Education

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What is there to do at Urukundo Village?

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Ask the 7 Students and 2 leaders from SMU in Texas, USA. They came for a day and worked hard.

Michael Dearman, Corbin Swagerty and Sargent Jimmy Winn,  the co-leader, worked at clearing the land in preparation for building the hoped-for primary school. This was the first work signaling the beginning of Project PRIMARY SCHOOL.

Oscar our administrator supervised.

The girls removed bricks from an old wall and we will reuse them to construct the chicken house.

Their leader Pat Davis and Haleigh Wagner work in the library. Indeed there are many jobs to do. Spending time with the children is an added bonus.

Thank you for coming and sharing SMU, Texas.

One child, one laptop. Corbin's research project in action.

It turned out Corbin's research project for school was the project ONE CHILD, ONE LAPTOP. He was delighted to see the actual laptops being used.

Ketetha Olengue (with baby Diane on her back) and the girls spent time with the babies and toddlers. The  girls helped with baths, and helped serve breakfast and lunch. The most fun was singing with Corbin on the guitar, sharing story and game time. Our kids loved every minute.

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Partners Needed

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...to build this school. It is our goal to have 2 classrooms ready by January 2013. Our school year starts in January for Primary and Secondary students. For University the school year starts in September. 

The classrooms are needed to accept the first graduates of Cyakabiri Preschool. With your help this is possible. Education is so vital here in Rwanda and everywhere. It is the key to a brighter future for our world.  Consider becoming a partner on the pathway to learning and make another HOPE BECOME REAL.

This is an invitation to educators reading this newsletter.

If you want a new experience and want to make a difference in the lives of children it is possible. Please consider coming to Rwanda and working with our teachers at Urukundo Learning Center.

Whatever your expertise we can use you.

ANOTHER WAY TO PARTNER

For a gift of $100 or more a stone can be added to the path to learning. The proceeds go to further education in our village and the community. A gift in honor of, in memory of or just because you want to make a difference would be appreciated.  

Path to Learning adds 2 new stones

Valerie and her mom from Canada visited Urukundo Village for a short time in May and sister Charley is coming in June for a month of volunteer work. Mom Diane placed the stone to honor her two older daughters.

Thank you Diane.


Traveler

Vincent our school Administrator is home after a month in the US finetuning his expertise in school administration.
We are very happy to have him home and thank all who took part in his positive experience in State College, Pennsylvaina. State College is the home of Penn State University.  Urukundo Learning Center is the beneficery of his time working with Carol Falke and her team.

Some more of Vincent's experiences in the US:

Vincent is sharing the basket with Nina's 3-4 year old class.  This class is picture pals with Andrew's class at Urukundo.

Nona Nina and Vincent working with children at the water table on the science of water.

Welcome Home, Vincent!

Thank you to all who made this learning experience possible!

University Graduations are Special

We have made a difference in the lives of  7 of our staff. Four have already graduated from university and Julette and Etienne will graduate in the fall. I thank all who have been a part of making a difference through education in the lives of these young people. Kevin,  our first college graduate student is furthering his education in the US.
RECENT GRADUATE
Johnny teaches English as a Second Language at Urukundo Learning Center. Johnny's son is a student at Urukundo School for young Children.

Johnny has worked as a volunteer at Urukundo Center for Learning since 2008. We are very proud of his accomplishments.

Marie Claire came to work as a volunteer at Urukundo Home for Children in 2006. Thanks to a gift of tuition from Ken and Cindy Grieshaber, Marie Claire attended Butare National University and now is a graduate of the school. 

CONGRATULATIONS MARIE CLAIRE!

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Cyakabiri School for Young Children

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We welcome four new faculty members to Cyakabiri school for young Children.Urukundo Learning Center

Theogin, Teacher  

Alexis, Teacher's Assistant

Andrew, Teacher  
Solange, Teacher's Assistant
New Faculty Members
Part of the program at Cyakabiri School is teaching hygiene.  

Brushing teeth and washing hands are an important part of this program.

Playing in the water is also fun.

More cardboard bricks are needed. 
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A Way to Celebrate our Fifth Year, a Year Late

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It has been a long time coming but THE PATH TO LEARNING is finally starting as a way to financially support the development of our schools in the URUKUNDO LEARNING CENTER.
When Urukundo announced its 5th year in service to the children in Rwanda in 2011 it was suggested we should build a path and call it a PATHWAY TO THE FUTURE. There really was no place to put such a path and we were not sure where the future would lead. It was a good idea but it was not the time for such an event as God's plan for education to be our priority was very new. The time has now come. Education is our priority. The name has changed to THE PATH TO LEARNING. 
With a gift of $100 or more a stone will be placed on the PATH TO LEARNING. The stone will have the donor's name or a chosen word or the name of someone you wish to honor.   Here is the plan as it is seen.  Any suggestions would be welcome.
As the path develops the stones will be secured with cement to hold them in place.  The first stone will say THE PATH, Another stone will say TO LEARNING 
Then READING, WRITING,  SCIENCE, MATH, LANGUAGE, GEOGRAPHY, HISTORY, MEDICINE,  JUSTICE, COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY.
You can choose to sponsor one of these stones.  These marker stones will indicate what the path is about. The stones purchased with names on them will then make up the rest of the path. We will send you a picture of your stone when it placed on the path.
Pictures show the path as it has begun. It will be exciting to see it grow knowing the children in Rwanda are the beneficiaries of a life changing gift.
Your gifts will help us to build through education for the future.
 

The path is in front of the new building for classrooms leading to the original class room where it all started. Where will the future lead as Urukundo develops in education?

New stones added this week.  Stones ready for your name.
 
HELP BUILD A BETTER LIFE FOR RWANDA'S CHILDREN THROUGH EDUCATION
The April DENNY'S  event should be a big boost to our education program. Check your local DENNY'S and participate in it if possible.
ENJOY SPRING AND ALL ITS PROMISE OF NEW LIFE. 
Urukundo will also celebrate the joy of THE RISEN CHRIST. 
Starting in  April Rwanda  honors with sadness the loss of families during the genocide. 
Please keep Rwanda in prayer as all  travel through this rather difficult 100 days.
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Progress Report

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Progress report on classrooms for Cyakabiri School for Young Children, the HEART of Urukundo Learning Center.
We hope to be ready to open the new class rooms for the April term.  We are working to make this HOPE REAL.
Furniture, a water tank and a sealer for the bricks are part of the building process yet to be dealt with. Looking for a project??  Here are three very necessary ones to consider.