Photo Gallery for November

Five of our Secondary kids finished High School this year. A lot depends on the scores made in the National exams where their future lies. We can make a difference.  A gift to the EDUCATION FUND is one way you can help these kids obtain higher education and a brighter future.

Because you cared this group of young adults dare to dream. Their dreams for the future are do-able. Can you help make it happen?  

Anett hopes to be accepted at Akilah Institute for women.

Lucie, Her dream is to become a pastor and serve in ministering to others.

Divine has a heart for aviation and is applying to Nairobi Aviation College Flying School.

Esperance wants to go into the field of medicine. KHI (Kigali Health Institute) Medical or Dental.

Alexander's future lies in Computer Technology and Computer Science. KIST for his Bachelors and Carnagie Mellon Rwanda for his Masters.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADUATES. WELL DONE.

WE ARE PROUD OF YOU.

Their goals are within reach with your help. Funding is needed. Check out the web sites for these schools and see where your heart leads you.

Letter from Mama

The October Newsletter is the month we start thinking about providing schooling for the very poor children in Muhanga. In the past, beginning in 2009, we were blessed to be able to provide school supplies for 369 children seeing them through Primary school. Those children have all finished Primary School and now there is a new group needing our help.

In order to know where the help is most needed we have connected with the Village leaders (Mudugudu). They can identify the children from very poor families who will not go to school without help. With Urukundo Learning Center and your help we are able to reach out and offer education to children who would not go to school and offer them a good educational foundation and environment.  $15 is still the amount to provide for a needy child. Help make a difference. A check to Hope Made Real PO Box 3222, Williamsport, Pa 17701 will make a difference in the life of a child. Mark the check: Education in the memo.  Or you can donate online through the 'Donate Now' link on this page.  Mark 'education' in the notes field.  Thank you.

THE FARM

October 19 saw the birth of a new baby girl calf. We are always pleased when the baby is a girl.  We now have 3 milking cows and two girl calves.

This new baby means more milk for the kids and to sell.

Graduation

70 children graduated from Kindergaten at Urukundo Learning Center on October 25, 2014. What a glorious day it was.

All students and parents preparing for the Parade.

The march from the school to the site of the ceremony was awesome

This scene takes place along the road for the neighbors to witness our graduates, students and parents. They made a very long line.

The parade coming in at my gate.

Very serious.

Our guest of honor was GASPARD RUTEGESHA from the board of education in the Cyeza Sector.  He took part by shaking hands and giving each child a certificate.

I felt very short today, my five foot one next to this six foot 7 gentleman. It's a good thing I was sitting down.

He was our honored guest and main speaker.

The president of Urukundo Foundation's Board of Directors Hildebrand Kanzira spoke, encouraging the children and their parents to place much value on education.

Even I added my 2 cents' worth, using the back of a chair for support.

A first at our graduation celebration: the music and art department presented a program for our entertainment. Bono the music teacher traveled from Kigali to be here for this occasion. Bono is from the Kigali School of Music and teaches twice a week at Urukundo Learning Center.

Intore translated means 'an all-boy dance team'. The boys did a great job. Keeping the culture alive for the children is so important.

The girl dancers were not to be outdone and we were delighted.

Diplomas were held high.

I have so many wonderful pictures it was hard to decide which would give you a clear picture of the event in the lives of the children and the program you are making possible by your gifts and donations.

Thank you for helping make a difference.

Education Improvement

Knowing how important good English is to the future of Rwanda and the business world we have taken a big step to be sure we are doing our best in Urukundo Learning Center.

Having an English teacher to teach the children is not enough. Every teacher no matter what subject is in fact teaching English good or bad. The children copy the teachers and so it is equally important the teachers improve their English to better help our children.

We have been blessed by a professor who teaches English in a local university and has come to Urukundo Learning Center as a volunteer in our school system.

He will be head of our English program for both our regular school program and for adult education.

He is looking forward to working with other volunteers who come to help improve English skills at the Learning Center and in the community.

Education background:

Diploma in Business studies.Certificate in Education. Certificate for teaching English both spoken and written.  Computer training. Microsoft, Excel, and Internet.

Five mornings a week Felix teaches an English class for teachers and office personnel. In the afternoon he teaches 2 classes. One for Basic English to beginners and a second class of conversational English to advanced students. These classes are offered not only to our staff but also to the community. His classes consist of reading, writing, grammar and speaking. 

Felix Nshimyumuremyi  M.B.A.  B.B.A. has joined our staff.

One class group for basic English.

Graduation Exercise

Secondary school - left to right.

Divine, Abis, Lucie, Mama, big brother Etienne and Gisele.  A day to remember.

Lucie and her classmate.

Gisele and Divine marched in together - or rather they danced in together!

It was a very impressive ceremony!

Classrooms

Please keep in prayer the much needed funding to build our Third Grade classrooms.

$30,000 will completely furnish a single room including desks, chairs, blackboards etc.

Back to School

School opens for final term of the year.

Teachers gather to welcome the children and keep everything under control. The children are so excited to be back in school and to greet friends.  They are full of energy.

Big and small they are back!

Last Day of School for this Term

Luki, David, Kenny & Claude.

Gathering in Mama’s room.

Prince

Moved to the porch. Better place for pictures. They are beautiful.

Kavine Molly joined the group. She does not go to school yet but loves to be included.

Sports at Urukundo

KARATE:

There are 20 kids in the Saturday morning Karate class.  9 are our kids, 11 are from the community and the group comprises both boys & girls. It is awesome to watch these kids and the master at work. It is work with dedication.

Our 5 first and 4 second graders love karate!

When the team is ready they will compete with other teams of their age.

Our master teaches as a volunteer. 

We could not afford ready-made uniforms from stores in Kigali town so our Sewing Center took a pattern, bought material and made uniforms. They are great. Good work, sewing students!  These uniforms are also available to the neighborhood parents. They can buy them for their kids at an affordable price.

I think the kids look great - comments from our readers are appreciated!

One of the neighborhood kids has a yellow belt. I'm not sure what that means in terms of advancement for children even though my son Ted is a black belt!

Volunteer Master & kids: Pete in a brown belt. He is very good with the kids.

Fellowship

Urukundo is becoming a Teaching Center for others involved in volunteer work and study programs. Our work with 30 young people learning about teaching Preschool was first. Then two young men came to study electrical wiring with Benjamin our construction expert. On our farm, farmers came to learn how to do below ground silos and then the Director of Agriculture at another compound came to learn about kitchen gardens.

This young man is here to study human rights and ethics and how it affects children. We are so honored to have these students with us. We learn along with them.

His name is Vincent Twishime. He is Rwandese. Vincent is 25 years old, from the Musanze area.  He attends Makerere University in Kampala.   He is a wonderful young man who has just completed his first year studying human rights and ethics.  Vincent will be with us for two months. While here, he will work at the school and be a part of life at Urukundo Home and Village.

Goals for Development

This goal is a HOPE MADE REAL that must take place.

Building four more grade levels at the school is a challenge. Are you ready to meet this challenge? Kids are depending on us. It cannot be done without help and dedication from the Urukundo family and friends.

In September a world-wide walk marathon will take place and every step you take is a step toward a better future for the children in our community.  Become an active walker for EDUCATION, the hope for the future!

Our goal & need is to raise a minimum of $286,000.

We have the land. It is cleared, leveled, secured with a foundation started. All this is paid for.

Now it is time to move literally upward literally. A two-storey building, housing and 8 classrooms is our hope.

Start planning now. Be a team leader! Involve your friends and family.

Please contact our organizers for more information. Two Carols are coordinating this event.

Carol Falke falkes@verizon.net

Carol Baney carolbaney@hotmail.com

Catch the Vision - Make It Happen - Hope Made Real

The Vision

The Plan

The Beginning.

More information is available here:

Fundraiser Steps 2014

Counting Steps - Using a Pedometer

Back to School

The end of April means sending the big kids off to Boarding School. The “stay at home” younger kids are a big help.

One-year-old Jacob finds a job just his size.

Many hands make a job easy.

Kinella carries necessary supplies.

Gathering the troops.

No more room for a big mattress.

Hmm...how do we solve this problem?

Make it smaller if possible!

Everything fits and is ready to go.

We really will miss these kids. Ok, they come home again in 3 months for a brief holiday!