Worship Center ready for Easter services.
Pastor Eugene from the Gitarama Presbyterian Church came to Urukundo to serve communion to our children and staff Easter Sunday afternoon.
Palm Sunday and Easter Service in Hope House
Vincent's Journey to the USA
April 19th saw the start of Vincent's trip to the USA.
The kids helped load his luggage.
Last minute instructions
Vincent is presently business administrator at Urukundo Foundation working with Felicitie, our home administrator.
Oscar in the picture is helping out while Vincent seeks further training in school administration in the USA.
Trip in trouble already! The car would not start so our guys came to the rescue and they pushed. It started. I think we need a new battery.
Nice down hill grade pushing worked this time. Vincent is on his way.
We received word that Vincent arrived safely and is staying with his hosts Carol & Steve Falke in State College, Pa.
Vincent's journey is to better equip him as administrator for our Urukundo Learning Center of which Cyakabiri Preschool is the beginning phase. The next phase is the Primary School. With help we hope to open the first class rooms in the primary school for the January 2013 term. God in Charge.
Please notice the lovely Snap Dragons along the wall. These seeds were sent to us by flower lovers in the US. Once planted they continue to grow and spread. We have no killing winter frost. Thank you flower people. You make our land more beautiful.
Other seeds needed:
Romaine lettuce, pickle cucumbers (I'm not sure about these - is there a special cucumber for pickling??).
Snow peas
Vincent in State College, PA
Vincent experiences his first snow ever.
What is Penn State without a visit to the stadium.
Penn State Stadium - Vincent & Steve.
Now down to serious business.
Thank you Carol for the great pictures.Newsletter Special - Award Nomination
Urukundo Home for Children has been nominated for a RINA (Rwandan International Network Assocation) Humanitarian Award.
This award is given to individuals or organizations that have demonstrated significant efforts in improving the quality of life in global Rwandan communities. Nominees have directly addressed the needs of specific groups within the Rwandan community in the areas of health, human services, education, and employment.
We need your votes! Please take a moment to visit our RINA Nominee Page and click 'vote'. The voting process lasts only for two weeks and the winners will be announced thereafter.
Forward to your families, friends and communities - thanks for your support!
More Outreach
90 children, both boys and girls, attended a Basketball Clinic/camp at Urukundo Village. The Clinic was held by Rob Thomson.
Rob is an American/Rwandan citizen born in Pennsylvania wearing the #12 Uniform. He is 6 ft 10 tall.
First team up for instructions.
Rob Thomson giving some tips.
Coach Ryan Turcott.
Coach Jacque Bahige.
Abis, Rob, Bosco & Claude.
Christmas
What a wonderful Christmas was celebrated at Urukundo Village. I give thanks to those of you who sent boxes with gifts for Urukundo's Children and Staff and their children. I was not here but the children tell me it was "very good".
Thank you.
April Challenge
A message from the Board of Hope Made Real
You can help by eating dinner! That's right. If you live in an area where a Denny's restaurant is located, you can set up a fundraiser for the month of April 2012. Just contact you local Denny's for details - meet with the manager and then invite others to join you at Denny's for dinner. Let's make April a fantastic month for Urukundo Village and Education Center. Then, let us know the results of your efforts. Denny's will donate 20% of profits from not only your group but everyone eating at their restaurant during the time your group is there.
Please join us!
Urukundo Five Year Report
2006 - 2011
Urukundo Children's Village as of this date has 46 orphans and abandoned children.
18 of our children are in secondary School. 12 are in Primary School.
11 of our children are in Preschool.
5 are in our Nursery (Safe Haven).
6 former young staff members in University. (Designated funds).
First graduate We are very proud of Diane.
We are giving employment to 34 local citizens. All employees are covered by medical insurance upon providing proof they have covered their own children with medical coverage from a local hospital.
Urukundo Foundation provides 329 children of very poor families with supplies required in order for them to attend primary school.
Urukundo Foundation cares for 2 families with teen head-of-households with a total of 14 children (several missing when photo taken).
At the same time we need to develop the general infrastructure and create sustainable long-term business.
We can be the first orphanage/NGO ever reaching self-sufficiency and economic independency.
It is an incredible task and challenge.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE
2006. Rented first Urukundo Home for Girls with 15 girls. Today's total is now 21.
2006: Rented first house for guests. Some little income.
2006: purchased four wheel drive vehicle (directors funds).
2007: Rented first Urukundo Home for Boys with 7 boys. Today's total is 24.
2007: First purchase of land to start chicken industry and safe area for kids to play outside of town.
First Chicken House
Deed of first ownership
2007 through 2011: Purchased, registered and paid for 14 joining small properties using (missionary gifts and Arlene's SS income) to establish Urukundo Village.
Claiming the top of the mountain.
2008: Built a Home for Boys, a soccer field and a basket ball court.
2008: Built a Home for Girls. (Director's personal funds)
2008-2009: Constructed buildings for kitchen, offices, and storage.
2009: Built Multipurpose House. This house includes a Library, classrooms, meeting room, worship center, celebration house and dorm for teams with more than 4 people.
2009: constructed a shed for the 1 cow and 1 calf.
2009: Purchased another cow and her calf. (Designated Money from People to People). Milk for babies and HIV kids.
2009: purchased home for Guesthouse on adjourning property, resident for director, clinic, office. Now Cyakabiri School for Young Children.
Increased chicken industries to include broilers and layers. (Producing eggs for income and meat).
Broilers
Layers
2010: started JR Saving’s accounts for kids. Fina bank
2010: Built a "SAFE HAVEN" Nursery for throw-away babies. We have 15 Under 5 years.
Established Cyber Café for community and income producing nonprofit business. (Rental property) Purchased 5 PC and a copier.
We planted 7 kitchen gardens and all available land. Veg for children and excess for sale.
Purchased 3 Sheep (designated money). Total now 8 and expecting. Meat for kids.
Started rabbit hutches purchased 2 rabbits and a gift of 2.
At present total 64. Sell and use for meat for children.
2011: Director purchased large home and guesthouse. (Personal funds savings for old age. Might be now.) 
2011: Purchased house and land (Loan from Fina Bank) protection of children, larger clinic in better location, closer to children. Additional guest rooms to accommodate teams coming as volunteers. Work not completed.
Received 3 cows from District a gift. Total cows now 5. Two milk cows and 3 yet to breed.
Constructed larger housing for number of cows (designated funds) and fenced in pastureland with barbed wire.
Fenced in all Urukundo land to protect our children and animals. (Barbed wire)
2011: Purchased 5 pigs a gift from visitors. (Designated money) Meat and marketing.
2011: Built pig housing.
2011: Increased goat herd by 12 new goats (designated money) Meat for kids (total 18 at present).
Renovated first cow barn to accommodate goats and sheep.
2011: With support of Park Forest and devoted people Urukundo built a water system for the Binunga Community. In time it will also benefit our schools. (Designated funds)
2011: Solar pumps and power were added to the water project thanks to Rotary International. (Designated funds). The project will benefit over 3000 people plus Urukundo Village when schools are constructed.
2011: Added 3 tanks for harvesting rainwater. (Designated funds)
Purchased truck for farm. (Designated funds).
Cyakabiri School opened. The first step in the planned URUKUNDO LEARNING CENTER.
Sports World Headlines
News Flash
After their team won the Basketball championship in Muhanga District, 3 of our boys - Amin, Bosco and Abis, were chosen to receive sports training in Nyanza, the capital of South Province. They really are champs.
The training will take place from November 27 to December 12th.
We are so very proud of our boys!
(l-r) Bosco, Abis and Amin.
Open Days in Rwanda
The Mayor and Vice Mayor visit the Urukundo Foundation's booth during Open Days in the stadium.
We were invited to have a booth where people could talk to our staff and see pictures of what Urukundo Foundation is doing, not just for the children but also for the community. It is good public relations.
Umugunda
Umugunda is a very important event in Rwanda. Every last Saturday of the month the government has set aside the morning hours for all citizens to work together in their neighborhood to make it look good. We at Urukundo are a part of that and as a team the work is done well and is fun.
This month was special because four of out toddlers became a part of the team. Vincent and Grace supervised them in their work.
The guards pitch in.
Serephine, Belise & Aline clean up trimmings.
The toddlers join in for their first Umugunda day.
Kenny, Kinela, Agid and Claude part of the team.
Vincent, Grace, Agide, Kinela, Claude, Luki, Neli & another Claude.
Piling trimmings Claude in red and Agide in yellow shirt and tan pants
Filling the bag.
Job finished.
Moving to next clean up area. Can you pick out the toddlers and name them?!
Flag Ceremony
Cyakabiri School and Urukundo Foundation were presented with the nation's flag to be flown at our school. This is indeed an honor. The ceremony was held the last day of the term. Parents, visitors and dignitaries took part in the raising of the Rwandan Flag.
The military were present to do the honors and we were joined by dignitaries from the village, cell, sector and district. Students sang one verse of the National Anthem and the guests helped sing the other verses.
The children worked very hard to memorize the words to the Anthem.
Our teachers were shown recognition. The only thing that made us sad was that Jan Brown, the inspiration and coordinator for the school, could not be with us.