Mama’s book

For some time now, I have been sharing with you the expected birth of my book. Yep, it is like giving birth. The process takes too long and the labor pains seem to go on forever. Finally, the book is produced. Like with a newborn, I am hoping and praying all is well and everyone will love the new (book) baby.

So, OK. Because I am 89 years old, a baby is not possible, but a new book is. Hope you all like my creation.

My manuscript is “Hope Made Real.” It is now a book and is available in ebook and paperback. While the book can be purchased in several locations, here is the Internet address for people to order my book directly from the bookshop where we earn a great deal more on each book sold. https://store.bookbaby.com/book/hope-made-real

Please note all proceeds from the book go to the Urukundo Learning Center Education Fund.

More information is available on the website. Check in there, please.

Book front cover.

Music, music, music

Our dream at Urukundo Learning Center long has been to have a drum set of our own and not have to rent one for graduation and special occasions. Thanks to an anonymous donor, our dream is now truly a “hope made real.” Sadly, there will be no graduation ceremony this year to celebrate, but we look forward to the future.

Music is so special at Urukundo. We began with kazoos and slowly by slowly (Rwanda term) added a keyboard, violins, guitars and even cultural instruments to our program.

I thank all who have contributed to making our music program a success over the years.

Music comes more abundantly to Urukundo. The donor also funded all the new equipment below. We are so blessed.

We now have instruments for our very own Urukundo school band. The piano also will serve our orchestra.

Hey, it’s a start. These kids and the music teacher, Emanuel, practice even though school is not in session. That’s devotion.

Coronavirus and safety rules

We are working hard to meet government regulations preparing for school reopening in September. Most important is the station for washing hands.

This wash station is recommended by the Ministry of Health of Rwanda. The tank holds one jerrycan (20 liters) of water and is worked by a foot pedal.

The approximate cost is $30 each. We need 15 because one wash station is required for every two classrooms, one for each of the two gates and one for the lunchroom.

Along with the wash stations, each child and teacher must have two face masks, one for morning and one for the afternoon. We are recommending four each as two would need to be washed or sanitized while the other two are with the child at school.

This is going to be an interesting new school year. We are doing our best as I believe our government is making these requirements for the health and welfare of our children and teachers.

We are now in the process of meeting the government regulations for distancing between students. Four additional classrooms are needed to provide enough space.

In May, we completed two of the needed classrooms. Two more are needed to be able to reopen our school in September. These two are ready.

Another two are in process.

Hoping to be financially able to complete these next two in the next month. To complete the construction, we need glass for windows, outside cement and grass to hold the soil.

Cement for floors and inside wall paint.

We needed to install fencing to protect the children from falling over the very steep bank in front of the upper-level classroom.

Our students’ safety is a special concern at Urukundo Learning Center. Leveling to build creates high and dangerous drop-offs.

A protection fence is the safety step needed. The fence in process.

Protection fence completed. No child will accidentally fall from the school yard to the ground below.

The next step is making the classroom levels handicap accessible. This is an ongoing project required by the government. We are doing our best to comply. As you can see, building on a mountain, there are many steps. Steps are not easy for those unable to walk. I had a sample of that when I broke my foot and ankle a few years ago. Walking in a cast to visit the school was not possible. I will share the progress being made in the August newsletter.

New employee

Introducing the newest member of the Urukundo family:

Her name is Anitha Inyange. Anitha and her husband have a six-month baby boy and live in Muhanga. It is necessary we have a certified teacher with a diploma in early childhood education as the manager for our daycare. At present with the daycare closed because of the coronavirus, Anitha is working with Soso and Claudine, helping them to stay prepared for the school opening in September.

More classrooms

In an earlier newsletter, I shared the need for bricks to build two classrooms. The response was awesome. Thank you to all who helped to purchase bricks. Funds came in to buy not only the needed bricks but also to complete building the two classrooms.

Work began at once. Although the classrooms were not expected to be finished soon, the donations for building the classrooms were more than enough for bricks, and we went ahead and finished the two classrooms. Never dreaming the coronavirus would happen and funding would be a bit scarce.The mandated shutdown took place March 21, but the sector allowed Urukundo to finish building using only two workers from the community on the site at a time. Keeping social distancing.

It took until the end of April to finish the project.

Two new classrooms finished and ready for the start of school. The computer lab now will have a home base. The second room is to reduce the number of children per classroom. We try to keep the number in a classroom to no more than 30 children.

Thank you all for the gifts that made this possible.

Proud of Urukundo employee

Executive Director Jean Marie Ntwari not only serves Urukundo; he also is a leader in the Boy Scouts of Rwanda.

His title is "Secretary of the Audit Committee in the Association of Scouts.”

Precious Faces

Mother's love shines through.

Preschool is a test of strength for little girls. Contemplating the world.

Sports day requires special clothes. Special energy.

Smiles of our students. Even half smiles are precious.

OK, so not a student. Playdough is such fun.

Soso thinks so.

I share my favorite photo for March with you. What a joy to hold this precious baby!

Transportation Update

We at Urukundo Learning Center love our new bus for transporting children to school safely. Note the name on the front. The name was not on the bus in the January newsletter. White is our new color for our buses.

Moving into the future

On a wing and a prayer. Mostly prayer.

The classroom so needed is now a priority. We started building, having faith that funding will come.

Materials needed to complete a classroom are numerous. We will need many bricks, electrical wiring, windows, doors, floor tiles, inside walls, blackboard, cement (many bags), scaffolding and metal roofing like the blue roof below in the photo. (The roof in the photo is for the Primary 6 classrooms.) Well, just everything needed to build a classroom in Rwanda.

Foundation in place for two classrooms. We will complete one.

One load of bricks ready for building.

A special gift was received for one load of bricks. One large load of bricks costs US$150.
Thank you, donor. We can build only as funding comes. We hope to finish at least the classroom for use in 2020. The second one is needed by January 2021. Cost per classroom is US$25,000, including labor. Will you help us make it happen? Every donation, gift or grant is appreciated.

What one load of bricks can do in two days.

Love the view from the school. Our community hills are beautiful.