Robin and Carol do teacher training.
Pastor Lee working with Sunday School teachers. The flannel board concept is new to our teachers.
Preschool Teachers Encouraged
Primary School - First Building
There will be three classrooms, an outside toilet, a water harvest tank & outside paint. The extra classroom, rain harvest tank and outside paint were not included in the cost of the first building we constructed for the preschool. These costs were added after construction was finished. The cost will be more than the anticipated cost and that pledged by our friends in Canada. We need additional funds to have the school ready by January 2013. Three classrooms is the requirement of the District.
Plan for our school
Dream along with me and the 6 year olds at Cyakabiri Preschool. The 6 year olds will graduate from Preschool at the end of the next term if the Primary 1 classroom is ready to receive them. I am not sure the classrooms will be ready as we need assistance to get the school classrooms constructed. The road giving access to the land is finished and the land is leveled and waiting.
Big Event in the Life of Urukundo
Juliette : one happy girl and one very proud mama.
The graduate : the tassel on the cap makes the difference.
Sharing
Our preschool students shared stuffed animals, a special doll and cookies with the preschool students at Kiyumba. This small village was home to Urukundo's Secretary Jean Marie.
Path to Learning
The Path to Learning continues to grow. Four new stones were added in June with two more on order.
UMW Saint Paul's State College, Pa.
Chanel is Mama's great-granddaughter. This stone is to honor her graduation from High School and start of University.
In Loving Memory.
This stone was a gift from Anita and Hyong Kim, who believe that education is the path to the future.
The children are some of the students who will attend the primary school.
Development in Progress
Site of the future Primary School.
The land for the primary school is being leveled and a local contractor is willing to go ahead with the building having faith that Urukundo will receive the funds needed for the project and will pay him. I am awed by his faith.
There will be three class rooms in this first building project. They will extend the length of the bamboo fence in the picture. This building will be similar to the Preschool building but with an additional classroom.
Help is certainly needed to build this school.
From this area the volcano is visible on a clear day. The view is breath-taking.
Please pray with us for the success of this project.
Mama
What is there to do at Urukundo Village?
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.
Partners Needed
...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!