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.

The Cutter

Putting it together.

When grass is high I fear snakes, and high grass is hard to play soccer on. Thanks to a good friend we now have a cutter. You may think of it as a weed whacker but believe me it does more than just cut weeds. We now are able to walk everywhere in short grass. Praise God.

Happy New Year!

I know that is the appropriate greeting for a New Year!  We are stepping into 2014 with courage and conviction.

January started with a New Year's celebration. I must admit I stopped in for just a few minutes. I was quite sure 2014 would come in without my help. There was sumbosa and Fanta and the older kids invited friends to come to Hope House for food, Music, very loud music and dancing. The friends then spent the night and had breakfast in the morning before heading home. It was something special for the kids.

Getting ready for the party

Walk with me through happenings in 2013

2013 was an awesome year for Urukundo Home and Learning Center. Briefly here are a few highlights of our  accomplishments in 2013 and our goals for 2014.

Getting Ready for the Party.

#1

3 new children come to our family in 2013.

Jacob arrived as a day-old baby boy.

This is Jacob today. He is one year old, and is walking. He has just had his birthday and is a beautiful boy.

Kaboss was a 3 year old in need of a home and love.

Kaboss now. He attends Preschool and loves it.

Jenett arrived as a one-day-old baby girl.

Jenett - now a 3 month old! Smiling, responding to voices and making baby sounds. She is a love.

We have and are supporting with the help of our sponsors in Urukundo Home for Children:

25 Secondary Students

9 Primary

5 Preschool

6 Kindergarden

5 in Nursery under 3 years.

#2. Urukundo Employees

39 full time workers from the community (this includes guards, mamas, farm help, teachers and 5 part-time for agriculture (planting and harvesting).

#3. Urukundo Learning Center

2 classrooms for Primary 2 and a music room completed and in operation.

Furniture built and delivered.

Music & Arts & Crafts classroom.

We invite teachers with a love of art and music to come and volunteer at Urukundo and lend their talents to our teachers and begin the development of a program for our students. If you love a challenge this will be right up your alley! Come to Urukundo enjoy the children, and become a valued member of our learning team at the ULC. 

Classroom #1

Classroom #2

Urukundo Foundation Education Fund

We have successfully sent 329 students through Primary School. This was a 6 year project started in 2007. This gift was to provide uniforms, shoes, exercise books, pens, jackets and school fees. It included children from neighboring communities. My thanks to all who made this project a success. This funding of $15 per student per year took place at the end of each year.

It is my hope you will continue this gift giving as support for students in our community who need assistance attending school. Education is essential! We are caring for the needs of 35 students in the public school and 45 children from poor circumstances who attend our school and pay no tuition and are helped by this fund. We also have 197 children who pay partial tuition. Your help is needed to allow us to continue this support for education and for our school to grow.

At present we have 3 Preschool classes with 88 students who attend in the mornings.

3 Kindergarten classes with 69 students who attend in the afternoons.

2 Primary one class rooms educating 60 students.

Library

2 Primary 2 classrooms with 58 students.

A Music and Arts Department.

This number will increase each year as new student enrollment numbers increase.

The number of children we can educate is unlimited but we need to add classrooms! Our need is great.

Adult Classes

Sewing Enterprise

We hope these two Projects will be the beginning of our technical school.

The Sewing Center is a teaching program. The center makes uniforms for our school and other schools in the area. It also makes products to be sold. Aprons, bags for every purpose, dresses, shirts and skirts. This is a source of revenue.

For the Community

Exercise classes evenings three times a week for the community in Hope House.

English as a second Language.

3 classes, 3 levels. Our teachers are unpaid volunteers.

Dental Teaching Center

This project is just beginning - more details as it progresses!

The Dental Center will be a teaching program and will offer education to the children and their parents on the value of good dental hygiene.

The Center will work with our school, our home and poor children in the community. In the beginning stages we have a used chair and a light. We need everything else. Two dentistry personnel from Kabgayi Dental Clinic are heading this project for Urukundo. More equipment is needed.