Urukundo Village

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Making Excuses

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All directions on this Dell are in French, a language that I know very little about. Yes, I do know there is a way to change the directions to English but I just don't know how to do it.  Even the spellcheck is in French so every word I write has a red squiggle line under it because I write in English. I know Sarah our media person will check the spelling closely before she publishes. More work for Sarah!


I am finding there is so much I need to learn. Another example: I use two cameras to take pictures. On one there is no date printed on the picture, but on the other date stamps all photos 2011, so pictures taken with that camera appear to be at least a year old. This was pointed out to me by a friend. Last month's pictures of the Biogas project were dated 2011, yet this is a new project for 2012 and no pictures could have been taken in 2011! The date has been changed on the camera now, thanks to Jean Marie's expertise. I am blessed to have young people here who seem to have been born with the know-how to work with the technology changes. Digital cameras are wonderful but confusing.


Ok, now for pictures. October pictures are on the now defunct Mac.

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Hope House - Our All-Purpose Center

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From 9am to 11am, Monday through Saturday, Hope House is full of activity. Legos, puzzles, hot potato, memory game, dominos, coloring, trucks, cars, airplanes etc inside.  Football, tag, running matches and parachute outside.
Come join in the fun! Volunteers are welcome. 
Present visitors work at Hope House.
Talia from Bloomsburg, PA and the kids do legos.
Soso teaching Meredith from Seattle, WA how to play picture dominoes.
Volunteer Rob James from California on his knees. Floor puzzles are great and this one is a map of the world. Educational as well as fun.
Claude and Rob joining forces to pick avocado.
Keenen James, Rob's son, plays with Becca & Claudine in Hope House.
Dad returned to the US after 8 days. Keenen remains with us for another 3 weeks.
Prince has a new best friend in Kyle. Kyle returned for the second time in this year. He is special for the kids.

 

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Labor Day

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May 1 is the cultural  LABOR DAY in Rwanda. It is not a day off from work but a day when employers invite all workers to join together with the administrative staff (that includes me) for conversation, for some food treats (sumbosa) and Fanta.

Our staff works very hard. They work long hours and with little pay. 

The day before the meeting was to take place word was spread that there would be a meeting of all Urukundo staff at 2 pm Tuesday.

They came looking rather concerned. This was a surprise for them and the first time Labor Day had been celebrated in our village.

I just learned about this wonderful tradition. It will be a yearly celebration.

Awards were given in recognition of devoted service. It was difficult to choose who would get the awards. 

The award for length of service was given to Delphine (6 years), mama from the girls' home. The award for 'most flexible' with 5 years service went to Betty in the Nursery.  Betty has worked in every area in the home plus the school. She is versatile and works wherever needed and is now permanent in the nursery (I think). Benjimin the builder, who maintains our homes and manages the construction on site, was also recognized with an award.

It was two hours well spent.

Workers gathered.

It was my pleasure to serve those who serve.

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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for January 2012

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Hello from Urukundo Village.
What a blessing it is to be home to warm weather. I love Pennsylvania but winter is not the time to visit there. Snow is beautiful from inside the house. Sunshine and warm is better. 
Yes, I am home with the children and what a joyful reunion it was. There were flowers everywhere. Hugs and tears from the older kids and staff and many knee hugs from the toddlers. I keep wanting to call them babies but truly they are toddlers. Even Soso has moved out of the baby category. His little legs let him travel fast.
After greetings the Kids gathered around me in my living room and sang "OUR GOD IS AN AWESOME GOD" They prayed and thanked God for bringing me home to be with them.
A bouquet of flowers was handed to me.  These flowers grow on our land.
My bed room and Office door decoration.
The perfect Birthday present for my 81st birthday may sound a little strange, but for me it was such a pleasure when those who honored my birthday each came or sent a gift of Legos. This gift will be appreciated at Urukundo Village and at the Urukundo Learning center for years to come.
A special thanks to all who were a part of this wonderful celebration.
The Legos were moved from their wonderful containers into Zip Lock bags to make transporting easier. I thank my daughter Patricia for hosting the birthday party and for gathering and zip locking the Legos. Even after bagging, 2 large suitcases were needed to bring my treasures home.
Mama the teacher.
Checking the little book for directions. It takes a kid to deal with this. Adults find them interesting and difficult, including me. But we work it out. The Legos are a great learning tool dealing with colors, sizes, combinations and following picture directions. Every Mom, Dad and child should work on the project together. Both will learn patience.

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Urukundo Learning Center

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A gift was given to Urukundo Foundation designated for the much-needed classrooms for our Learning Center.  Additional funds are needed for cement and bricks.  
Work began January 20, 2012 on the new classrooms. 
This shows construction after 1 day.
Progress to January 28, 2012
The construction in progress will have two classrooms, an office and toilet.

 

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Performing Arts at Urukundo

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The arts are a big part of our program and this month our children were introduced to Ballet.
Megan Bensinger, a volunteer from PA, has been dancing since age 4 and did a fantastic performance for the children.
We have suggested when she returns she teach ballet to our kids. We would need slippers. If you have used slippers contact Megan walkingbyfaith5@aim.com
or send them to 
Urukundo Foundation
BP 179 Muhanga
South Province
Rwanda
Megan and the dance. Our kids were so impressed as were the adults.
Visitors and girls in a fashion show at the August birthday party :  our visitors wore traditional Rwandan dress while the girls wore fashions from everywhere!
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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for November 2010

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Hello from Urukundo Village and Urukundo Home for Children.

Gee that sounds nice. Urukundo is growing and as we are moving toward 2011 it is awesome what God is doing here. Starting out with a rented house and one child in Gitarama Town in 2006, the changes that have taken place can only be from the Lord. The Lord has given us a home for boys, a home for girls, a nursery, Hope House, a multi purpose house, and a small piece of land dedicated to chickens, four sheep and a cow and her baby.  We call it a farm. Small but productive - we are so blessed. 

The wet season is upon us and I am cold at 70 degrees. Normal for me but when I remember winters in PA, I know I have no reason to complain. 
Wonderful things are happening at Urukundo Home for Children. Three new babies, Kenny, Kenila,and Prince. Claude is home and Ezekiel may be back soon. We now have 42 children in our family - 19 boys and 23 girls. Our maximum capacity is 50.