March 2021 Newsletter

Vaccinations!

Urukundo certainly marched into March with gusto. What an exciting month!

The first week in March will live in my memory. This was the week Rwanda received the Covid-19 vaccine. The first vaccine was to be distributed to health centers on March 5, with the first vaccinations to be given on March 6.

Not being a Rwandan with just my passport for ID, I was not on any listing to receive it. I understood that I would have to make contact, I then would be added, and it would take weeks or maybe months before I would receive notice to go to a health center to be vaccinated.

I had no problem with that. There are so many who are in greater danger.

Much to my surprise at 6 a.m. the very next morning, I received a text telling me I should appear at the Kivumu Health Center that very day (March 6) and the vaccine would be given to me. As is normal, I was being given special treatment. This time, I was grateful for it. Most times, I resent being shown preferential treatment.

Covid-19 vaccine administered in Kivumu in the Cyeza sector on March 6.

Sorry to say I had a very bad reaction to the vaccine two weeks to the day, but knowing travel will never be possible unless you have the vaccine, I am glad I received it and I encourage others to receive it also. It is time to return to sharing hugs and kisses. The vaccine, masks and love make that possible.

Kids shop

New backpacks were the order of the day.

Backpacks and school shoes all in one shopping trip. A successful trip for Diane, Benita and Joyce.

Feature of the Month: The Day Care

Many months in the process, thanks to so many, we celebrate the day care project as completed. God is good. In our five-year plan, we hoped to complete the day care project in 2020. Our plan was good but not the best plan. The Covid-19 pandemic changed the plans of many, Urukundo included. The need for wages for our employees, more classrooms for distancing, handicap-accessible walkways, a central wash station and a larger dining room took precedence, and the day care was put on hold.

The completion of the dining room project let us expand the day care space. We were able to transform the original dining room into a play area for the day care, thus enlarging the space for day care. Mama’s house no longer needs to be used for play space. This means that the day care, which is in the original home for girls, is in one building. The day care serves 15 to 30 children from birth to kindergarten.

As I said, “God’s plan works best.”

The expanded space will be used on weekends for weddings, meetings and special celebrations. Thanks to a special gift, a rod was installed and a curtain made and put in place. The curtain allows a hiding place for toys etc. so that weddings and meetings can take place. This area is also used for the younger children to have Sunday School. It is a great place with lots of space for teaching our younger children the good news.

Toddlers and older children now have a new play area. Kids can run a bit, stretch their little legs and enjoy being kids.

Lunch at the day care. Notice the little guy under the table.

A safe environment and safe toys along with children learning to play together and to share are big parts of the day care’s agenda.

Babies still take first place in the heart and on the back.

Even if the baby is a bear.

Little ones under 18 months have their play area with much loving care.

Our little ones sleep. It is time for a rest.

Naptime for babies.

Our staff does a great job. Delphine, Betty, manager Anitha, Josephine and Francoise.

In our hearts

Our kids are always in our hearts.

Olive and Oswald visited Jason this month. He is doing well in his new home and new school. Growing so tall!

His smile is still the best.

Visit from our princess

Baby Chloe is 11 weeks old and finally came to visit her muzungu grandmother. Covid-19 has had control for too long. It was such a blessing to finally be holding this precious baby girl.

She was born Jan. 3. Her papa, my Rwandan son Amin, and his lovely wife Claire were delighted when, thanks to the prayers of so many, a healthy baby girl was born. Olive visited her at home, but because of Covid-19, it was not safe until recently to visit Mama at Urukundo Village.

In closing, sharing a laugh

Everyone needs a chuckle from time to time. Happy laughter is good medicine.

Having a sense of humor is an essential requirement when living in Rwanda.

I have found a small shop in town where small cups of ice cream can be purchased. I love ice cream. Especially vanilla.

Did you know that if you go shopping in Rwanda and you buy small cups of ice cream for Mom, then proceed to stop at several markets for other items before going home, you will not have ice cream an hour later? You will have a flavor-of-the-month container of milk? My secretary, Eric, found that out this month. Well, now he knows that you purchase the ice cream last, then go straight home.

I didn’t have ice cream, but I did have a good laugh.

Mama Arlene

February 2021 Newsletter sent with love

February is all about love, caring and sharing. Urukundo’s family is also all about love, caring and sharing. Of all the virtues, love is the greatest.

Meet some of our kids sharing the love. They are all my valentines.

Olive with Jacob and Rebecca

Olive went to visit Jacob at his new school. She asked Jacob if he knew his sister Rebekah was in the same school. He did not, and Rebekah did not know Jacob was there. The reunion was an event to behold.

Baby Edith is the center for this group. She is their valentine special. Her mama is HR manager Juliette. Sharing the love are big brothers Edison and Jerry; adopted cousin Emma; and foster sister Livine.

Couldn’t resist those missing two front teeth.

Love enough to go around in Pastor Yves’s family.

Papa Ishmael, chairside dental assistant, has a valentine. Her name is Audrey.

More love. Chantel, our daycare helper, shares the love with Sabrine. Her mama is teacher Salonge.

A newborn baby and his mama.

Soccer shoes needed

Urukundo Learning Center has a very active sports program.

We need shoes for our soccer kids. Sizes to fit kids ages 8 to 14 years old. New or used accepted. Thank you.

The postal service is working again.

Mailing address:

Urukundo Foundation

BP 179 Muhanga

South Province

Rwanda, Africa

Special time

Calendar of the year. My Valentine’s Day gift from the Urukundo staff. Love it.

My children have a special time with me each morning. They come to my office for a hug from me before going to school. There is a designated leader for the day. The leader names the year and month then marks off the date and day with a blue marker.

This year, we had no calendar. I was very upset as this is an event the children and I share. Knowing my distress and as a surprise for me, it was arranged for Urukundo to have its own calendar. What a wonderful gift for me!

Now the kids are happy, and the blue marker is back to work.

Progress

After the explosion I told you about in January, we took a closer look at the tires on the Land Rover. We needed to replace all five tires as all were threadbare and dangerous.

Oswald, vehicle manager, shows the faulty tires.

We have moved from that to this.

New tires make for a safer journey over the mountain roads of Rwanda.

Five new tires including a new spare. This spare is not ready to explode.

New hires

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Urukundo needed additional classrooms to meet government requirements to ensure there is enough space to help stop the spread of the virus.

That meant additional teachers needed to be recruited for the Learning Center. These six include two math teachers, a science teacher, a librarian, an English teacher, and an early childhood teacher. Headmaster Irene introduced the new teachers.

Technology in play

Remember the tablets of several months ago? Well, an instructor came. He worked with the teachers and students at Urukundo Learning Center.

Primary 4 has started using them in studying science.There are 40 tablets equipped with a new learning process, ProFuturo. This project to promote digital education is supported by Salesians of Don Bosco Rwanda.

A teacher, headmaster and kids learn from the instructor.