Projects

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Nursery News

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Claudine is walking alone. 

Chairs and two tables were a gift to the Nursery from Helen Kweskin from the US.
Thank you Helen and "one hill at a time" Check out this web site.
Snack time!
Legos and tea party.
You must be under 8 or over 2 1/2 years to be included in this Tea Party. 
Sitting on the floor is a must. This adult does not do that well and only under protest. I get to prepare and serve but am not a guest.
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Moving into the Future

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Renovation is underway for the first phase of an ongoing development project to further improve the education of Rwanda's children.
The preschool is only the first step in "PROJECT EDUCATION". Under the supervision of Jan Brown (no relation), Early Childhood Education Consultant, the former residence & guest house is becoming a school for 3,4,and 5 year olds.  These are exciting times for Urukundo and the community.
Walls are being removed, arches put in their place to open up the area and give more space. Dust is everywhere (the workers are using masks).  Mud bricks and rubble cover the floor.
Applications are already coming for jobs at the school and kids who want to be included. The problem will be the limited space not the lack of kids.
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Greetings from Urukundo Village in the Center of Rwanda

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 Sorry for the delay.  I really appreciate Sarah's note to my partners, family and friends.  It makes the computer responsible and I sure needed an excuse for no newsletter.

"Due to a computer malfunction, there will be a delay in publishing the February 2011 Newsletter."  This really sounds great.  The truth be known and advice given.

Do not spill a cup of tea on your laptop keyboard.

The computer cannot be repaired and so I have lost some precious pictures and documents.  I wonder if anyone else has made this same mistake - or only me!  This means buying a new laptop, which was not in my budget for the months ahead.

Advice for you all and especially me :

Don't drink and computer! 

Oh well, life goes on and the term 'crying over spilt milk' sure applies.  

UPDATE ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE

February has been a month of change at Urukundo.  We have become more agricultural with 7 kitchen gardens.

carrots

cabbage 

Squash

The view standing at the garden site looking south.  There are also red beets, dodo (a type of spinach) green beans, peas and maize. 

Now that electricity is more dependable we can freeze foods for use during the dry season. A gift to buy the freezer was sent to us by a friend in Canada.  Our need now is freezer containers - freezing is not big in Rwanda. 

 

Upcoming Events

200 day old chicks are scheduled to arrive in March.100 layers & 100 broilers.

The small cyber cafe will open in a few days.

Rabbits will soon become a source of meat for the kids.

Purchase of a new guest house. 3/4 paid for from a personal donation, remainder pending help.

Prayers and financial help needed.

I hope you enjoyed Februarys newsletter. It has just been fun for me. The kids make Urukundo a wonderful place.

Newsletter Supplement - Important News

Blessings flow. Prayers needed.

From the very beginning of this ministry the unexpected has happened with GOD IN CHARGE. This faith ministry has been awesome.

My mission goal was to have a Home for Children but I was timid and asked God for a small house. He gave me a big one.

The next request was for a home for boys and I was given a house and a chicken farm. Needing to move the chickens out of the compound for the boys, I asked for a piece of land. God gave me five.

Slowly by slowly (Rwandan expression), enough land was added and Urukundo Village became a real place.

In the village is a Home for Girls, a Home for Boys, a beautiful nursery, a kitchen, a small guest house that only has room for two guests and a Multipurpose House for Worship, the Library and Community Center for meetings and celebrations.  We have what is called a farm with some chickens, 5 sheep, 5 goats and rabbits, a Cow for milk and her calf and the other animals for meat for our kids.  Our land has a kitchen garden planted with vegetables - cabbage, carrots, beans, peas, cassava, corn.

After all this, now God is moving us forward at a great speed. 
A preschool is in process, A community water project is underway, a small Cyber Cafe is in the works and best of all, a compound has become available on the main road that could serve as a house for visitors.

Urukundo Village Guest House. The price is reasonable and the owner is willing to give Urukundo some time to come up with the amount needed.
There is also a piece of land belonging to this property and it can be ours in a package deal.   This property connects to Urukundo Village directly behind the boys home.  This is a well-built house with landscaped grounds, parking space in the rear, water, electricity, two modern baths, four large sleeping rooms. and a master bedroom with bath.  A large front room for use for meetings and events and a lovely porch for just enjoying the beautiful weather.  The necessary walls are already built to protect the property and give our guests privacy.


Read on.
God has opened this door. 

Stepping out in Faith I have deleted my account for my old age in America thinking this is possibly my old age and am praying hard for the balance needed for the purchase to take place.

Buying this property solves many problems.  
The house and grounds I occupy now would become the first building for the preschool. 

There is a walled-in yard in place for the children.  
For a school to operate Government regulations require a clinic and an office. Both are already there.
God plans well. 
The preschool would be in operation while we build for the future. 

Now we would have a guest house with visibility and easy access for our volunteers and visitors. 
The first building of our Education system would be ready for use and at less cost and time than expected.

Prayers and support are needed as decisions are made. 

Mama Arlene

Construction and Development

 
A retaining wall was built to stop erosion at the Residence and the Chicken Farm.
A banana plantation was started.
A stone sand-filled road was built between the Residence and Urukundo Village.
The inside of the Boys' Home was painted and hopefully 2011 will see the same work undertaken in the Girls' Home.
The kitchen had a remodel : poor construction required the addition of ventilators.

Mission Outreach

A well for the community at Nyanza was constructed and is in operation.
This was developed on John's land in Nyanza for the benefit of the community and his land.
Over 300 children are attending Primary school because Urukundo Foundation is in Rwanda.
  The really big news was construction of the Nursery.
 

On the farm, we now have one cow and a young calf, five sheep (2 males and 3 females). We have goats, but they are currently on John's land in Nyanza. We hope to bring them home to Urukundo farm as soon as possible.

 Urukundo Foundation was given official  status as a Non Profit Organization and Mama Arlene was given a permanent Visa by the Immigration Department.

Our first visitors in 2011 have included two working teams of 9 and 18 boarding volunteers, some long- and short-term visitors as well as several day visitors wanting to know more about Urukundo.


Our Goals for the Year Ahead

 In process:
  • Urukundo Home for Children is no longer an organization. The official organization is Urukundo Foundation which is now staffed by employees not volunteers.
  • Urukundo Foundation pay Social Security and income tax are deducted for all employees starting January 2011.
  • It is our desire to produce more of our own food by building kitchen gardens on our own land - 3 are already built.  We intend plant beans and peas in open fields not being used for construction at present.
  • Constructing a well to serve the community and Urukundo village year round and during the dry season.
Thoughts for future income: 
  • Restocking the Chicken Farm.
  • Purchasing a second milk cow.
  • The start up of a Cyber Cafe in Cyeza sector. None exists at present.
  • Construction and start up of an English-centered Preschool on property already owned by Urukundo Foundation.  
  • Developing Hope House as a community center (for weddings, meetings etc) along with its many other purposes.
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From the Nursery

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 A sand box in Rwanda which we designed ourselves.  Yep, it is made of bricks, sand and cement. 
Now that should be simple - but it is not! Sand comes from water sources like oceans, lakes and rivers. We have none of these close to our mountain.  It was necessary to travel a distance to a small creek and buy bags of dirt called sand here.  The sand used in contruction was too coarse. 
The kids love to play in the sand!  We're also looking at a wading pool which will be constructed along similar lines to the sand box.  Not sure how that will work - but kids love to play in water.
 



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The Vision Continues : Visionaries are Needed

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From 2008 to 2010, Urukundo has been laying a strong foundation with the help of many generous people. Our goal has been a better future for Rwanda's children, leaders in the next generation. Now we are ready to build on that foundation.
The concept for URUKUNDO CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER was placed in our hearts by faith and from the 9 children who are 4 years and younger in our home. The potential outreach to the community is immense. The need has been placed before us by a loving God. The beginning step is to construct a preschool; the land is bought and paid for and is waiting. The architect came here on November 27 to access and advise and set forth a plan and costs for the preschool. 
We are trusting God that you will be part of this process to nurture children's growth. Our goal is to be financially responsible as we move forward, because the preschool is just the beginning of our English-based Christian School System.
OUR VISION
Over time we hope to add a Primary School, a Secondary School, and one day on the top of Chakabidi Mountain, a University.
Investors are needed. Educators are welcome. Prayers are necessary. Teachers with Christian hearts are a prerequisite.

What a view for a school! On a clear day, the Volcano can be seen in the middle of the hills in the distance.

Imagine--on this land a school where children are safe, loved, and education is priority!

Huge visions have small beginnings. Here is our plan for an octagonal school building, constructed with sticks and stones.