Projects

Progress Report on the Water Project

 COFORWA has completed the first phase of the clean and accessible water project designated to benefit the community and in time Urukundo schools. 
The need for safe, clean water and a more easily available source for women and children was recognized by Park Forest UMC in State College, Pennsylvania. They served as ambassadors for Urukundo Village and the water project telling the story to others who joined with them in this worthwhile project. It became the project of a community of loving caring people. 
We are so grateful and give thanks.
Tank at the source of the water. More than 3/4 of the tank is below ground. This tank is fed by springs which do not dry up during the dry season and provide a constant source of water.
The second tank is along a road where the community can fetch water for their families.
Storage tank at the top of the mountain. Over half of this tank is also below the ground surface.
This completes Phase one.
Now Phase Two has started thanks to Rotarians Tom Nunnally, Maureen McMohan, Patricia Brown and Forest Hills Rotary Club of Pittsburgh, Pa. Hearing of our need for electricity to make the Water Project successful they decided this was a project Rotary could make happen. The Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Club of Forest Hills & the Kigali-Virunga Rotary Club of Kigali, Rwanda came together as a mighty force and clean safe water will be available to the Cyeza sector of Muhanga District.  The completion date is set for late October or early November. 
 The power was needed to get the water from the source at the bottom of the mountain to the holding tank at the top. 
It is awesome to see what can be done when caring people come together in a common cause.
Solar energy pumps will move the water up the mountain and gravity will send the water to the tank for the community and the tank for Urukundo schools and Village. It is wonderful that we have a constant supply of sun power!
Members of the community told the press: "This is a dream we never thought would happen"
Urukundo Foundation and Coforwa are blessed to be a part of this Hope Made Real.

Further Developments

We were able with a loan from Fina Bank to purchase one of the problem properties (there were two) and we have eliminated a real danger to our kids. The property sat in the path between the kids' homes and the house where mama lives and was being used as a garage to repair moto bikes, bicycles and trucks. Fear that a toddler might wander trying to find mama and get hit by a vehicle is now a thing of the past.

We plan to close the road at this end of the wall with no access for traffic.

The brown gate on the left goes directly into the Kids' homes and the blue one on the right to my residence and guesthouse.  You can see the danger for visitors and kids. 

This is a view inside the new property. There is a second house behind the front one that is not visible.

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Cyakabiri School Report

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It is for sure we need to have more rooms for students. There are many more 3 to 5 year olds waiting to enroll. We need the space and teachers.  Volunteer teachers interested in being a part of this adventure in education in Rwanda, Africa are welcome to inquire and learn more about the goals of the school. This may be just the opportunity you have been waiting for. You will make a difference in the lives of small children.
Learning to match. Learning through doing.
Sun glasses and a worker's helmet. What fun! Morning snack is also good.
Claude from Urukundo Home for Children. We now have 7 children from our Home enrolled in our school for small children.
Dress up and pretend. Imagination is a new nation for the students.
Morning greeting.
Different expressions in one photo - I wonder what their thoughts are.
It is in the eyes.
The toy pig gets a house...then a wall so he cannot run away.  It's amazing how quickly the pighouse becomes a garage for moto cars!

Urukundo and the Community Work Together

The water project is nearing completion. The community, Urukundo Village and our schools will benefit from the water. 
Help to contain the water in a useable manner came from christians in State College Pa, Rotary in Canada, and North Carolina's Tina Pennington's "RAISED HANDS FOR AFRICA" Ministry.  We thank all who made this happen.
The next step is power to get the water to the top of the mountain and into the reservoir at the top. We are blessed with friends who are making this happen. More about this later.
Reservoir #2 at the top of the mountain.
Reservoir # 1 at the source of the water at the bottom of the mountain.
Reservoir #3 - clean safe drinking water with easy access for our community and our Village.
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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for June 2011

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Greetings from Urukundo Village and from all the kids at Urukundo Home.May, June and July are the dry months in Rwanda but we have had just enough rain to keep our vegetable gardens producing. 

The great news for June is that the  Ruli Public School where our Primary kids attend has been selected by the government to participate in the ONE CHILD ONE LAPTOP program.  Vincent, administrator for Urukundo Home visited the school with the kids and we were given the laptops to bring home for the 10 kids who are in P4,5 & 6.  They are very colorful, light weight and fun to use.
The dining room in the new guest house is perfect for a learning center and it has electricity and wireless. Our children are moving ahead into the computer age.   Without the new house this would not have been possible.  Awesome how God works.
The kids are excited and Lisa Martilotta from Long Island NY a Saturday volunteer for teaching advanced English to our staff has volunteered to teach computer to the kids. She is an excellent teacher and started that very day June 25th teaching computer fundamentals and Internet.  Thank you Lisa.

Community Water Project

The water project for the community is moving along but of course always the limitations is money. It wasn't smart, but we did not figure electricity in the original cost estimate so we wait upon God.
The community is supplying the labor and it is hard labor. It will most benefit the women, children and girls who carry the water up the mountain on their heads.  When this is finished there will be easy access to essential water.
With tears in their eyes the women hugged me said, "This has been a dream and now it is really going to happen. We did not think is was possible".  My response "With God all things are possible"
carrying stones to the work site.
foundation work.
The water source at the bottom of the mountain.
Keep us and this project in prayer we need an additional $5000 to complete the work. Not much, but when you don't have it - well you know the rest!
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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for April 2011 - Part Two

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The Second Half of a Wonderful Month at Urukundo Village

The Vice Mayor of Family Development and Gender and her assistant paid a visit to Urukundo Village.  They met the kids and heard them sing.

She encouraged the kids to work hard in school and to have a goal in life. She visited the school project and toured the Village.  We were honored by her presence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water : the Project

During the week of remembrance of the families lost in the Genocide, beginning April 7th,  how appropriate to celebrate water, the life-sustaining gift from God the day before. 
The Binunga Village is indeed celebrating the joy of the gift of water as it also remembers its dead. 
 
I did not understand the delays in getting this project started and it was frustrating, but God's timing is better than mine. "We hear the words of hope ine the midst of despair and sorrow." (from Park Forest UMC web site).  The life giving water is a source of hope and our Hope lies in the resurrection of Christ.  Both are a gift of love. Think on this and join me in prayer of thanksgiving and remembrance.

The Cornerstone

The community, Urukundo Kids and staff, FBX and Coforwa gathered to witness and celebrate the beginning of a project that will give easy access and safe, clean water to the Urukundo Village and its surrounding community. Those benefitting most are the women, children and girls who traverse the steep mountain daily to get water for their family. Bringing the water to the top of the mountain is no easy task. One woman commented: 'This has been a dream for years and now it is becoming real.'  HOPE MADE REAL - and you are making it happen with gifts to HMR designated 'Water Project'.
 
Reservoirs will be built of stone, both at the source of the water and at the top of Cyakibiri Mountain. How special that the water will be placed in the center of Rwanda.  CYAKIBIRI translates as CENTER, and our mountain is at the heart of this beautiful country Rwanda. 
The challenge now is to secure the electricity for the pump, already included in the project plan. This was not included in the original cost estimate. The Lord will provide. You can help.  Make this dream and Hope Real!
In the photo
Representative of FBX (Madam in glasses, representative Damascene from COFORWA, myself and the Vice Mayor of Muhanga District.  We were honored by the Vice Mayor's presence.
Not sure if I am praying or singing both are appropriate for this momentous occasion. The Urukundo Kids are gathered behind Mama.
Vincent, our resident Papa (also Master of Ceremony) and Felicitie, resident Mama (in purple shawl) made the journey along with me to the bottom of the mountain. Coming down was interesting. Going up was breath taking! SERIOUSLY - altitude does a number especially for flat land dwellers.
Our children danced for water - such joy!