Last but not least, Urukundo was honored to have Louise Medland from the United Kingdom come and spend a week at Urukundo. Louise has spent many years as part of our family and was here for our 10th anniversary celebration.
Louise is a member of the International Board of Directors for Hope Made Real.
Louise’s expertise is in financial reporting and management. Her advice and knowledge were a blessing to our staff.
Improving the world one story at a time. The Anne Frank Project at Buffalo State College (SUNY Buffalo) uses story as a vehicle for community building, conflict resolution and identity.
We were delighted to welcome the project back to Urukundo for the fourth year. These young people add joy and love when they visit and participate at Urukundo Village and Urukundo Learning Center.
Anne Frank Project team from Buffalo arrives. Big bus brings big fun.
Our kids greet them after they exit the bus.
This 12-member student team shared their many talents as young actors. They taught how to tell a story through drama with the teachers in the Muhanga District for three days. They shared their love with Urukundo kids and the Urukundo Learning Center for four days. It was an event for celebration and sharing.
Gathering at Mama’s house where Mama is the storyteller. I so enjoy sharing the stories of Urukundo and its family with visiting groups that come to our village.
Winding down the day sharing devotions with the kids in the evening before sending all off to bed and a good night’s sleep.
Gabrielle Malfatti, director of global engagement and ancillary associate teaching professor, higher education, at the University of Missouri, came with the Buffalo team..
Presentation of “The Three Little Pigs” by the Buffalo team.
The storyteller is the young man, Travis, on the right, Big bad wolf is the young lady Janae on the left in grey. The three pigs are on their knees. The protecting arms in the air represent the structure of the house.
Use your imagination and your love for fairy tales. This long has been one of my favorite stories of how brothers love and protect each other from evil. Kids and the team shared this special moment. What fun!
Baby Alyn -- Auntie Betty’s child -- is in day care at Urukundo. What big eyes you have, Alyn! Precious child. Buffalo student Lisa is a happy caregiver for the baby.
(l-r) Claudine, Monique and Diane
Molly visited Luki and Claude at secondary school
John and Amanda, Missouri student traveling with professor Gabrielle Malfatti.
Children give the gift of peace doves to visitors from Buffalo College.
Mama receives a gift of a prayer shawl from Lucas.
Our visitors rose very early in the morning to arrive at the Urukundo Learning Center for opening exercises at 7 a.m. Report was it was worth getting up for. The kids were delighted and welcomed the visitors.
Lila has conversation with our students at the school.
Imani gets a hug.
Monique with Samuel, our teacher Rosemary’s son.
Sitting on the ground, letting the kids have the upper hand. Good idea. Little kids get tired looking up.
Molly shaking hands in love.
Urukundo choir presents a song for visitors
Buffalo students became teachers, Muhanga teachers became students. Eighty teachers and students attended this teaching experience focused on storytelling. We thank the Global Engagement Institute and the Buffalo team members, who have a heart for children and education for all.
Using drama and storytelling is a better way to teach and to learn. Our teachers are ever ready to learn new teaching techniques. Each person has a story, and the story is worth telling. What is your story?
Buffalo student/teacher Lucas and Muhanga teachers.
As always, saying “so long” is the hard part. It was important we part with happy memories.
For devotions the final evening, the team was in charge and presented a story and taught games. We will long remember the story of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears.”
In white, “Mama Bear.” In blue, “Papa Bear.” In middle, “Baby Bear.”
Imagine this young man, Travis, as Goldilocks. The kids loved it.
Claudine was part of the door. Fun, fun, fun.
Drew Kahn, a distinguished service professor at Buffalo State and founding director of the Anne Frank Project, shared photos with Soso. Kindred spirits. Best buddies.
Global Engagement Institute Rwanda program manager Franciose Uzamukunda and Gabrielle formed a new friendship. Every friend is valued. Amazing women.
Modeling the new shawl. Mama posing with Urukundo executive director Jean Marie Ntwari and Gabrielle after devotions.
The final photo for this special event.
What a fantastic group! Bon voyage, dear friends. Safe travel.
Can you guess what this is all about?
The wall is the boundary of the soccer field. On the other side of the wall is the school parking space for the buses. Believe it or not, our soccer teams kick the ball very high and very hard.
After the ball hit the buses several times, we decided we needed to protect the bus windows from being broken. You see what came up as a solution. A higher screen wall. Now there should be no damage to our buses or the neighboring house windows.
Alan Lane visited from North Carolina, USA. Alan is a professional photographer working with
Photographers Without Borders. It was our pleasure to have Alan join us for worship, a tour and lunch with the kids.
Early in February, Ray O’Keefe from Seattle, Washington, USA, dropped by. Literally, he did drop by. I did not know he was in Rwanda.
Ray is Chief Nurse Anesthetist at Providence Washington Anesthesia Services, PC, Providence Regional Medical Center, Everett, Washington.
Ray and his wife, Sarah Ketchley, our website manager, have been part of the Urukundo family for 10 years.
Ray was in Rwanda with a team of surgeons and anesthetists on a medical mission. He took time on his rest day to come visit Urukundo and give me a hug from Sarah.
Ray and his family support, love and pray for our own John Paul Nziyumanganya. John Paul just recently returned to Urukundo after furthering his education in Seattle, Washington. Thanks to Ray and Sarah’s devotion, he is now a full time physical education teacher at Urukundo Learning Center.
The Dental Clinic had a real boost in February. We are always happy to welcome a visiting dentist from abroad.
Dr. Troy Michelson and his wife and assistant, Charmaine, are very appreciated. They hail from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This is their third journey to Urukundo Village.
The day care was blessed by their daughter, Alina Michelson, who was accompanying her parents for the first time. She brought her best friend, Kristina Le May.
Alina and friends
Kristina sharing her toys
More fun at Mama’s house
Both girls said they will be back.
After a day of rest and touring Urukundo Village and Learning Center, Troy and Charmaine got down to serious business.
They started by scanning and treating, if necessary, all P5 and P6 students at our school.
Reports were sent home to their parents. Students waited to register. Ishmal, our clerk and recorder, filled in forms.
Dr. Troy and Charmaine are a team worthy of praise.
Dr. Troy and student.
Suction, anyone? Oliver, our full-time therapist, comes to the aid of Dr. Troy.
Serious consultation.
Aline Ishimue, the newest addition to our dental staff, tried something new, thanks to Charmaine.
A fun time was had by all.
Carol Falke came home for the eighth year in a row. She is family.
Carol is from State College, Pennsylvania, USA, and is president of the Hope Made Real board of directors.
Urukundo and the Learning Center are blessed by her presence.
What do you know about butterflies? Our preschoolers know a lot, thanks to Carol Falke.
First, you read a book about caterpillars.Then you color and cut out.
Next, you show them off.
Windows also work well for this activity.
Urukundo kids enjoyed playing Simon Says with the butterflies on the lawn at Mama’s house.
Touch your nose.
Touch your toes.
The parade led by Carol topped the play time.
New bathroom with tile, new toilet and shower for the comfort of our guests. Hey, it may not seem like a big thing. For Urukundo and our guests, it is.
We welcomed many visitors, interns and volunteers during the year. Each is so appreciated.
These are just the highlights of 2018. I want to thank all friends of Urukundo/ Hope Made Real for making 2018 a good year.
Andrea Manor returned to visit Urukundo along with Nancy Gutierrez. The girls are from California, and Andrea was here in 2016 as an intern with GO ED.
Andrea plays Uno with John and Egide.
A new jumping game. How high can you jump?
Visitor from Uganda
Richard Hatasha is a student at Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education. His major is accounting. His goal is to care for vulnerable children in Uganda. We were happy to welcome this enterprising young man.
Richard (middle) flanked by Abias and Olivier.
First of all, it’s the end of the fiscal year. Do you need a tax deduction? Please consider Hope Made Real.
We are a 501(c)3 non-profit in the USA. You can donate on our website, or mail a donation to
Hope Made Real
PO Box 3222
Williamsport, Pa. 17701
Thank you. Mama Arlene
Hi everyone,
The last days of October were very busy for the team from Saint Johns-Newberry UMC, Williamsport and South Williamsport UMC.
The team joined our children in the monthly cleanup day. Umuganda is the last Saturday of the month. This day is designated by the president to keep Rwanda clean. Our hard-working kids taught Tom, Kent and Theresa how it is done. Good work guys.
The ladies did their turn and wrapped and tagged Christmas gifts for our kids.
Lori, Becky, Lynell, Theresa, Kent and Tom added string to crosses to be added to the Christmas packages at worship for the community kids.
I am grateful for the help we received.
Our partnering with NGO GO ED benefits both GO ED and the Urukundo Foundation.
GO ED volunteers Erin Mackenzie, who intends to be a librarian, worked in our library and Alicia Newmaster worked with the farm manager. Erin is from Messiah College and is an English major. Alicia is from Eastern University and is a museology and anthropology major.
Erin and Alicia enjoy devotions with the kids.
David and company teach volunteers Alicia and Erin to play marbles.
Erin directs arranging books on new shelves in the library.
New shelves to arrange books better
Kids enjoy the game room at the library.
Thank You, Erin and librarian I’rene, for making the library more “user friendly”
Alicia at work. She wanted to experience a farm.
Feeding baby chicks
Gathering eggs
Alicia came to work with two boots for the left foot. Of course, it did not work well. Sent her and a cowboy shopping for a pair of boots with a left and a right foot boot. That was better. She took a lot of teasing. She also spent a week with the cows and another week with the pigs. She is now a farmer.
