Urukundo and the Community Work Together

The water project is nearing completion. The community, Urukundo Village and our schools will benefit from the water. 
Help to contain the water in a useable manner came from christians in State College Pa, Rotary in Canada, and North Carolina's Tina Pennington's "RAISED HANDS FOR AFRICA" Ministry.  We thank all who made this happen.
The next step is power to get the water to the top of the mountain and into the reservoir at the top. We are blessed with friends who are making this happen. More about this later.
Reservoir #2 at the top of the mountain.
Reservoir # 1 at the source of the water at the bottom of the mountain.
Reservoir #3 - clean safe drinking water with easy access for our community and our Village.

Our Kids

Soso our youngest to date plays peak-a-boo. About time for a hair cut.
Claudine with lunch on her face.
Claude #3 happy smiling boy.
Agide - not quite sure, but thinking about it.
Giselle finishing Primary school this year on her way to her future.
Claude will some day be a big business man in Rwanda.
Bosco wants to be a driver. We hope we can make it happen.

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.
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Trip to Akagera National Park

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In May Jan Brown, the Cyakabiri teachers and the girls visited Akagera National Park.   The animals are wonderful and a delight to see.
Not to be outdone by the girls the boys with their benefactor Lisa, our visitors Talia and Nicole and several staff member made the trip also.
Each trip was different and the kids appreciated being invited to go on the 5 hour journey each way.
They packed a lunch and then munched on bananas on the ride home.

It was a long journey and a good time was had by all.

Animals include cape buffalo, warthogs, zebra, water buck mama and calf, impala, giraffe, older male baboon and hippos.

Urukundo Foundation and this mama want to thank both Jan Brown and Lisa Martilotta for giving such a wonderful opportunity to be shared by our children.

From the Farm

The roof is going on. Soon the cows will come. Thanks to you who helped get it the materials for the barn. It will be such an asset for our farm and providing milk for the kids is the objective. 
The barn nears completion.
Our kids and Cyakabiri school learn about feeding animals. These baby lambs lost their mother when they were born and the farmer has kept them alive by bottle feeding. The idea is to show the children different ways to provide food for babies.  The milk is cow milk and the children felt the container to know the milk is heated before it is given to the babies. The lambs follow the farm boy everywhere. They think he is their mother. He is the source of their food.
Update on Daisy the milk cow : after eye surgery Daisy has no more pain and doing well. She is expecting a new baby we hope. Vet will verify next week.

Flag Ceremony

Cyakabiri School and Urukundo Foundation were presented with the nation's flag to be flown at our school. This is indeed an honor.  The ceremony was held the last day of the term.  Parents, visitors and dignitaries took part in the raising of the Rwandan Flag.

The military were present to do the honors and we were joined by dignitaries from the village, cell, sector and district.  Students sang one verse of the National Anthem and the guests helped sing the other verses.
The children worked very hard to memorize the words to the Anthem.
Our teachers were shown recognition.  The only thing that made us sad was that Jan Brown, the inspiration and coordinator for the school, could not be with us.

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Greetings from Mama Arlene in Rwanda for June 2011

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Greetings from Urukundo Village and from all the kids at Urukundo Home.May, June and July are the dry months in Rwanda but we have had just enough rain to keep our vegetable gardens producing. 

The great news for June is that the  Ruli Public School where our Primary kids attend has been selected by the government to participate in the ONE CHILD ONE LAPTOP program.  Vincent, administrator for Urukundo Home visited the school with the kids and we were given the laptops to bring home for the 10 kids who are in P4,5 & 6.  They are very colorful, light weight and fun to use.
The dining room in the new guest house is perfect for a learning center and it has electricity and wireless. Our children are moving ahead into the computer age.   Without the new house this would not have been possible.  Awesome how God works.
The kids are excited and Lisa Martilotta from Long Island NY a Saturday volunteer for teaching advanced English to our staff has volunteered to teach computer to the kids. She is an excellent teacher and started that very day June 25th teaching computer fundamentals and Internet.  Thank you Lisa.
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Traveling Mercies needed for a Learning Adventure!

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How do teachers of young children learn to write good lesson plans, talk with children, and offer the best learning environment? By seeing other skilled teachers at work!

A unique opportunity has been offered to Vincent and Louisa, the administrator and a teacher at Cyakabiri School for Young Children. This fall, they are invited come to the U.S. to further their educations. Jan Brown, Director of Cyakabiri, is putting together a remarkable itinerary for Vincent and Louisa to learn more about early childhood education. They can see the very best licensed and accredited programs in action and meet college professors who are world leaders in early childhood.

When the Cyakabiri teachers arrive, their transport, lodging, food, and in-depth learning experiences will be provided. All they need are their passports, visas, and plane tickets.

You can help support these talented teachers—who can then share what they learn with educators and policy makers in Rwanda. Please consider donating to the Teacher Education Initiative and pray for Vincent and Louisa to have courage. Their flights will be their very first in their lives!