As promised, construction is completed except for re-attaching the gutters.
I want to thank our donors for their help in developing this project.
What started as a project to replace the Nursery bathroom has been enlarged to include two teaching rooms and an office for dentistry.
Reception area.
New Dental Office.
Class rooms with new PCs and a printer. A gift from European Union Organization.
New bathroom for the nursery.
This may seem like a strange combination.
Because of poor workmanship and cutting corners during construction of the foundation under the nursery bathroom, the floor and walls started to give way. It was deemed dangerous for our little ones so it was necessary to dismantle the present structure. This was done leaving only the roof intact.
June 5th 2014: removing the bath and utility structure. The floor was sinking and walls unstable.
How does this affect the Dental Initiative? In such a short time the Tiki Hut home of the Dental Project has become too small.
When thinking about the present and looking to the future, a saying from my past comes to mind 'KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE'.
We needed a safe utility and bath for the nursery and rooms for the dental initiative that would also include an indoor utility room. Combining both projects made sense.
Why not make both improvements at the same time? It would initially cost more than planned for but in the long run will save expense.
A firm foundation was laid for the reconstruction and the addition, removing the cracking, breaking walls and adding strength to the foundation.
Foundation of large stones, small stones, sand and good quality cement was laid.
We enclosed the porch for a utility and bath, added 2 more rooms to the structure and connected the new addition to the original Girls' House taking care of both problems.
Men and women at work.
Walls going up June 23rd 2014. Next month's newsletter will picture the finished project and another HOPE MADE REAL.
Our first official sewing class started May 20,2014. Five students enrolled.
These young women have completed Primary School and have no way to go further in education because of the high cost of tuition. Without a skill there is no job available. Urukundo Sewing Center founded and funded by generous supporters in the US and Canada, offers machines to teach sewing and has opened a door that was closed for them.
Read about them below.
Our trainees and trainers:
Thresea, Florida, Jacqueline, Phoibe, Divine, Melonie, Desire
Therese Mukabanany, our teacher for basic sewing, machine maintainance and theory.
Therese had 7 children, but she lost 4 during the genocide and now has 3 in her home. It is important to her that she can educate her remaining children. She was a housewife before starting to sew. With this job she is able to pay school fees for her children and support her family. Her diploma is from ECOLE TECHNIQUE SCHOOL FOR SEWING.
Desire Uwimany teacher for fancy sewing and tailoring, specializing in men’s cloths. He is a father, and had a job tailoring in Kigali but it did not pay well. Desire left that job to come to work at Urukundo. He is pleased because and he said,
“I can pay school fees for my all my children and take care of family."
An opportunity for you to help women and girls to have training in a trade where they can earn an income and provide a better future for themselves and to help their families move out of poverty.
$192 USD will provide tuition for a full year of training. $192 to give a woman or girl a new lease on life. These are persons who are hard workers and want a better future for themselves and others.
Florida is single and has 7 younger brothers and sisters. Before now her life has been cleaning in other peoples homes when she could find the work.
Florida said "Learning to sew will give a job so I can have a better future. I also want to be able to take care of my brothers and & sisters."
Florida hopes to become a teacher.
20 years old, Divine is an orphan with 1 sibling. She stays with a person who wishes her well.
She says: "I will be able tp get a job and support myself. I will stop burdening people with my needs."
Jacqueline Irahuzais, 15 years old, finished primary school at age 12. For 3 years she has prayed for a way to help her family and herself. Her parents are poor and so secondary school was not affordable for her. There is no work available for this young girl. She is so grateful for this opportunity to learn a trade.
With 8 siblings, Phiobe is 16 and has finished primary school with no secondary education in sight due to family poverty. She is unhappy to be at home without anything to do. Her goal is to become a seamstress in time, to own her own machine and have a small business.
Her comment
"I will be able to get a job to support my parents and siblings."
Jacqueline Irahuza - she has 3 siblings and her father is a carpenter. Jacqueline is 15 years old and finished primary school at age 12. For 3 years she has prayed for a way to help her family and herself. Her parents are poor and so secondary school was not affordable for her. There is no work available for this young girl.
"Earning some income is important to me.I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn a trade. I never thought this could happen."
Melanie has 4 siblings, her father is one of guards at Urukundo.
Her thought is: "This is an opportunity for me to be self reliant."
We are so grateful to all the dentists out there who contributed to make this much needed service available at Urukundo Village.
Our first day we scanned 85 children from Urukundo Primary School. 55 needed dental attention and 29 of the 55 needed urgent care.
Notices were sent home to the parents of all children seen. Follow up calls were made.
Saturday March 1st 29 were seen with their parents.
Saturday March 15th 33 were seen with parents.
Parents and children sitting on benches on the porch of the Girls' House waiting their turn.
Little benches outside the Tiki Hut, our dental workstation.
How do you like the grass roof? We really need to get a new roof, but I think this one adds character. What do you all think?
Dentist, Dad and patient.
Dentist, Mom and another patient.
Most times the parents are more anxious than the kids.
Saturday March 22,2014
After covering the Home and school we are opening care and treatment to the children and adults in the community.
Our continuing need is funding for Novocain, Amoxicillin to fight infection after extractions, Ibuprofen for pain and sterile gloves. These can be purchased in Kigali Town as needed.
On Feb 28 our Dentist spent an afternoon explaining and demonstrating dental hygiene to the Primary classes. Our Dental Initiative is an all-inclusive program.
Toothbrushes, toothpaste and smiling kids!
February was full of exciting events at Urukundo Home & Learning Center.
On February 1st an event that seemed impossible took place. Imagine being able to be fitted for a custom garment, and then have a photo op in the finished gift - for all 23 children at Urukundo!
The kids were thrilled and had a great time when Janet and Angela Murray, seamstresses from Canada came to visit. They bought material at the market and worked with the staff at the sewing Center to complete their project.
A dress for each girl and shorts for each boy. The kids saw the process from start to finish.
The day started sunny and bright. Janet and Angela worked to finish their project as today was their last day to be with the kids.
They were due to leave at 3 PM. Most important they wanted photos. The morning was perfect for photo taking. This is Rwanda!
About 1:30 the sun left and the rain came. This was not on our schedule! Photos would have to be taken on the front porch. The lawn would have been so great and the rain would not last long but their timetable was set. Mama's front room became a room of activity as last minute adjustments took place and play clothes were chucked and finishing touches and modeling of handiwork took place. Such fun for Janet, Angela, the mamas, myself and the kids.
Boys model shorts!
while the girls modeled sun dresses. (with boys in the back ground being boys). In the photo:
Janet, Angela, myself & four of our wonderful mamas : Chantel, Delphine, Betty, Francois & the kids.
Saturday February 15 was our start date;
We are stepping out in Faith to accomplish a “Hope Made Real” we have started.
Your help will let us continue. Thank you for making Dental training and Dental care possible at Urukundo Learning Center.
Kenilla having treatment
This month marks the second step toward our goal for a Technical University at the Learning Center. The first step was the Sewing Center where students learn about machines, sewing, tailoring etc.
Treadle sewing machine
Sewing School Building
The second step is
Rwanda Dental Initiative 2014
It is our goal to have several practical teaching programs when university is not an option. The Sewing Center and the Dental Initiative projects are just the beginning of a future for better health and better technical education for Muhanga District and we hope for all of Rwanda.
We have seen so many children at our school with mouth problems. If there had been education for the parents at an early age most of the problems could have been avoided. Prevention is so important. There are over 250 children in our school and that is only preschool and Grade 1 and 2. These are community children.
Our program for the Dental Initiative will be to educate the parents, which means a parent must come with their child and be present for the examination and meet the dentist. They will learn how to help their children and in turn help themselves. We can’t just teach the children, we must also educate the parents.
We will start with the parents of the very young in hopes that instead of taking a small child while teething to a cultural doctor, where the practice is to destroy the teeth below the gum, they will come to Urukundo Dental Program to get help.
Two young men trained in dentistry are donating their time to Urukundo in hopes of training others in the field as assistants to the dentist AND they will be working with the Home, school and community to prevent dental problems in the future. This will be a certificate program. Our graduates will be qualified to accept employment as trained personnel for dental programs throughout Rwanda.
Needs for the DENTAL INITIATIVE
Pressure Cooker for sterilization
***We are starting from scratch.
Our building
The Spot Lamp & our Dental Chair
Saturday February 15 was our start date; we are stepping out in Faith to accomplish a “Hope Made Real” we have started.
Your help will let us continue. Thank you for making Dental Training and Dental Care possible at Urukundo Learning Center.
Kenilla having treatment.
John Paul having his teeth cleaned.
Screening began this week on the children at our school. Notices were sent home to parents if a problem was detected. Dental work will start on the first 20 patients on Saturday March 1,2014. Our main problem is the lack of tools for extractions and our urgent need for a sterilizer. Hoping for that.
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!
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.
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.
Land for new classrooms.
One day a secondary school.