School in session
School is back in session for the second term. There are three terms in each school year. The kids are ready and excited. You can see that in these photos, taken the first day of the second term.
P6 kids went to school an hour earlier, so Claude, Luki and Aline are not in the photo.
Claude Luki and Aline.
Word of the month: respect
We learn, discuss and practice.
The farm and the rains
Rain, rain and more rain -- and the walls at the farm came tumbling down.
Stones and bricks can build them up.
And the chickens will be safe.
Hard to believe, but the norm here is a cycle of three months of wet and three months of dry weather.
We are experiencing the eighth month of rain. Not sure when it will stop. This is nature playing tricks on Rwanda and possibly all of Africa. Our prayer is that eight months of dry does not follow.
Pastor Yves’ property shows major damage after heavy rain destroyed his walls and buildings.
The home of Libby, our cleaner manager and my house worker, is in shambles because of the rain. Then, the next day after the damage, her toilet was destroyed. Still, she comes to work smiling. Still, it rains and it’s very heavy rain. The people suffer.
Too much rain on our mountain, and homes are destroyed and people die. Except for retaining walls built in our early years, we do not use mud bricks. So our buildings and walls are safe compared to homes of the very poor.
Big production
This mama had 12 babies.
Kitchen improvements
We’re using what we have and improving: better office facilities, better storage rooms and computer training for my daughter Serephine, who completed culinary arts school and works at Urukundo. Inventory and costs are now done on a spreadsheet.
Another effort is aimed at a better cooking area and directing smoke out of kitchen. Hope it works.
After it is successful, we will paint, tile the floor and have a more desirable kitchen.
Wood burners make a lot of smoke and are not healthy.
Home at last
We are so happy to have Kyle Jerro home for even a short time. It’s the seventh visit for Kyle, who is from Nevada, USA, and is a lecturer of language and linguistics at the University of Essex in England. After so many visits, Urukundo feels like home, and it’s great he could return to spend time with the family. Kyle also is a member of the Hope Made Real International Board of Directors.
Welcome home, Kyle.
Progress Report
Secondary school progress
Our hopes are high. Progress is slow.
Here’s a progress report on giving so far for the planned secondary school(high school):
Michael Jerro USA $100
Lace Ladies UK $200
Phelps Chapel UMC USA $500
Barb Stapleton USA $500
Thank you.
An Awesome View
In closing, I’d like to show you an awesome view of the Urukundo Learning Center.
* Top of the mountain: Rwanda sky, beautiful view.
* Top level: Preschool and Glascow Culture Center, Computer Lab, School Offices.
* Second level: Primary 1 through Primary 3.
* Third level: Primary 4 through Primary 6, Music Center, Teachers Resource and Study Center(red roof).
You, our donors, have made all this possible.
Your donations are appreciated and so needed. Thank you for your loving and faithful support.
March 2018 Newsletter
Do you remember the stone path in an article in the March 2012 newsletter? Look it up.
It still applies today in March 2018 as it did in 2012.
The stone path has grown from five stones to many stones and has been moved to the outside boundary to have enough space. It is a great way to honor contributions to education.
Help us continue to provide quality education where it is needed most. We will build a new path to the secondary school (high school) with your stone and a substantial gift of $1,000 or more for construction of the school.
The amount needed for the new high school for more than 700 students is very high ñ US$300,000. No one church and most individuals cannot afford such a gift, but if all could give what they can afford, it would be a big help in reaching our goal of providing quality education to the vulnerable children in Rwanda.
Give from your heart. Help to build the future.
Mama
Never again
April is the month dedicated to remembering the genocide of 1994.
Pray for continued peace in Rwanda and wherever persecution, heartache and strife exist.
We come together in love to make it a HOPE MADE REAL.
Beautiful country.
Beautiful people from many walks of life come together in unity and love at Urukundo.
On the lighter side
Barber does house calls. You are brave, Amy.
Volunteer Amy Dove meets the barber. I would say she has a new hairdo, but I think it is just a cut. It keeps her hair out of her eyes.