We are still building retaining walls. This one is a big one, protecting the library and classrooms. One extra plus is it does keep community citizens employed.
Last month you saw this work in progress. Now you see the finished gate house.
Another Thank You
BAGS OF BLESSINGS
Christmas was extra special for our children, thanks to St. Paul's United Methodist Church, State College, Pa., USA. Over 100 bags were hand-decorated and filled with precious gifts for the children in Urukundo Village, Binunga Community of Muhanga, Rwanda.
Rowan Miller is one of the wonderful kids in the toddlerís class at St. Paulís Sunday School. They are sharing. The toddlers, moms and dads were an inspiration. Little ones willing to share with other little ones is what the love of Christ and Christmas is all about. These bags also can be used as backpacks for the younger children and for delivering infant clothing to new mamas passing through the MAMA & BABY OUTREACH.
Thank you, St. Paulís and all who made this special time even more special for over 700 children who shared the bags of blessings in a small town in Rwanda. You are a blessing to us.
Our kids were so excited.
Catch the Vision
URUKUNDO’S GOAL FOR THE NEW YEAR (2018)
Help make 2018 outstanding for Urukundo/ Hope Made Real. Your love and your gifts can make it happen.
Large and small donations can make it possible.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO REACH OUR GOAL OF BUILDING A HIGH SCHOOL FOR URUKUNDO LEARNING CENTER IN 2018!
THE ESTIMATED COST IS $300,000 USD.
This will pay for CLEARING, LEVELING, MAINTAINING WALLS, FOUNDATION & COMPLETING THE STRUCTURE.
A grant for the full amount would be a HOPE MADE REAL. Donations of any amount leading toward the total amount needed would be appreciated. Need a tax break? Give it to a worthwhile project furthering education for needy children. All donations are “TAX DEDUCTIBLE”
We already have the necessary permission to build from the District. We own the land on which we'll build our High School. This Learning Center is so needed by the community.
Blueprints and itemized costs are available for viewing upon request.
Our contractor will answer any questions.
We will keep you informed as progress is made - prayers and funding please.
Construction at Urukundo Learning Center
Latest progress report on Primary 4.
The ground is cleared, leveled and the foundation is in progress.
How very wonderful.
February Special News
If hearts sing and love abounds in February, mine is right in tune. Urukundo is so blessed.
We have big news to share! We have a new name for our Dental Initiative.
University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Dentistry and Urukundo Dental.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Document signing, sealed with a handshake.
A delegation of 7 came to Urukundo Village from the University School of Dentistry to take part in the signing ceremony making Urukundo Dental Initiative part of the School of Dentistry.
Muhumuza Ibra - Dean, School of Dentistry - University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Karl Self - University of Minnesota School of Dentistry and Donna.
Sawsan Salih - Associate to the Dean of the School of Dentistry, Harvard School of Dental Medicine.
Valli Meeks - University of Maryland School of Dentistry.
Valli is from Philadelphia, PA. She is definitely a HOME GIRL for me - same accent!
Valli, Sawsan and Karl are part of the United States faculty working with the Rwanda Human Resources for Health Project.
Valli is from Philadelphia, PA. She is definitely a HOME GIRL for me - same accent!
Valli, Sawsan and Karl are part of the United States faculty working with the Rwanda Human Resources for Health Project.
(l-r) Ethel, Mama Arlene, Julienne, Valli
Ethel and Julienne are instructors at the University School of Dentistry.
Ethel and Julienne are instructors at the University School of Dentistry.
Summary of the MOU
This is a brief summary of how it will operate.
The school will pay for food and housing only for their students and instructor. There is no large financial gain for Urukundo from the school but there will be recognition and the connection with the University giving us creditability. We are a fully equipped Dental Clinic in operation. We purchase our own supplies and have our volunteer clinic staff. The University will supply the guidelines to ensure we conform with government regulations. They will also respond to any urgent needs.
The school will pay for food and housing only for their students and instructor. There is no large financial gain for Urukundo from the school but there will be recognition and the connection with the University giving us creditability. We are a fully equipped Dental Clinic in operation. We purchase our own supplies and have our volunteer clinic staff. The University will supply the guidelines to ensure we conform with government regulations. They will also respond to any urgent needs.
We can do our own charging for services. For difficult cases, we can send the client to the Dental Hospital at the University and the cost will not change for our patients. This will give them access to dental services they could otherwise not afford. Also our dental service can now advertise and be open Monday through Saturday noon. This will give us many more clients. Our clients pay a minimum charge for consultation and depending on the service needed the cost will be determined by what the client can afford. Some will be free and others will pay a reasonable cost. We hope in that way to give good service and to pay for needed supplies.
We are operating under the University license. This is an important contribution from the School of Dentistry. There will be 6 to 10 students coming for clinical training each month on a two-week rotation program and an instructor coming with them.
This is a very important step for Urukundo. It also helps our standing in the district. It should be very interesting. I am sure there will be changes as we move forward. We are a pilot program for the University. If our relationship is successful the University will expand the program to other areas of Rwanda using Urukundo as the model.
Project with a Purpose
Serious work has started on the MOM & BABY LOVE HOUSE.
It gives a new meaning the term RAISING THE ROOF. The celling was two low for the cabinet we needed to move into the room so in Urukundo you look for a shorter cabinet you just raise the celling thus raise the roof. It is amazing the difference in your prospective when you don’t have funds to just go out and buy new but you adjust to fit what you have. We already had the bricks from renovation the other house and labor and cement for the project cost less than a new cabinet and finding what to do with the old one still in good shape.
The house as a guest house and house for the older girls on holiday. Can’t wait to see what it will look like next month. There will be more update on this project as it moves along.
House of Culture
View from the front porch of the HOUSE OF CULTURE
The blue roof is the Primary school. Trees had to go. Avocado trees are dangerous when children are playing under them. The nut is quite large and falling from the tree can seriously hurt a child.
Looks like a good building. Not so the bricks are held together with mud but no cement. It's not safe for our children and so it must come down.
Day one of demolition.
Day three and the building is gone.
Progress Report
In November’s newsletter I shared with you the joy a gift from a dear friend REV. MARJORIE GLASCOW after she departed this life made and how it allowed another HOPE to be MADE REAL.
Pictures of the house and the land purchased from the gift she wished Urukundo to receive are in November’s newsletter.
Renovation to make the house part of the school started at once.
The HOUSE OF CULTURE will soon be a reality.
The Inspection Team.
General Foreman: Mr. David.
LANCE GASKILL Our music & Art consultant.
Day two. Outside walls came down.
Bricks are salvaged for later use. Claude is foreman on this job.
Olivier hard at work.
Tresor and John Paul are good at demolition on the wall. We are blessed with young men who are not afraid of hard work.
Luki joined the brick brigade.
Holes began to appear and the dust was awful. Facemasks were borrowed from the Dental Imitative. This sure helped the breathing problem.
Bathrooms dismantled.
The work goes on. More in the January Newsletter.
Dental Initiative Update
Breaking news
Urukundo Dental Initiative has applied to the Rwanda Health Department for recognition as a Community Service Organization.
DID YOU KNOW? The tooth is the only part of the human body that can’t repair itself.
With the new chair and 2 new dentists we are really HIGH TECH. Urukundo Initiative wants to say THANK YOU to all the wonderful dentists and others who helped us with materials, machines and dollars for needed supplies to make such a worthwhile program posssible.
