September's new additions.
Cooking with Gas
The Biogas project is finished. What a step forward this is for us and for the environment.
Learning to cook with gas is the next challenge. There will be another larger burner at the open end of the cooking shelf.
There will be much less smoke in the kitchen and that is good for the health of the cooks and the atmosphere.
Progress on the Primary School
Progress on the first three classrooms of the Primary School.
Funding is needed.
Inside walls ready for finishing.
Front view - the metal sheet roof will be added soon.
Preschool Teachers Encouraged
Robin and Carol do teacher training.
Pastor Lee working with Sunday School teachers. The flannel board concept is new to our teachers.
Our Farm Reaped Blessings
Dave & Kira taught us farming from a new perspective. Mangers for feeding the cows is a big help in food consumption. Along with the chopper we are feeding our cows in a better way.
The manger works also for the goats.
Papa goat now has a home of his own for entertaining. Helping us keep better records.
Water and feeders for the rabbits were ingenious and a simple solution
Awesome what an inventor like Kevin can do with a plastic glass, a saucer, a nail and a block of wood. Thank you Kevin.Construction Update
Latest picture of the Primary School construction.
What a month of activity. What will next month bring?A New and Safer Play Area for our Kids - In Process
Thanks to RAISED HANDS FOR AFRICA Our children are watching a play area being developing for them and are making good use of it already. The mound of dirt under the bars is such fun. You can roll down the hill without getting hurt. The mound of dirt will be gone soon. We will have to think about that.
A good place to play hand games.
Exercise is good. Acrobatics are better.
Wheelbarrow with Soso thinking it might be good for a ride!
Claude standing up on top bars.
Watch Soso progress - he starts the climb.
Soso tries a different approach.
Making connection.
Success. Soso swings. This little guy is amazing.Play Area Cleared and Leveled
Next step is swings for small and big kids. Benjimin is constructing them as I write. We will use metal pipe, chains and wood. I can't wait to see what develops - it is always rather interesting to see what can be achieved with materials on hand and available.
The little kids do miss the dirt heap under the parallel bars. Guess we need a short one for them.
Leveled and ready.
Primary School - First Building
There will be three classrooms, an outside toilet, a water harvest tank & outside paint. The extra classroom, rain harvest tank and outside paint were not included in the cost of the first building we constructed for the preschool. These costs were added after construction was finished. The cost will be more than the anticipated cost and that pledged by our friends in Canada. We need additional funds to have the school ready by January 2013. Three classrooms is the requirement of the District.
Plan for our school
Dream along with me and the 6 year olds at Cyakabiri Preschool. The 6 year olds will graduate from Preschool at the end of the next term if the Primary 1 classroom is ready to receive them. I am not sure the classrooms will be ready as we need assistance to get the school classrooms constructed. The road giving access to the land is finished and the land is leveled and waiting.
Community Education
Women in Rwanda want to learn English!
Urukundo Foundation will sponsor them.
- Women gather for the first meeting to learn more about ESL classes just for them.
- This proect is co-sponsored by AKILAH INSITUTE FOR WOMEN.
- The project is for mother with small children who want to learn English but have no funds for classes or funds for babysitters.
- The class is free with babysitting available for the small children while the mothers are in class.
- The new playground at the nursery will be a real blessing for these small children and our kids. 'RAISED HANDS FOR AFRICA', a not for profit in North Carolina, is constructing this play area for our children and children in the community. This may be the introduction to a day care center for working mothers. This day care center has been in the vision from the beginning but the time has not been right.
- We will need to hire day helpers to care for the children of the mamas in the ESL classes and keep them busy.
- There is no telling where God is leading us.
If you are looking for a project to support this is a very worthwhile. Your support would be a great gift to many!
Development in Progress
Site of the future Primary School.
The land for the primary school is being leveled and a local contractor is willing to go ahead with the building having faith that Urukundo will receive the funds needed for the project and will pay him. I am awed by his faith.
There will be three class rooms in this first building project. They will extend the length of the bamboo fence in the picture. This building will be similar to the Preschool building but with an additional classroom.
Help is certainly needed to build this school.
From this area the volcano is visible on a clear day. The view is breath-taking.
Please pray with us for the success of this project.
Mama
What is there to do at Urukundo Village?
Ask the 7 Students and 2 leaders from SMU in Texas, USA. They came for a day and worked hard.
Michael Dearman, Corbin Swagerty and Sargent Jimmy Winn, the co-leader, worked at clearing the land in preparation for building the hoped-for primary school. This was the first work signaling the beginning of Project PRIMARY SCHOOL.
Oscar our administrator supervised.
The girls removed bricks from an old wall and we will reuse them to construct the chicken house.
Their leader Pat Davis and Haleigh Wagner work in the library. Indeed there are many jobs to do. Spending time with the children is an added bonus.
Thank you for coming and sharing SMU, Texas.
One child, one laptop. Corbin's research project in action.
It turned out Corbin's research project for school was the project ONE CHILD, ONE LAPTOP. He was delighted to see the actual laptops being used.
Ketetha Olengue (with baby Diane on her back) and the girls spent time with the babies and toddlers. The girls helped with baths, and helped serve breakfast and lunch. The most fun was singing with Corbin on the guitar, sharing story and game time. Our kids loved every minute.