Meet The Children

,

The first 25 kids

,

A visit to our university house in Kigali. It’s unusual to find nine of the 10 kids at home at the same time. Perfect photo op. Dada (Pacifique) was in class so is not in the group. Oliver doesn’t start university until September. He then will move to the university house also.

2019-07-first-25-kids-1.jpg

Back row: Divine, Esperance, Bosco, Alexander, Abais

Front row: Giselle, Deborah, Cecelia, Lilliane

Bringing you, our long-time friends, up to date as to where the original 25 Urukundo kids are now. This group became family in 2006. Where are they in 2019?

The 11 above are or will be living the the university house. Solange is in Texas, USA, working on her master’s degree. Tresor is in California, USA, serving an internship in computer development after graduating in May 2019 from Arizona State University. John Paul, returned from Seattle, Washington, USA, after achieving his physical education certificate and is working at Urukundo Learning Center as a sports coach. Amin and Seraphina, with certificates in culinary arts, are on the job in Urukundo’s kitchen. Diescor is a medical student in school in Butare. Lucy and Fabrice are living with family and attending university. Anita, Anette, Emmanuel, Florentine, Savronia and Big Claude are now independent.

This accounts of all 25 of the first generation of Urukundo’s kids.

I am a very proud mama.

Faces

2019-03-faces-1.jpg
2019-03-faces-2.jpg
2019-03-faces-3.jpg
2019-03-faces-4.jpg
2019-03-faces-5.jpg
2019-03-faces-6.jpg
2019-03-faces-7.jpg
2019-03-faces-8.jpg

My favorite time in life is watching the precious babies and seeing the many dear faces that mean so much to me.

Thank you, Alan, for sharing your photos with us. Beautiful faces.

In addition to Alan’s photos, here’s another beautiful face. This is Ava Arlene, daughter of executive director Jean Marie and his wife Larrisa. Ava Arlene is my namesake in Rwanda.

And I am so proud of Tresor, our student graduating from Arizona State University in the USA in May.

, , ,

Fashion Show

, , ,

Now last, but not least, I give you an Urukundo fashion show.

These Urukundo fashion treasures will be part of the celebration in Pittsburgh on April 27 and 28.

Come meet and greet me, Mama Arlene, and learn more about Urukundo, the foundation based on love. Translated, Urukundo is the Rwandan word for love.

Mama Arlene

Ready to support the children???

2019-03-fashion-show-1.jpg
2019-03-fashion-show-2.jpg
2019-03-fashion-show-3.jpg
2019-03-fashion-show-4.jpg
2019-03-fashion-show-5.jpg
2019-03-fashion-show-6.jpg
, ,

Good news

, ,

Starting the new year, nine of our children remain in our home.

Three of them -- Claude, Aline and Luki -- are waiting for their national exam results and then will be going to secondary boarding school. They will return to Urukundo for school holidays. As is normal, we will share them with their families.

good-news-1.png

Claude, Aline and Luki.

David has been given permission from his foster family to stay home with us and attend Primary 6 here rather than disrupt his education in the last year of primary.

good-news-2.png

Of the children who have moved on to other families Jacob, Prince, Kevine, Banita and possible Rebekah will live close enough to be students at Urukundo Learning Center.

,

Extended Families

,

August was a mixed month as school was in session for two weeks and on break for two weeks.
This was a time for children in our home to visit their extended families.

Urukundo kids are so blessed to have made contact with their extended families. It is our hope that more of the children will be connected to families.
Prince and his grandfather
Younger Claude  and his mother Pacifique.
Soso and his father
Older Claude and his mother Olive