Events

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Greetings from Urukundo Village and Learning Center - August 2013

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The big event for August was an invitation from TEDx to be a speaker at their first ever event in Rwanda.
Such an honor. I accepted the invitation and the fun began. There were several meetings for this event to happen. Meeting the staff was a highlight. They are an amazing group of young people.
Preparing a written talk was a challenge. I am an "off the top of your head" speaker and I found it difficult to write what I would say. The TEDx committee worked with me and accepted a brief of what I wanted to say and let me do my thing. I think it went well. August 9 it happened on a roof top in Kigali City. It was awesome. 
Check out this website.
Some of the cast and crew of the TEDx event.
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Important Event

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During the year Rwanda honors its children with a special day just for them. I was invited to attend this celebration at a public school in Muhanga District. The Vice Mayor Fortunee addressed the children telling them how important education is to them and to the future of Rwanda.
Day for African Children. This day is celebrated every year to show honor to the children of Africa.
Children from Muhanga District participated in the event with skits, poems, songs and dancing.

This week! Mama Arlene is speaking in PA

I will be speaking at
St Johns Newberry, Williamsport PA

DATE AND TIME: May 5, 2013, both the 8am and 10 am services.

I look forward to seeing friends and family there.
I will also be present and speaking at

 

Pittsburgh Children's Museum
at the Hearts for Rwanda Art Show and Sale
DATE AND TIME:  May 9, 2013,  6:00 - 8:00 PM

 

Look out for the April Newsletter in the next day or so! 

 

 

 

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April Greetings from Rwanda and the US

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Hello from both sides of the world.

The April and May newsletters will be unique. I bring you greetings from Sarah our media person in Seattle, Mama in Pennsylvania, the kids at Urukundo Village and Carol Falke in both Urukindo & the US.
I departed Rwanda and Urukundo on April 1. There were mixed feelings as I hugged and kissed and waved bye to all the kids.
The teens had just come home on holiday from secondary school and I had little time to spend with them. We really look forward to holidays.  This one was only for 3 weeks. Knowing Carol Falke from State College would be there for 12 days after I left  made it a little easier for me. 
David, our 4 year old, told me before I left he would watch my bed and not let anyone sleep in it. He was so sincere. At the last minute Johnny picked me a flower from our garden and gave it to me to take with me. Johnny brings me a flower from the yard every day when I am home. 
I left Urukundo Village on a threefold journey. Some of you know I had a vein problem a year and a half ago and it was time to have it checked. The report is excellent. The problem is no more.
The second reason was a joy. My very first grandson Christian was being married to Sara, a wonderful young woman, and I wanted so much to be there.  The weather was perfect and the bride and groom were beautiful. Yep, as Gram of the groom I can say he was beautiful. The photographer even made me look special. Georgia is a beautiful state.
Mama and brother of the groom as escort.
Sara and Christian.
Mother Patricia and Dad Dale.  I am a very happy Grandmother.
The third part of my journey is to find funding to build more classrooms for the Urukundo Learning Center.
I am hoping many of you will take part in this project to provide Education for children who want and deserve an opportunity to learn and succeed in life. Providing that opportunity is the goal of  Urukundo Foundation and its friends and families.
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Congratulations are in Order

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Urukundo was honored by an invitation to the graduation celebration of an amazing school: ESTHER'S CULINARY ARTS SCHOOL, RWANDA. Check out their website.
Esther's Aid trains Rwandan youngsters in the culinary arts at their Heavenly Bread Bakery. I visited this school and was surprised to find as many young men students as young women. Several of our young girls are interested in attending these classes after finishing Senior School.
Urukundo is hoping to build a connection with this amazing organization. It is much more than a bakery. Its director Claire Effiong is doing a great job and is dedicated to making life better for Rwandan young people.  

Serephina is looking forward to being accepted as a student in 2 years.

Julie's Baby

Julie has a baby boy. He is beautiful but has no name. It is the culture that a baby is not named until after he or she is more than a week old. I visited this little boy and his mom and took David, Luki and Claude#2 with me. David thought we should bring the baby home because Jacob needs a friend. He said Julie went to the hospital to find a baby for Mama and she found one and so he is not Julie's baby, he is Mama's. After much discussion it was decided we would let Julie keep the baby because she had milk that God gave her as food for him, and Mama didn't have that good milk.  Kids are awesome.
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Naming Jacob

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His first Sunday in our family Jacob was introduced to the congregation during worship. Pastor Antoine did the honors. We had not had a new baby for over a year and so the kids were excited.

Naming Jacob was a real pleasure for me. Jacob is a biblical name and that is good but Jacob also is the name of my father and so I was privileged to be able to honor my dad by naming a beautiful little boy for him.