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State College Team

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The team from State College were busy the weeks they were at Urukundo. Projects included working in the preschool and primary school classrooms, continuing sister school partnerships and teacher trainings. Pen pal letters were shared with teens, art was taught to women in the English classes, kitchen gardens received a much needed facelift, soap and hygiene products were purchased and delivered to 400 university students and orders were made for sewing projects to be sold in the US.

Carol Falke, Carol Baney, Linda Schimmel

Visitors

Yes we do get visitors from Rwanda. These are transplants like me from the US.
Dad Lance, Mom Jen, Grace, Adam and Miles came to help with acoustics in our school rooms. The panels are colorful and muffle the sound somewhat. We love the improvement. Pictures later if I remember!
We are hoping for a closer relationship with this family in the future.
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Greetings for March 2013

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Well Dear Friends and family writing this newsletter is rather exciting. We are all fine at Urukundo and thanks to all of you the news is great.
Our baby Jacob is thriving.

Big brother Claude and Jacob

Deo is back in school
We have had interesting visitors and taken another step in education. March has been another month in the history of Urukundo worth writing about.

 

Progress

The first step toward a SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY has been taken with a sewing enterprise.
Urukundo took an existing building and removed walls.
We made sure there was a need, then purchased 5 regular machines and 2 special machines.

This is not only a sewing class with a qualified teacher it is also an enterprise where local woman can participate and support their families.Designated funds were used to start the URUKUNDO SEWING CENTER.

A Tribute

It is my pleasure to honor a very special couple as patrons for Urukundo Foundation. I have wanted for a long time to pay special tribute to Tom & Carolyn Nunnally. I went to the dictionary to be sure I was using the right word to describe their participation at Urukundo Village and Learning Center.  
Mr. Webster says a Patron is: 'a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity.'
This description does not begin to tell the story of Tom and Carolyn and their love and support that has blessed us. They are Partners in service, advisors, encouragers, prayer partners and strength givers for me and for Urukundo Foundation and Hope Made Real.
This stone is small in comparison to the kindness and love this couple have shown to the vulnerable children in Rwanda. Thank you Carolyn and Tom.
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Project: Basketball Court Renewal

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This team of 16 students, a team leader and advisor visited Urukundo In March. Their goal was to refinish the basketball court. It was in need of redoing. The basketball court is used hard by the Urukundo Learning Center, the Community and our Urukundo Kids for exercise, basketball,  volleyball and other play activities. It is an asset to our Village.
Our guys started the demolition in preparation for the team's visit.
Although the project was not completed the team worked very hard. Time was not enough to complete everything. Added financing is needed for cement to finish the work.
While they were here they visited Akagere National game Park, The Genocide Memorial and The Campus of Carnagie Mellon - Rwanda. It was our pleasure to have these wonderful young people even though the time was short.

The team worked hard and did a very good job.

About 2/3 of the playing field is finished. We need to get it finished ASAP. It is not useable as it stands now.

We thank CMU for the wonderful gift of work on the field and the time they spent with our children.

Urukundo Learning Center

The official opening of the Urukundo Learning Center took place on a very rainy Saturday, March 23, 2013.
Even with the rain the attendance was heart warming. We were honored by the presence of the Vice Mayor in charge of Social Affairs, the Executive Secretary of Cyeza Sector,  the Village Leader, The President, Vice President and Secretary of Urukundo Foundation. Carol Falke, Carol and Linda from State College, Pa. and Margie Korgh from Pittsburgh, Pa, were also our guests. After the ceremony and the ribbon cutting a special lunch was served to our guests and friends.
The Urukundo Learning Center includes Cyakabiri Preschool, Urukundo Primary School, the Urukundo Library, Urukundo Sewing Center which is the first of our Technical Schools (in process) and the ESL school for Adult Education. We are active in education - feel free to join.
It is our hope that construction can continue until all 12 grades of Primary and Secondary School will be ready for students. We welcome partners who share our vision of education on every level for every child.
God in charge every thing is possible. Ask how can I help? Ideas are welcome. 

Carol and Mama.

Foundation President Hildebrand & Vise President Oswald      
Director speaking, Oscar Translating 
Consular Emily and Neal Makley
President of Urukundo and President of Parents Association.
Support team from USA We were so honored to have them present for this event.
Etienne, Mama, Vise Mayor, Exec Secretary from US Embassy. joined the celebration.
Vise Mayor Fortunee, Social Affairs Muhanga District.     
Cutting the RibbonVise Mayor, US Consular, me.
                                          
Children and teachers presented a program for our audience.