Meeting the challenges

Urukundo has dealt with many challenges since its founding in 2006. Needless to say, 2020 is the most challenging yet. The major 2020 challenges are sustaining our employees with wages during the shutdown caused by the virus and the new requirements put in place by the Ministry of Education to reopen our school safely. Required are 15 wash stations between classrooms, head thermometers and a quarantine room for isolation should it be needed.
Another challenge is making these mountainous school walkways to classrooms handicap accessible. As I indicated last month, we are doing our best to make that happen. Photos show the work being done.

The long path from the library, with the steps gone, to the primary level classrooms below, makes even walking more comfortable.

There were many steps from the porch to the ground level, and the steps are no more.

There are no more steps from the school office downhill to the teacher resource area.

Our workers appreciate the new walkways. Easier to keep clean.

The slant makes sure rainwater moves away from the building and is not a problem. Dealing with torrential rainstorms and excess water damage are also on the list of challenges we have met and continue to handle.

Kitchen challenge

A new challenge is improving the kitchen and the fuel we use. It is necessary to stop cutting down trees that are so needed to preserve our land from erosion caused by heavy rain and mudslides. The trees from the forests are used for firewood for cooking and to produce charcoal. Cutting down trees hurts the environment. The solution is propane gas, which is now available for cooking in the Muhanga area. Urukundo meets the requirement to switch to propane because we feed so many children and staff.

What our tank will look like.

This is one size. Needed are different size cookers for different size cooking pans. Cooker is the term used in Rwanda for what I would call a gas burner. Their term does seem more accurate.

Just a few pans of different sizes.

The above photos will give you an idea of the equipment needed to improve our kitchen.

This will require building a new, improved kitchen. We hope to accomplish this switchover before it is mandated and costs go sky-high because, at that time, the demand for materials will increase. The estimate we will receive will include the large outside tank, all necessary hookup equipment, cookers and pans of the sizes needed for the cookers.

Our kitchen does not meet the requirements for the transfer from wood to propane. We will demolish the kitchen and start from scratch. We have used the present kitchen since 2006, and wood smoke and inferior building materials have taken their toll. The walls are black from smoke, no exhaust system and poor ventilation. It is long past time for a change.

Wood smoke and not enough ventilation have been ongoing problems. It is not healthy for our kitchen staff. This has to be the new priority.

The platform is the location of the sink where we wash huge pots, pans and cooking utensils.

The cooking area is in bad shape. Our cooks and kitchen help continue to serve great meals. I, for one, could not work in such conditions. How about you? Want to trade kitchens?

Below is a floor plan for the proposed new kitchen. When the construction is completed, it will be a “Hope Made Real.” A significant improvement in the process. Can’t wait for the new and improved kitchen with propane gas, more and better work areas, and ventilation.
The image below shares with you the vision of our new kitchen and connecting dining room. The dining room will connect directly to the kitchen, avoiding carrying food outdoors, rain or shine. There will be proper ventilation and an exhaust system in both places — a huge but necessary project — and no more wood burning. Propane and biogas will be the fuels for cooking, creating a more efficient and healthier environment. The result will be better working conditions for our kitchen staff and safer transport of food.

This is a small beginning for the dining room, but it is a start.
Donations appreciated.

New classrooms ready

The last two classrooms have been completed, and we have space for the distancing required for our students, thanks to the generous support from donors.

Notice the new construction is handicap accessible. It is less expensive if the paving is done when building takes place.

Look, Mom. No steps.

Fun with photography

Keeping kids busy during the time of no school has been challenging for Urukundo’s staff. We used music for some and photography for others. Give a kid a camera and an interesting experience takes place, not just for the kid but also for the mama (me). I have two cameras I protect with my life. It was hard to give the cameras to the kids, but it was necessary. I am pleased to say they took care of the cameras as I would myself.
I am no judge of photography, but I know what I like, and I like their ideas of good photography. They are very creative and artistic. I have chosen just a few to share. I am sharing these photos taken by the kids, without comment.

Your comments would be appreciated, please.

I repeat, comments, please. Photography for art’s sake.

Precious faces

Featuring baby Edith at daycare.

Big brother Jerry, little sister Edith.

Sarah is such a helper in the daycare!

Thoughts for the month

In closing, I share my thoughts for the month with you.
Let our hearts and eyes see and appreciate all the beauty around us.
Let us see the wonders of our world through the eyes of a child.

Mama

July 2020 Newsletter

The month of July is a month of celebration in Rwanda. On July 1, Independence Day is observed, and it is a public holiday. July 4 is celebrated as Liberation Day. On this day, we commemorate the end of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Because of the pandemic, there is little celebration in Rwanda this year. We celebrated in our hearts and not on our streets because of the coronavirus and social distancing.

July 4 is also independence day in my homeland, the USA. A dear friend, Clare Effiong, baked me a special cake. Clare is director of Esther’s Aid, an NGO and culinary arts and career school in Kigali. Clare is also a US citizen from New York City.

She also brought juice, and we celebrated Rwanda’s Liberation Day and our country's Independence Day with cake and juice for the staff and kids at Urukundo. The icing was delicious. I like icing better than cake. I think it is the kid in me. To observe distancing and show respect for the danger of the virus, kids and staff were invited to drop by whenever convenient and not in groups. It worked well.

Mama’s book

For some time now, I have been sharing with you the expected birth of my book. Yep, it is like giving birth. The process takes too long and the labor pains seem to go on forever. Finally, the book is produced. Like with a newborn, I am hoping and praying all is well and everyone will love the new (book) baby.

So, OK. Because I am 89 years old, a baby is not possible, but a new book is. Hope you all like my creation.

My manuscript is “Hope Made Real.” It is now a book and is available in ebook and paperback. While the book can be purchased in several locations, here is the Internet address for people to order my book directly from the bookshop where we earn a great deal more on each book sold. https://store.bookbaby.com/book/hope-made-real

Please note all proceeds from the book go to the Urukundo Learning Center Education Fund.

More information is available on the website. Check in there, please.

Book front cover.

Music, music, music

Our dream at Urukundo Learning Center long has been to have a drum set of our own and not have to rent one for graduation and special occasions. Thanks to an anonymous donor, our dream is now truly a “hope made real.” Sadly, there will be no graduation ceremony this year to celebrate, but we look forward to the future.

Music is so special at Urukundo. We began with kazoos and slowly by slowly (Rwanda term) added a keyboard, violins, guitars and even cultural instruments to our program.

I thank all who have contributed to making our music program a success over the years.

Music comes more abundantly to Urukundo. The donor also funded all the new equipment below. We are so blessed.

We now have instruments for our very own Urukundo school band. The piano also will serve our orchestra.

Hey, it’s a start. These kids and the music teacher, Emanuel, practice even though school is not in session. That’s devotion.

Dental news

Taking temperatures has always been a challenge in the dental office, especially for our young patients.

New to the dentistry is a non-contact, forehead infrared thermometer. This type of thermometer also is being used in the school health room as well.

Dental assistant Rahab appreciates the new method in caring for children and adults.

Coronavirus and safety rules

We are working hard to meet government regulations preparing for school reopening in September. Most important is the station for washing hands.

This wash station is recommended by the Ministry of Health of Rwanda. The tank holds one jerrycan (20 liters) of water and is worked by a foot pedal.

The approximate cost is $30 each. We need 15 because one wash station is required for every two classrooms, one for each of the two gates and one for the lunchroom.

Along with the wash stations, each child and teacher must have two face masks, one for morning and one for the afternoon. We are recommending four each as two would need to be washed or sanitized while the other two are with the child at school.

This is going to be an interesting new school year. We are doing our best as I believe our government is making these requirements for the health and welfare of our children and teachers.

We are now in the process of meeting the government regulations for distancing between students. Four additional classrooms are needed to provide enough space.

In May, we completed two of the needed classrooms. Two more are needed to be able to reopen our school in September. These two are ready.

Another two are in process.

Hoping to be financially able to complete these next two in the next month. To complete the construction, we need glass for windows, outside cement and grass to hold the soil.

Cement for floors and inside wall paint.

We needed to install fencing to protect the children from falling over the very steep bank in front of the upper-level classroom.

Our students’ safety is a special concern at Urukundo Learning Center. Leveling to build creates high and dangerous drop-offs.

A protection fence is the safety step needed. The fence in process.

Protection fence completed. No child will accidentally fall from the school yard to the ground below.

The next step is making the classroom levels handicap accessible. This is an ongoing project required by the government. We are doing our best to comply. As you can see, building on a mountain, there are many steps. Steps are not easy for those unable to walk. I had a sample of that when I broke my foot and ankle a few years ago. Walking in a cast to visit the school was not possible. I will share the progress being made in the August newsletter.

Hope House

Good news! Hope House is reopening soon for worship.

Some houses of worship opened in Rwanda on July 19. Every church had to pass an inspection. After inspection by the umudugudu (village leader), Urukundo Worship Center is scheduled to reopen on Aug. 2.

Distancing, masks and wash stations are required. No children under 12 years old are allowed to attend services, and children between 12 and 15 can attend but must be with a parent. A book must be maintained with names and phone numbers for tracing should one person test positive.

I am impressed with the steps taken by the Rwandan government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus and still move ahead to open slowly and safely.