Projects

Cyakabiri School for Young Children

We welcome four new faculty members to Cyakabiri school for young Children.Urukundo Learning Center

Theogin, Teacher  

Alexis, Teacher's Assistant

Andrew, Teacher  
Solange, Teacher's Assistant
New Faculty Members
Part of the program at Cyakabiri School is teaching hygiene.  

Brushing teeth and washing hands are an important part of this program.

Playing in the water is also fun.

More cardboard bricks are needed. 

Water and Solar Pump Project : the Latest Update

So much has happened this month of February. I hope our readers are not asleep by now. We are so grateful to all our Urukundo friends and family - because of you, this is all made possible.  I stand and cheer for you and ask blessings for you.
The water project, with solar electricity is a dream come true for me and for the community.
Celebrate with us. The water is a gift from God. The ability to accomplish this work is a gift from those who want to make a difference. You have done that for this community and Urukundo Village in Rwanda, Africa. Please continue to keep us in prayer.
Our neighbors and friends came out to celebrate this occasion of WATER.
There are so many who made this possible. I hope saying Rotary International, Central Pennsylvania UMC members and friends is sufficient and covers everyone. Previous newsletters list each contributor.
Cutting the ribbon.
These brave souls hiked to the bottom to view the source of water.
The stone was too hard to mount the stone.  We did the best we could without drills.
Solar Panels and Rotary International emblem.
Young Rotarians touring Urukundo Village.

 

Water and Solar Pump Project

In February the final dedication of the project will take place. It has been in operation for over 2 months and is serving the community very well.
I have been remiss in thanking all who made this project possible.
Water Project:
Caring UMC groups from State College, Pennsylvania.
Park Forest Village UMC
St. Paul's UMC 
Woodycrest UMC
Centre Hall UMC
Houserville UMC
AND Runville UMC in Bellefonte
Trinity UMC in Jersey Shore
Penbrook Trinity UMC in Harrisburg

A special thank you to: 

The International Service Team at Rotary Club of St John's Northwest District 7820, Canada

Solar Pump Power Project:

Rotary International

Spearheaded by: Forest Hills Rotary, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On site management: Kigali-Virunga Rotary Club Kigali City, Rwanda.

Thank you to all who made this project a success and gave gifts from the heart so that clean water would make life better for our community.

 

Urukundo Five Year Report

2006 - 2011

Urukundo Children's Village as of this date has 46 orphans and abandoned children.

18 of our children are in secondary School. 12 are in Primary School.

11 of our children are in Preschool.

5 are in our Nursery (Safe Haven).

6 former young staff members in University. (Designated funds).

First graduate  We are very proud of Diane.

We are giving employment to 34 local citizens.  All employees are covered by medical insurance upon providing proof they have covered their own children with medical coverage from a local hospital.

Urukundo Foundation provides 329 children of very poor families with supplies required in order for them to attend primary school.

Urukundo Foundation cares for 2 families with teen head-of-households with a total of 14 children (several missing when photo taken).

At the same time we need to develop the general infrastructure and create sustainable long-term business.

We can be the first orphanage/NGO ever reaching self-sufficiency and economic independency.

It is an incredible task and challenge.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE

2006. Rented first Urukundo Home for Girls with 15 girls. Today's total is now 21.

2006: Rented first house for guests. Some little income.

2006: purchased four wheel drive vehicle (directors funds).

2007: Rented first Urukundo Home for Boys with 7 boys. Today's total is 24.

2007: First purchase of land to start chicken industry and safe area for kids to play outside of town.

First Chicken House

Deed of first ownership

2007 through 2011: Purchased, registered and paid for 14 joining small properties using (missionary gifts and Arlene's SS income) to establish Urukundo Village.

Claiming the top of the mountain.

2008:  Built a Home for Boys, a soccer field and a basket ball court. 

 

2008: Built a Home for Girls.  (Director's personal funds)

2008-2009: Constructed buildings for kitchen, offices, and storage.


2009: Built Multipurpose House. This house includes a Library, classrooms, meeting room, worship center, celebration house and dorm for teams with more than 4 people.

2009: constructed a shed for the 1 cow and 1 calf.

2009: Purchased another cow and her calf.  (Designated Money from People to People).  Milk for babies and HIV kids.

2009: purchased home for Guesthouse on adjourning property, resident for director, clinic, office.  Now Cyakabiri School for Young Children.

Increased chicken industries to include broilers and layers.  (Producing eggs for income and meat).

Broilers                                        

Layers

2010: started JR Saving’s accounts for kids.  Fina bank

2010: Built a "SAFE HAVEN" Nursery for throw-away babies.  We have 15 Under 5 years.

Established Cyber Café for community and income producing nonprofit business. (Rental property) Purchased 5 PC and a copier.

We planted 7 kitchen gardens and all available land. Veg for children and excess for sale.

Purchased 3 Sheep (designated money). Total now 8 and expecting.  Meat for kids.

Started rabbit hutches purchased 2 rabbits and a gift of 2. 

At present total 64. Sell and use for meat for children.

2011: Director purchased large home and guesthouse. (Personal funds savings for old age. Might be now.)

2011: Purchased house and land (Loan from Fina Bank) protection of children, larger clinic in better location, closer to children. Additional guest rooms to accommodate teams coming as volunteers.   Work not completed.

Received 3 cows from District a gift. Total cows now 5.  Two milk cows and 3 yet to breed. 

Constructed larger housing for number of cows (designated funds) and fenced in pastureland with barbed wire.Fenced in all Urukundo land to protect our children and animals. (Barbed wire)

2011: Purchased 5 pigs a gift from visitors.  (Designated money) Meat and marketing.

2011: Built pig housing.  

2011: Increased goat herd by 12 new goats (designated money) Meat for kids (total 18 at present).

Renovated first cow barn to accommodate goats and sheep.

2011: With support of Park Forest and devoted people Urukundo built a water system for the Binunga Community. In time it will also benefit our schools. (Designated funds)

2011:  Solar pumps and power were added to the water project thanks to Rotary International. (Designated funds). The project will benefit over 3000 people plus Urukundo Village when schools are constructed.

2011: Added 3 tanks for harvesting rainwater. (Designated funds)

Purchased truck for farm. (Designated funds).

Cyakabiri School opened. The first step in the planned URUKUNDO LEARNING CENTER.

The Next Five to Ten Years

Projections

1. Finish renovation on house already purchased for guest rooms for volunteers.

2. Purchase land to house Cyber Café along main road.

3. Start up a day care center for young children and babies of working parents.

4. Add another classroom for Preschool.  (Already have land).

5. Construct a Primary School adding to our school system (starting small) 2 rooms

We own land for this purpose.

6. Construct a secondary school to the system. (Starting small) 2 rooms. (Have land). Growing as required.

7. Construct a Clinic for mothers giving birth requiring post delivery care.

8. Have a well baby clinic for those babies born in the prenatal clinic.

9. Open a dental clinic for the poor.

10. Resurface the basketball court.

11. Purchase house in middle of our property after Government has declared it eminent domain for benefit of community. It can be used as the primary school after purchase.

12. Purchase a lawn mower.

Pick a project and help us reach our goal!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Blessings Flow

Truly water is a blessing that does flow. Thanks to Rotarian Tom Nunnally from the Rotary Club of Forest Hills in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, who presented Urukundo Village with 3 tanks for harvesting rainwater. Thank you Tom for your gift on behalf of Rotary Forest Hills & Rotary International. The water tanks are making a difference in our lives at Urukundo Home for Children.
Tank at Residence.
Tank at farm.
Tank at Nursery.

Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for September 2011

Headlining the month of September and it is difficult to decide which event in our busy month should be the headline!

TIME FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL SPONSORSHIPS

It is that time of the year when our project becomes the community children living in poor circumstances.
If you remember - and even if you don't - last year we were able to send 340 children to primary school thanks to your generous support. These children would not go to school without your love and gifts. The amount needed to supplement what the government provides is $15 USD per child per year.

That $15 provides a uniform, exercise books, pens, book bag, flip flops and a jacket.  
Urukundo Foundation's goal is education for as many children as possible. The need to read and write is a priority.  Pre-school & primary school are where the foundation is laid. 
Investing in education is investing in a better life. Please partner with me so that Urukundo can continue caring for children who deserve a brighter future. This is the best gift to Rwanda's children you can give.

Gifts for education must reach HMR by December 15th to be included in the December wire transfer, and for us to provide the items needed to insure continuing education for the 2012 school year. The school year begins in January. 
Please consider adding EDUCATION FOR A RWANDAN CHILD to your Christmas gift list.

Projects Benefiting Community

The kick off of the solar power project happened on September 17th.  The project is directly connected to the water project funded by Park Forest UMC and others in State College, PA, Rotary International which was well-represented by President Jolly, William Koser and 20 members of the Kigali-Virunga Club.

Presentation of a token check - a bank has the real thing.
Muhanga officials, Rotarians, Coforwa Representatives, press and guests. A wonderful gathering.
Urukundo presenting the check to COFORWA.
L-R: Bill Kosar (Rotary); Me (Urukundo); Mayor of Muhanga District; Damascene (Rep for Coforwa).
The management team.
View of the depths of the mountain. From here it is all downhill.
I was so pleased to be host to this gathering.