Current Events and Progress

Knowing we must move forward in order for the classrooms for Primary 3 to be ready for January 2015 we are clearing and leveling. Next step is the foundation. The plan calls for a two story building.  It is our HOPE to finish building two rooms each for the next 4 grades in this building. A single two-storey building with four rooms on each floor would save labor, time and construction costs.

“God in charge”

The workers are doing a great job.  Leveling a mountain is definitely hard work.

Looking good!

Adult Classes

Sewing Enterprise

We hope these two Projects will be the beginning of our technical school.

The Sewing Center is a teaching program. The center makes uniforms for our school and other schools in the area. It also makes products to be sold. Aprons, bags for every purpose, dresses, shirts and skirts. This is a source of revenue.

For the Community

Exercise classes evenings three times a week for the community in Hope House.

English as a second Language.

3 classes, 3 levels. Our teachers are unpaid volunteers.

Dental Teaching Center

This project is just beginning - more details as it progresses!

The Dental Center will be a teaching program and will offer education to the children and their parents on the value of good dental hygiene.

The Center will work with our school, our home and poor children in the community. In the beginning stages we have a used chair and a light. We need everything else. Two dentistry personnel from Kabgayi Dental Clinic are heading this project for Urukundo. More equipment is needed.

Growing Kids and Views from the School

I will send different pictures each month so you will know all the kids as they grow. I am in awe as they change so much and so fast. It would be my pleasure to send you pictures of all 48 kids at one time but the server would refuse because of volume.

The kids are well and looking forward to our seasonal holiday with no school until January 2014. This is a time when we are all together as a family at Urukundo Village.  I love having all the kids home.

Agide 6 years. Graduated from Kindergarten to First Grade in 2014.

David, 6 years old, 2013 Graduate, Grade 1 2014.

Claudine, 6 years old, a beautiful little girl. In Preschool and received a special award at graduation ceremony.

Sarah, 5 years old, number one in her class. Kindergarten 2014.

Rebekah 4 year old, preschool, still missing front teeth.

Johnny 5 year old, Kindergarten 2014.

Kaboss, 4 year old, Kindergarten 2014.

Kenilla, 6 year old, Grade 1, 2014.

After seeing the kids I want to share with you the beautiful land where we live in Rwanda. This is the view from in front of the primary school.

It will be interesting to see the new buildings develop on this land. The mountain view will not change.

View of the mountains.

Land for new classrooms.

Building area and view.

One day a secondary school.

Upcoming Event

It is our hope The Love Day Care Center will open officially in October.

We are excited to be offering a safe place for small children who are not old enough to be in school and parents need to go to a job to have a safe place to be cared for. Having a nursery already equipped with cribs and a play room for small children and an outside play area is to our advantage. We will have to hire mamas to care for these children.

We are also offering lunch in our dining room for children who are in our Primary School and cannot go home for lunch because of distance. This is beneficial for the community and for Urukundo Foundation. These are opportunities for Urukundo to be more self sufficient.

We will update you on this opening next month.

Latest Pictures from the School Construction

Two Primary 2 class rooms (second grade) and 1 music room finished ready for desks, chairs and students.

Primary 2 (second grade) class rooms.

Teacher enjoying the view.

Primary grade one class rooms.

Progress on School Project

We are negotiating with a builder for desks and chairs. The desks open.

Each set costs 21,000 rwf. Don't panic. That is about $32 USD for a desk and a chair. 50 students will move to second grade.

Pictured below is what you will be giving to the first class and future classes with your gift.

Cement under overhang completed. 

The first coat of rust-proof paint on windows, doors and gutter is finished. Blue paint to follow.

The window glass goes in next.

Funding is needed. Appriciate your help.

This is the site of our next building project, we hope.

It will be a two story building saving land and will house grades 3 & 4. This land is for sale. We need it, and we need partners.

A donation to Hope Made Real reduces your income tax as we are a 501(c)3 organization.

Think about it. What better way to spend your hard earned money?

Sports News

The second half of the basketball court is completed and we once again have a court to play basketball and volley ball. We are grateful to the Carnagie Mellon team for starting this project.

Preparing the final stages of construction. Benjimin and his crew do a good job. Covering stones on basketball court preparing for cement.

First cement in place and beginning to dry.

Finished - a beautiful sight. Thanks for everyone who helped make this possible. Your gifts really do make a difference.

Progress on Construction Phase 3 of School Project

Work continues.  Our goal is to have the classrooms ready for school year 2014. 

Yet to be completed - windows, doors, roof, all inside work and desks, chairs, shelves, teachers' desks & chairs.

We have a long way to go.

Retaining wall to prevent mud slides.

State College Team

The team from State College were busy the weeks they were at Urukundo. Projects included working in the preschool and primary school classrooms, continuing sister school partnerships and teacher trainings. Pen pal letters were shared with teens, art was taught to women in the English classes, kitchen gardens received a much needed facelift, soap and hygiene products were purchased and delivered to 400 university students and orders were made for sewing projects to be sold in the US.

Carol Falke, Carol Baney, Linda Schimmel

Progress

The first step toward a SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY has been taken with a sewing enterprise.

Urukundo took an existing building and removed walls.

We made sure there was a need, then purchased 5 regular machines and 2 special machines.

This is not only a sewing class with a qualified teacher it is also an enterprise where local woman can participate and support their families.Designated funds were used to start the URUKUNDO SEWING CENTER.

Project: Basketball Court Renewal

This team of 16 students, a team leader and advisor visited Urukundo In March. Their goal was to refinish the basketball court. It was in need of redoing. The basketball court is used hard by the Urukundo Learning Center, the Community and our Urukundo Kids for exercise, basketball,  volleyball and other play activities. It is an asset to our Village.

Our guys started the demolition in preparation for the team's visit.

Although the project was not completed the team worked very hard. Time was not enough to complete everything. Added financing is needed for cement to finish the work.

While they were here they visited Akagere National game Park, The Genocide Memorial and The Campus of Carnagie Mellon - Rwanda. It was our pleasure to have these wonderful young people even though the time was short.

The team worked hard and did a very good job.

About 2/3 of the playing field is finished. We need to get it finished ASAP. It is not useable as it stands now.

We thank CMU for the wonderful gift of work on the field and the time they spent with our children.

Hearts for Rwanda

A vote of thanks to a special young girl with a HEART FOR RWANDA.

HALEY JUSTICE from State College, Pa, USA

HEARTS FOR RWANDA IS AWESOME.

Haley needs to come visit Urukundo and meet the kids. Our kids are our strength for the future. Young people like Haley will make a difference. Thank you Haley from Mama and all the Urukundo Kids.