Greetings from Urukundo Village - May 2014

Can you believe I forgot our founding anniversary until I received congratulations from a friend at Akilah Institute for Women? I can’t believe I did that.

These are some facts and the progress made in the past 8 years. How time has flown.

May 2014 is the 8^th anniversary of Urukundo Foundation.

MAY 6, 2006 Urukundo had its simple beginning.

A rented house, one child, one mama, one guard and me.

May is a very special time for the Urukundo Family.

For those of you who are new to the Urukundo Foundation family and for all you who have been part of the family for a long time I thank you for the love and support you have given. A few reminders of happenings in the last 8 years.

My family in America is awesome and continues to grow with 2 new babies in the past year.

I raised my family in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Lately I am from Pittsburgh as well as Williamsport. I am blessed to be mom to 5, grandmother of 16 and Great Grandmother of 17.

I have had a full life and it expanded when I moved to Rwanda after the genocide to care for vulnerable children. Our children range in ages from 19 years to 1 week old. Our most recent arrival, a little boy, came to us only hours old. 28 kids are in secondary school (high school) 17 are in Pre to P2, and 2 are in public school. 4 are in the nursery. That should add up to 51. Yes I do know all their names and ages but I have to check my records to know when birthdays are. Hey, I'm a mom and I have the same problems with my bunch in the US.

Urukundo Village began in May 2006 as a home for girls, in a year a home for boys was added. When babies entered my life a nursery was needed. From there the farm became a part of the Village. On our farm we have cows, pigs, chickens, goats (both milk and meat) and rabbits. 

With help from Rotary International a clean and free water supply was constructed for the community. Later the Urukundo Learning Center, a Sewing Initiative and a Dental Initiative plus a small shop where we can sell milk and eggs and products made at the sewing were put in place.

The need for quality education for the poor children in the district became apparent.  That need included the kids at Urukundo Village.

Now our village has a home for boys, a home for girls, a nursery, a farm with animals and gardens where we grow much of our own food. A day care for community parents, a preschool, kindergarten, Primary one, primary 2 Music room, and a Library. We have an enrollment in our classes of 295 students. Of that number only 15 come from our home, 280 are from the community. 45 are very poor and pay no tuition. We employ 45 Rwandese citizens and hire new employees from the District thus supporting the economy.

We have seen many changes in our compound and witnessed many changes in the community because we are here. We hope to have a celebration to mark our 10^th anniversary in 2 years. Start planning a trip now so that many of you can join us in the celebration. Remember 2016 is the year.

This is a summary of 8 years because you have cared and continue to help us make a difference.

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!

Agriculture in Rwanda

How many of you have a banana tree with bananas on it in your front yard? Well I do. These are the little bananas that taste as sweet as a candy bar. The purple pod at the bottom of the hand is the seed but you do not plant the pod. New trees come up from the root and grow as the bananas ripen. FYI: A banana tree only produces fruit one time and then the tree dies and the shoot takes its place. This process takes two years. Maybe that is more information than you need to know, but I find it interesting and worth telling you about!

Greetings from Urukundo Village - April 2014

April is a very happy month for Urukundo and for me. My kids are home from boarding school and Urukundo village is alive with activity of a different sort. Teenagers do make a distinctive noise!

THE CHILDRENS FARM

Meet Charlie goat and his companion Matilda.

Matilda

Charlie and Matilda are milk producing goats. Well, maybe Charlie doesn’t produce milk but he and Matilda together produce babies and if they are girls they will produce milk. We are moving away from goats for meat only toward goats for milk and milk products. This is new and rather interseting. I did not know there was a difference. I learn something new every day.

Enjoy our newsletter this month, and the updates on our all our education initiatives.  It is my hope that many will come on board and help build our school, keep the dental program going and encourage education for needy children in Rwanda. Gifts can be any size. There is no such thing as a small gift. Funds are needed and much appreciated.

You can donate online, or by check to the address below:

HMR

Po Box 3222

Williamsport Pa. 17701

USA

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Mama Arlene

Worship

Children at Saint Paul’s UMC Sunday School in State College were touched by the children in Rwanda. The children’s time in worship tells of this event. The book GOD'S DREAM by Desmond Tutu was where the idea for the banner came from. The theme is GOD SMILES LIKE A RAINBOW. The colorful rainbow is made by the beautiful handprints of the children and they gifted it to Urukundo.

Kavine holding banner in place.

Our children are making a banner with their hand prints to send to the children in America. It was a delightful Sunday service.

Getting to First Base

Our team meets with Aimable.

This is the first step in getting a MUSIC PROGRAM at Urukundo Learning Center.

One of the instrument instructors, Bonnene. He plays a mean guitar plus other instruments. Guitar is my favorite although I don’t play.  My love for this instrument may have to do with the fact that my oldest son Ted plays guitar and has a good voice. His music has always filled my heart.

Long Term Volunteer

Saying goodbye is painful. If you don’t believe it, ask Laura Rowland from Pittsburgh, PA USA.

Laura came in February to volunteer for three months at Urukundo.  

Her work here has included assistant teacher at the Preschool/Kindergarten, helping out during playtime at Hope House and assisting at the start up of the Dental Initiative. There she was so appreciated. Her skills as a leader and teacher and her ability to relate to children were a blessing. The kids had trouble with the L and R in her name so she was called many different names while she was here. Never a problem - Rorla was the favorite I think.

The kids watch as Laura and the car drive away. Having them sit on the steps is the only way to make sure none are too close to the car and all are safe.

All of the kids would like to be in her suitcase. They will miss her so much. Her time with us was truly a blessing.

Gathering for pictures was a last fun time for Laura and the kids.

Greetings from Urukundo Village - March 2014

Hello everyone whereever you are.

Spring is just around the corner for many of you, but for us the weather is great. We are planting a second crop because the weather here is playing tricks - but in our favor. Imagine two growing seasons back to back with no dry season in the middle. Seems the climate is changing everywhere.

The children are fine. They have the ordinary scrapes, bumps and bruises. They run too fast, stop too quick and take headers, get up and run again.

Jacob is coming to Mama’s house on his own now. He is so little, but very independent.

He is not ready for soccer yet.

Looks like we have a new girl. (The dress code for children does not exist at Urukundo.). No, it is Jacob learning to run and keep his balance. Not easy on bricks and rough ground.

Visiting Mama's room.

Baby Jenett  is now 4 months old and has discovered her hands. Watching a baby develop is awesome.  She is not sure where they came from or if they are hers but she likes them. She has been using them to hold and grab for some time, but didn’t really see them till now.

I wonder as I watch this baby, how many things we take for granted but do not really see.

At my age I am still learning and many of the lessons come from children.

Jenett

Art

As you can see art is also important at Urukundo Learning Center. We invite art teachers and those interested in creating interest in young people to come to Urukundo. Art teachers are needed short term or long term. Creating a love of art can lead to wonderful career choices as the kids mature.

There are so many facets to art. It is more than drawing and coloring. Building a bridge, a small house or a skyscraper, designing a dress, decorating a home, creating furniture. Yes, even your lawn and garden is a work of art. The greatest artist ever gave us the beauty of the mountains and the colors in the fall. Look around your area. What would it look like if there were no creative minds and eyes to see possibilities. Art as a subject is new here but so important. 

Teacher in a classroom.

Animals of Rwanda.

Rwanda map.

A house.