August Visitors

Visitors from Austria

A yearly visitor to Urukundo is Dr. Otto Fischer, a doctor of veterinary medicine in Austria and founder and director of the NGO Future for Kids. This group is located in the Rwaza sector of Rwanda. He also founded a vet clinic. He brings many visitors to Rwanda from Austria, both vet students others. I am always glad to see him and his friends.

This time. Dr. Otto brought with him 12 aspiring young people on their way to graduating from veterinary school. It was our pleasure to have them tour Urukundo’s farm.

Andreas, Tamara, Lara and Clara came to Rwanda from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria.

Anga, Esther, Prudence and Leandre are students at the University of Rwanda, Nyagatare campus.

With Dr. Otto was Dr. Thomas and his vet tech, Anna, from the animal clinic in Rankweil, Austria.

Visitors from Texas, USA

Dr. Casey Call and a delegation from the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University came to spend a few hours getting acquainted with Urukundo Learning Center and Village. An internship between Urukundo and Texas Christian is a possibility. We look forward to a closer relationship in the future.

It was our pleasure to share Urukundo’s history and goals with Jana Hunsley, Ashley West, Mindy Cook and Dr. Call, who is assistant director of the Karyn Purvis Institute.

Accompanying the visitors was Francoise Uzamukunda, a representative from the Global Engagement Institute in Rwanda.

Making new friends continues to be our goal at Urukundo Foundation.

Ok, so I am the short one. Don’t expect I will get taller.

Sports in the spotlight

Karate graduation

Ishmael, our dental employee, received an orange belt. The presenter was Iyamuremye Eugene,our farm manager and director of the karate team. I have so many proud moments.

Kavine, one of the younger children at Urukundo, has earned another belt. Pastor Yves, who is Urukundo’s spiritual leader and her foster dad, and I were there to congratulate her.

Boys and girls basketball team

Boys volleyball team

Girls volleyball team

Boys soccer team

Volunteers attended sports event. Moses was the photographer, Natasha the observer.

Champions every one.

We salute our coaches John Paul, Ignace and Theogin; Headmaster Irene; and fans Eugene, Elias and Olive.

What an accomplishment for Urukundo Learning Center! This was our first year taking part in active competition in Muhanga District primary school sports. Urukundo is No. 1 in foote ball (soccer), girls volleyball and boys volleyball.

Coach John Paul and his teams.

Positives vibes going in. Confidence is important. The goal is to win. They did it.

Red shirt, captain of girls volleyball team, Pierrine; black shirt, captain of foote ball team, Manzi; blue shirt, captain of boys volleyball team, Samuel. They are the winners.

Iris, proclaiming Urukundo No. 1!

Celebrating victory with Mama.

We are the winners. Congratulations to all sport teams.

Proud display. We need a shelf at the school for trophies. This is just the beginning.

Visitors in July

Co-workers Natasha Dean and Kim Moses from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, came to Urukundo Learning Center to meet with students and staff and to help Urukundo develop an updated social media system and videos. This will give our followers a better visual picture of Urukundo and life here in Rwanda. It has been a pleasure having them here as volunteers.

They not only visited the school but attended the sports event as well.

Time with the kids.

Craft project: Making colorful bracelets for all. Made with embroidery floss.

An art project gave excitement to the weekend.

The kids and Pastor Yves invited our guests to take a hike.

Yep, they hiked to the lake. The lake is proving to be an interesting Sunday afternoon for volunteers. The kids love it.

Another stone has been added to the Path to Learning. This one is in memory of Kim Moses’ grandmother, Pastor Emeritus Aseline Ratcliff, who is loved and missed by her family. Moses wanted a stone on the path in memory of this special lady. The $100 gift for the stone goes into the Education Fund for Community Children.

Saying so long to friends at Urukundo is always difficult. Natasha and Moses have made a huge contribution in media so that the world can better understand what Urukundo is all about.

Their contribution long will endure, and the benefits for Urukundo are yet to be known.

Olive, Libby and I feel so blessed having had time with them.

Board member visits

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.

Visitors from Buffalo State College

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!

Buffalo State visitors meet the children

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

Students teach

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.

Development at Urukundo School

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.

Photographer visits

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.