Our medical student, Diescor Kirenga, is serving an internship at the University Teaching Hospital of Butare. He is a student at the University of Gitwe School of Medicine. He did not make it home for the holiday. He did get home later, looking every bit the doctor modeling his Christmas gift.
Solange becomes a US citizen
Solange Nirere came to Urukundo in 2006. She was 12 years old. One of the first of my girls. She moved to McAllen, Texas, in 2012 for health reasons (asthma), finished high school and graduated from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in political science. She is currently enrolled in its graduate program in political science. She expects to earn her master’s in political science in 2020. She is now 25 years old.
On Jan. 9, Solange took an oath and became an American citizen.
Solange and her best friend and lawyer, Ana Villegas, celebrate this momentous occasion.
So proud Solange is now an American.
Special Event: Claudine
Claudine visited Dr. Piet Noe.
Claudine was 4 years old when she had eye surgery by Dr. Noe.
Claudine is a 13-year-old now and saw Dr. Noe at the new eye hospital for an eye exam and new glasses.
Special Notice
On March 15, 2019, I will arrive in the USA. I am looking forward to spring in Pennsylvania.
March, April and May are special months as it is a time of renewal after a long winter.
This visit is basically for visiting Urukundo and personal friends and my family as well as for telling the continuing story of Urukundo Foundation and encouraging others to become part of our support system for this mission.
My home base will be Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with my daughter, Dr. Patricia Brown.
I hope to see many of you during the two and a half months I will be home in the USA.
More details as plans continue to progress.
December 2018 Newsletter
Happy New Year 2019!
December is a special month in Rwanda. It is a time when all students are on holiday from school and play is on the agenda.
Our kids thought making a new word would be a good way to start December. In Mama’s rock garden.
The birth of Jesus is a very important event for Urukundo kids and the world.
New word for December. Precious stones.
Good news
Starting the new year, nine of our children remain in our home.
Three of them -- Claude, Aline and Luki -- are waiting for their national exam results and then will be going to secondary boarding school. They will return to Urukundo for school holidays. As is normal, we will share them with their families.
Claude, Aline and Luki.
David has been given permission from his foster family to stay home with us and attend Primary 6 here rather than disrupt his education in the last year of primary.
Of the children who have moved on to other families Jacob, Prince, Kevine, Banita and possible Rebekah will live close enough to be students at Urukundo Learning Center.
Our poster girl for December.
Wearing the stocking is more fun than hanging it.
Raziella in day care at Urukundo thinks so.
A necklace is decoration for tree. The hat is a bit big but even more fun.
Unexpected gift
Cooking oil, rice and washing soap for clothes.
These are the Christmas gift to Urukundo brought by Dr. Obose and Dr. Olalekan. The gift is from Believers Assembly International, University of Gitwe. We are grateful for this special gift.
Birthday surprise
My 88th birthday turned out to be a total surprise. Who would ever expect a party at 6 am in the morning. When called to the living room that early in the morning I expected one of the children was sick so I quickly put on a cover dress did not comb my hair etc. Imagine this wonderful greeting.
Not just the children, but teachers and staff were there to sing happy birthday to me.
Sure I cried. Tears of joy. Olive brought my housecoat so I would not be cold, and we toasted my special day with coffee, tea and African donuts
The kids presented me with a lovely card and lots of love.
My gift from the staff was a new party dress.
It is beautiful. Too early in the morning for modeling.
Birthday thanks
I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to the many friends and family members who sent me birthday wishes on Facebook and especially email (my favorite way of communicating).
To those of you who cared and were willing to help fund my trip home in March, I am so grateful.
My ultimate goal is still living until I am 110 + years. God in charge. A lot to ask, I know.
It will take that many years to be sure the foundation laid here is solid and the children are the unique people God intends them to be.
Much ado about buses
In 2017, Urukundo purchased its first bus. We had money for only a small bus.
It has been our policy to purchase only what we have funding to pay for. We purchased this little bus (minibus).
Then we were able to purchase a big bus. With the big bus plus the minibus, we are able to plan field trips, sports events and special outings for our school children and staff.
A third bus was needed.
The news just got better.
Thanks to Rotary Club of Forest Hills, Pennsylvania, USA, and The Rotary Club of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, USA, funding has arrived to purchase another big bus.
Starting the school year in 2019, we will have a minibus and two big buses for transporting our children. The buses also are a source of revenue as rentals on weekends.
The new bus is now in the garage being painted, and we are in the process of hiring another driver. It will be in service for start of school on Jan. 14, 2019.
The parking space at the school for the new bus will have a plaque saying, "In memorandum of Tom Nunnally, donated by the Rotary Clubs of Forest Hills and Willkinsburg, Pa.”
Special staff event
A special event in 2018 was for the Urukundo Village support staff. This included office staff, home mamas, kitchen staff, farmers, guards and cleaners. Two big buses were needed for the trip to the King’s Palace in Nyanza and dinner after the tour. This was the first time for many of the staff to visit this wonderful part of their history.
Special dancing cows at the palace.
Community Christmas on Dec. 21
Christmas for community children was a bit overwhelming. We knew it would be more than last year, but the over 600 who attended was more than we expected.
Kids arrived early, waiting for doors to open at 1:30 p.m.
Seating plan went well.
Hope House is full and runneth over.
Overflow. On outside retaining wall and steps.
All children were served inside and outside.
We decided that we could not use chairs this year. Mats were placed on the floor in Hope House. Benches were along the far wall for teens. Chairs on platform were for mamas with babies.
Ok now we are ready. We think.
Boxed milk, meat sumbosa and juice for those who cannot tolerate milk were the treats for the day.
Entertaining so many children, it was necessary to have not only a system to serve refreshments but also to give gifts and have an exit setup so that there was crowd control. Interesting!!
Plan A. Give refreshments, collect trash. Girls line up for Door No. 1.
Boys line up for Door No. 2.
Receive gift, exit building. It worked.
Didn’t need Plan B.
Door No. 1 girls.
Door No. 2 boys.
Executive secretary Eric and Johnny.
Claude, Luki, Aline, David, Soso and John helped serve the kids and did the outside cleanup after the finish. They did a great job. Thanks, guys.
Ready for Christmas
Claude, Aline, Luki, Claudine, Egide, John, David, Diane and Soso