Visitors

Visitor for March

Tina Pennington founder of the Non-Profit RAISED HANDS FOR AFRICA arrived for a 16 day work stay at Urukundo Village.

During her stay she learned how to make chapati.

Spent time with Diane at the King Faisal Hospital in Kigali. 

Shared hand made dolls with the nursery babies.

Worked each day in the Nursery         

Walked the water trail to see the source at the bottom of the mountain.

Witnessed babies from the village getting water to carry home.

All things considered she had a very busy and productive time.

Tina's web site. Check it out.

Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for February 2012

February the traditional month for sharing love, and it has been such a month for Urukundo Foundation.

The month has been filled with outreach ministry to the community, schools and other NGOs.  I also received my share of love when my youngest son, Jerry came to visit and share the work at Urukundo Village.
It was the perfect valentine's gift for me, and my yard is most beautiful because of the work he did.
Notice the heart - my reminder of his visit and his love for all Urukundo kids and me.
Not an easy job but worth the labor.
Tools of the trade, no mulch, just beautiful work well done.

Jerry was a big hit with all the kids, especially the little ones. They ask where is Jorry?
Emmanuel and Agide with Jerry.
Sarah and Jerry.
Claude was Jerry's shadow.  The two 'Mr Fix-Its'! 
Jerry returned to the US February 17th.  Needless to say, the kids were not happy.

February Love Month

OUT REACH TO THE COMMUNITY

A Dental Clinic was held, supported by the love of Urukundo Foundation.  Doctor Richard Reckmeyer DDS, MBA of RURAL RWANDA DENTAL from Peoria, Arizona is a long time friend of Urukundo Kids and Mama Brown.  He came to Gitarama armed with tooth brushes and a story to tell about teeth and how good oral health means a healther body. Doctor Rick, along with a trainee, spoke and taught at Urukundo Village and 5 schools in the Muhanga District. We thank the District for working with Urukundo Foundation to make this possible.
First Dr. Rick worshipped with the Urukundo family.
Dental team : Misty, Deb, Doctor Rick & Denis.
Dental technician Deb at worship with the kids.
They then took a tour of Urukundo Village ending on top of the mountain where the boys had a great time fixing Rick's hair.
The top of the mountain.
The hard part for Misty - saying goodbye to Claude.
Love is plentiful at Urukundo Village.
 

More Outreach

90 children, both boys and girls, attended a Basketball Clinic/camp at Urukundo Village. The Clinic was held by Rob Thomson.

Rob is an American/Rwandan citizen born in Pennsylvania wearing the #12 Uniform. He is 6 ft 10 tall.

 
First team up for instructions.
Rob Thomson giving some tips.
Coach Ryan Turcott.

Coach Jacque Bahige.

Abis, Rob, Bosco & Claude.

 

 

Visitors for September

International team at Urukundo Village.

Front row : Shona, Scotland; Katrina, Australia.  Second row : Nancy, Texas; Kathleen, Australia.  Top row : Caroline, UK;  Mary Ann, UK.

This team arrived about 10 am and moved a ton of bricks. They worked very hard.
Troy from Australia, Stephanie, France and Deborah from Cyprus had been here two days ago but could not come on photo day and so are not in the picture.  It is unusual for a team of 9 to be from 6 different countries!  The afternoon was spent at Hope House with the children.
David and Sam.
Sam Buck from UK spent 7 weeks at Urukundo and returned home Sept 9th. The boys come down in the mornings asking 'Where is Sam?'. They think he should be back at Urukundo by now.
Presbyterian delegation from Pa visited Urukundo for a day.

Good friends Marilyn Ely from Trout Run, Pa and Meredith Bakke from Madison, Wisconsin came to share in the activities at Urukundo Village.
Their time here included a visit to see the Gorillas up close and personal (a bit scary!) and to experience Rwanda's ancient history before, during and after the Kings.

Quilt Tales

Pastor Sunny from Christ Church, McKeansburg, PA.
Megan Bensinger second time visitor to Urukundo.  Megan is a dancer and brought her toe shoes and a costume to dance for the kids.
Quilts arrived from the quilters at McKeansburg.
Miracles do happen - the quilts arrived two days after the team came. God is good and the team were able to give the children each their very own quilt. The kids call them SLEEPERS.
Mama has the honor of fitting the quilts to the babies.. Notice the babies on the backs of the little mamas!
Then the toddlers got theirs.
The whole Nursery in sleepers.
The quilts are beautiful!
The older children also received quilts and there was one for me. Thank you quilters!

Performing Arts at Urukundo

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!

Volunteers in August

Volunteers were a blessing this month of August
Nathan and Anna from Puyallup, Washington spent two weeks with us. This was Nathan's second trip to Rwanda and first trip to Urukundo. His first trip was while he was a university student and he is now a teacher. His bride Anna came with him. We enjoyed their visit and the work they did for us.
Liz and Keenen - mom and son - are volunteers from California.
The team from Christ Church McKeansburg, PA:
One team member is missing. Sorry Bri. 
Sam Buck from the UK is a long term visitor. He is training to be a youth leader and is involved in sports, projects, English classes. devotions.  Sam arrived July 16th and goes home September 9th.
While they were here our August volunteers traveled to Inyanza, the capital of South Province, to the historic Kings' Palaces.  The three palaces range from the ancient to the present day.  They also visited the Art Museum, The Museum of Natural History at Butare and the Twa Pottery Center at Gatagara.  The visit to the Genocide Memorial in Kigali City gave them a realistic view of the happenings in 1994.

Our Volunteers at Work

Talia and Nicole from Bloomsburg, Pa. painting the outside walls of the Boys' House. A great job for a warm day.  Our kids did not think they could do it. The job was a success. The house is good for another two years.

Liz James, a volunteer from California, takes a turn in the kitchen.
Liz and her son Keenen from California are spending a month getting to share many facets of Urukundo and its children. 
Washing dishes and pans in the oversized sink is interesting work.