we will have risers. Our Primary 6 kids are as tall as the students in the Sewing Center so only the hats of those students are visible. Live and Learn.

Happy Face of a special girl. She has been #1 in her class since Kindergarten. Congratulations Delice Nishimwe.

Happy Face of a special girl. She has been #1 in her class since Kindergarten. Congratulations Delice Nishimwe.

I hope you have enjoyed the photos of the graduation as much as I have enjoyed putting it together.

Thank you.

Mama Arlene

Staff Graduates

Irene Dushimimana, headmaster at Urukundo Learning Center, received his master’s degree in education.

It is not easy to work full-time at the Learning Center and go to university on weekends, but that is what he did. His reward is graduation and a Master’s in education. We are the winner for we have an outstanding headmaster at Urukundo Foundation.

Oliver Kansiime, chief dental hygienist at Urukundo Dental Clinic, received her bachelor’s degree in business management.
Hard work, perseverance and dedication have been the key to reaching her goal. Congratulations, Oliver. We are so very proud of you.