Dining room open

Exterior view of completed construction.

Interior view of completed construction.

Lunchtime at Urukundo Learning Center. Kids, kids, kids. The tables in the front are for the staff and teachers.

Kitchen workers are ready to serve. Amin, Seraphine, Gilbert and Onesmo.

Teachers enjoy good food.

Water is an essential part of life in Urukundo. Pastor Yves, Mama and Sarah deliver water after the kids start eating. From experience, I know kids tend to drink in place of eating. Mama’s rule: eat and then drink.

One big step

How to wash the hands of the 3- and 4-year-olds? That was the question. This helpful step is the answer.

Thought for February

When I think about love, I think about family, friends and Urukundo. Reach out, make a friend and share the love every day.

Love can change the world.

Mama Arlene

A Note from Mama

The January newsletter comes to you in February, so I send this message to those who share my love for Urukundo and the love it brings.

February is the Love Month. Urukundo, which means “love” in kinyarwanda, is the name of the foundation created by love. What better gift to give to your Valentine than the story of love, the book “Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo.” It was written by Mama Arlene. Share the love with those you love and help the children at Urukundo Home for Children and Learning Center.

All proceeds go to the Urukundo Foundation. The amount is greatest when the book is purchased through BookBaby, which has paperback and ebook (AZW, EPub and PDF) editions.

The book also is available from other booksellers. The book is available in both paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon.

The book also can be purchased from Barnes & Noble in paperback and NOOK formats.

Share the love. Purchase the book.

A New Year

The new year started in grand style.

Breakfast with mama.

Delphine, the auntie in charge for the day, along with Claudine, Sarah, John and Soso, joined Mama for breakfast the morning of New Year’s Day. A wonderful meal was prepared by the Urukundo kitchen for us. It consisted of juice, porridge, scrambled eggs, vegetables, pizza rounds, chips, avocado, papaya and the ever-present little bananas. To top off the breakfast, Soso accidentally upset his juice into Claudine’s plate and lap. This made it the perfect breakfast ending, with laughter and mopping up. For me, it was a pure joy just being together.

Following the usual tradition of my youth, I made a New Year's resolution. I am asking: Have you made a New Year’s resolution? Is it broken already? Mine is to walk outdoors for at least a half-hour every day. I am working on it. I must walk inside the campus and not on the street due to the Covid-19 virus. With the accessible walkways constructed in 2020, it is now possible.

Providing a smooth walkway rather than steep irregular steps from my backyard to the campus area makes my walk easier.

Benjamin’s arm is also appreciated.

Welcome, Chloe

Giving birth can sometimes be a challenge in Rwanda. For Amin and Claire and Urukundo, this birth was very special. Amin, the dad, is one of our boys. We are happy to welcome Chloe Agahozo Niyonkuru into the Urukundo family. Thanks to the prayers of many and good medical care, our little girl and her mama are home and doing well. Papa is very happy.

From the birthing center

Meet three of the 12 newborns at the birthing center. It’s so wonderful to have clothes and your love to share with the babies and their families.

Wonderful memories

A lovely gift. I received this beautiful picture and was so pleased. The photo came from London. We know the team and the names of all of the volunteers, but I don’t know which one sent it to us. I would like to know to say thank you. I had the photo framed, and it now hangs in my office for all to enjoy. The kids find themselves and name the volunteers and staff, remembering this visit and the happy times we all enjoyed.

As the song goes, “Memories are made of this.”

School resumes

With government permission and Covid-19 protection in place, Urukundo Learning Center doors have re-opened for all of its students in January.

This was the first time for preschool and Primary 1 through 3 since the pandemic began. It was the first day ever in school for the 3-year-olds..Students in Primary 4, 5 and 6 returned in November.

First day back to school.

They came.

On foot

By bicycle

Even moto

And, of course, by Urukundo’s bus

Lining up for the wash station.

Washing hands. Math teacher Elias assisting.

This 3-year-old is ready.

For the little ones, cleaning their hands with a squirt bottle sanitizer seemed the best method. Teacher Rosemary does the honors.

One of our cleaners, Gerald, is the helper in this task. Little ones are too short to use the wash station.

A temperature check is necessary. Science teacher Eugene shares that responsibility.

It takes many helpers to reach our goal of every student and teacher checked. Head of Discipline Viateur helps to move students faster to class.

These new students are waiting for classroom assignments in Primary 1, 2, and 3.

Our preschool has three levels: 3-year-olds, 4-year-olds and 5-year-olds. Little faces tell the stories.

Face masks are a problem for some.

This 5-year-old is not at all happy to be back in school.

Rethinking. OK, he remembers. Maybe it’s not so bad.

Teacher Solange, with 4-year-olds, works magic with distractions. Tomorrow will be better.

Older preschoolers are glad to be back. Teacher Callixte with 5-year-olds.

Preschool teacher Sylvia with 3-year-olds.

Primary 3 students and their teacher ready for serious study.

Dining room update

Ceiling and lights are installed. Yet to be done are installing the glass for the windows and doors, and painting the walls.

This amazing addition will serve many purposes even though it is designated as a dining room. The extra space will supply the required distancing for the students having lunch each school day as we strive to keep our students safe.

The lighting is beautiful.

Visitor

Claudia Weissenböck from Austria was a welcome visitor. Claudia and her husband Erwin worked with us as we installed solar electricity in the Urukundo Village.

Explosion as warning

It is frightening to have an explosion and not know what exploded. At first, I thought it was in my kitchen and Libby my helper might be hurt. This was not the case. The explosion came from outside where the cars were parked.

The Land Rover (our big car) had an explosion. The explosion came from the spare tire on the back of the car blowing up. What a noise! It was near my house. Guards, day workers, staff and kids came running to see if I was okay. It was a relief to all to find the source of the explosion was not in Mama’s house.

The explosion was disturbing but harmless. The tire was old, and, apparently the heat of the day caused it to burst. It destroyed the tire but did no other damage. It did, however, make us aware that the tires on the vehicle were balding and new tires are needed for safe travel. I am grateful the tire was not on the vehicle while traveling. A serious accident was avoided.

God in charge.