We are celebrating.
It did not take long to find out that the smaller bus was not big enough. Thanks to caring donors, we were able to negotiate for a bigger bus this time. Now we have a second, even larger bus to carry more children safely to school.
The smaller bus goes to the rural area and the larger one to the town.
Urukundo kids got the first ride in the new bus.
Headmaster, secondary kids, Betty and Mama also enjoyed the short trip.
Urukundo kids are ready, willing and able.
At a traffic check at the village gate, there are no vehicles in sight.
Then there's a traffic jam. New bus arrives with students on board.
Kids, kids, kids.
Opening ceremony was impressive.
Kids meet teachers. Preschool classrooms are in the background. We are so blessed. Thanks to you who make it possible. There are 722 children who are getting a good education and 32 qualified teachers who have jobs.
This young man is not sure he approves of the whole process. Attitude is everything. Home is better. Oh, yeah.
THANKS
In this first month of the 2018, we at Urukundo say:
THANK YOU ALL
&
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Mama, Staff, Teachers and Kids
Please give this serious thought.
We need your help.
URUKUNDO'S GOAL FOR THE NEW YEAR (2018)
Help make 2018 outstanding for Urukundo/Hope Made Real.
Your love and your gifts can make it happen.
Large donations, small donations can make it possible.
IN ORDER TO REACH OUR GOAL TO BUILD A HIGH SCHOOL FOR URUKUNDO LEARNING CENTER IN 2018, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
THE ESTIMATED COST IS $300,000 USD.
We have the permission to build. We have and own the land to build.
This amount will pay for CLEARING, LEVELING, retaining WALLS, FOUNDATION and STRUCTURE COMPLETE.
A grant would be a HOPE MADE REAL. Donations in any amount leading to the total amount would be appreciated.
With $100,000 USD, we can start the project.
HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS WAS FULL OF LOVE AND FAMILY.
WE WISH FOR YOU ALL A HAPPY AND PROSPOROUS NEW YEAR.
MAMA & URUKUNDO KIDS
FAMILY
Closing out the Year 2017 and Welcoming the Year 2018 is a big event
Birthdays at any age are special events. At my age, they are treasured. Such a blessing to have Bruce Krogh and Bob and Amy Dove celebrating with me.
The first Sunday in December was designated Bible Sunday at our worship service. A Bible was presented to each child entering Primary 6 in January 2018.
The children could choose Kinyarwanda or English Bibles.Those from our school chose English. Those in our congregation from other schools chose a Bible written in their native tongue.After the worship service, the children were invited to have lunch with Urukundo kids..
No, this is not the arrival of a newborn baby but instead is the arrival in Rwanda of Chanel Moore, my very first great-grandchild.
Chanel is the fourth generation of terrific women in my family, including me, my daughter Barbara Downs and my granddaughter Beckie Starr.
This is Chanel's first visit to Africa. She is working on her master’s degree at West Chester State University in Pennsylvania, USA.
I’m so happy that you are here, Chanel.
Love the hats.
Forty-two staff members have children under the age of 12. At last count, 85 children under 12 received gifts. All children of staff members – older and younger ones – as well as spouses joined us for a movie, sumbosa and juice on the Friday before Christmas. Gifts aplenty.
Staff and Children
The children from the community also celebrated at Urukundo. More than 500 children crowded into Hope House.
It was awesome. The house could not contain them all.
Special gathering Christmas Morning.
Notice the HATS. A gift from Julliette in our Personnel Office.
Bob & Amy received an iron from under the tree.
Christmas dinner:
For those not in the know: When you ask Jacob what he wants to be when he grows up, his answer is: “I want to be Benjiman.”
Benjiman is his idol and the maintenance person at Urukundo. He solves odd job problems, builds and is the father image for our boys. Jacob could not pick a better person to emulate.
The suit was given to him for Christmas by Bob and Amy Dove. It is a replica of the suit Benjiman wears as he does his job here at Urukundo. Jacob is his shadow. Wherever Benjiman is working, there is Jacob.
His name is Kevin This is what he has to say:
“I am Ngobo Kevin Castle from the North province of Musanze District, Rwanda. I am a volunteer at Urukundo Foundation, but now I feel like I am family already.
“I love the kids and people here.”
It is very interesting. Nicola Hedden writes about her visit to Urukundo. Great blog.
Also check out Carol Falke’s blog.Thank you, Carol.
