A quiet time with Mama

As I look into the future of Urukundo, I see a domino effect. One change leads to another.

Think about this. Our Learning Center continues to provide education for more and more children. The new residence leads to expanded facilities for the Dental Clinic which leads to better dental care. That move lets us expand the daycare so that more infants have a safe and loving place to be cared for. So it goes. God in charge.

All of this is making life changes possible in the community both educationally and health-wise.

Please do keep Urukundo and me in your thoughts and prayers.

Mama Arlene

March Newsletter

The storms have stopped. For how long we are not sure. The weather pattern in Rwanda has changed, so we don’t know what to expect anymore.

National Board meeting

With pleasure, we welcomed the National Board of Directors of Urukundo Foundation at its annual board meeting.

Our president, Oswalde Ruremesha, presented the accomplishments completed in 2021, and the hopes and goals for 2022. Those goals include two preschool classrooms, moving the dental clinic to the new location nearer the road, adding orthodontia to the dental service and refurbishing the kitchen. Big goals. Funding needed. God in charge.

Day care

Not exactly a playpen, but it works

Balls and small toys cannot roll away.

Mama’s house

Still in the process of decorating and adjusting to the new residence. I am so feeling the security and comfort of my new lifestyle. Staying with cultural art has been wonderful.

New artwork over kitchen cabinets. I love the Rwandan animals.

Rwandan design. Perfect wall covering for my living room.

Also good for photoshoots.

Benita, Claudine, guest Drew Kahn and Soso do a photo op in the new space. Ollie never misses a chance to pose. She likes the camera. Our guest posed with the kids for this farewell photo before traveling on to Kenya.

From my window

Last night, I watched the most beautiful sunset out my office window. It dazzled the senses.

This residence and my window are opening a whole new world to me.

In the early morning, I watch the children on their way to school. They are such a happy bunch.

All morning long, I see the playground full of children and their activities. Kids of all sizes and shapes participate in many activities.

Today I watched a game of passing the baton. That game consists of two equal teams on opposite ends of a field. The goal is for each team member to carry the baton and run as fast as possible around the opposite team, return to their team, pass the baton to the next runner and continue this until all on the team have made the run. Of course, the team that finishes first is the winner. I remember playing this same game when I was a kid. I hope you do too.

When I do not go to the dining room to help serve the kids lunch, my window is the perfect place to watch hungry children come running to get to the food waiting for them.

It is fun to see older children taking the hands of younger children and walking them to lunch.

Outside the lunchroom, they wash their hands and shake them dry.

Then they go into the dining room where their food is already waiting for them. There are no pre-arranged seating positions. They are seated as they come in. Amazing to me is the fact that there is no “I want to sit here” or “I want to sit there” or “I want to sit with so and so.” They simply set where our manager Delphine guides them. These kids are wonderful.

I can also watch my dog on her adventures.

Ollie walks Soso to school and returns to guard my office door.

Ollie is a protector.

During the day and into the night, my window is the showcase for the drones that deliver medicines, blood and strategic supplies to many parts of Rwanda. It is best after 6 p.m. because it is dark, and the red and green lights on the drones flash across the sky.

The drone was there, but it was faster than my finger on the button. The evening sky is beautiful.

My window into the world is amazing. Don’t you agree?

International Women's Day in Rwanda

My living room and beautiful women. On March 8, we celebrated International Women's Day. We at Urukundo gathered as strong women with a purpose.

Perfect time for all women employees to tour the new residence and enjoy each other and refreshments.

Women's Day sure is special.

Urukundo celebrates the 49 women who serve in many capacities. In administration, there are six including me. Of the eight managers, six are women. Of the 34 teachers, 18 are women. Our maintenance crew adds 19 women to the list as day workers.

We are indeed women building a future.

After sambusa and Fanta, each woman received a bar of my favorite soap. That soap is Dove. We are sure Dove soap will make us all even more beautiful.

Not Men’s Day in Rwanda, but …

It is the tradition in Rwanda that when you build and move into a new house, you invite friends and neighbors to come and share a drink and a bit of food.

Women's Day gave our women that opportunity. OK, the men might feel cheated, so we thought the men should also enjoy Fanta and sambusa and a tour of the new residence.

If you would like to see Mama’s new residence, virtual tours are available using Zoom, Skype or Facetime by contacting Mama Arlene through email, arlene@hopemadereal.org.

Foundation visitors

Urukundo Director Jean Marie welcomed our visitors from the Segal Family Foundation: Sharonrose Msaki, program officer based in Tanzania, and Yvan Gatoto, program officer based in Rwanda and serving the African Great Lakes region.

Director Jean Marie (blue shirt) and Headmaster Viateur (white shirt) shared the honors of presenting Urukundo Learning Center to our guests. This was a first visit for Sharonrose and Yvan, so there was much to share.

The visit included the Learning Center, day care, dental clinic, farm, Sewing Center and, the best event of all, helping to serve lunch to the school children. They then had a relaxing visit to Mama’s new residence.

Before leaving, our administrative staff and visitors posed for a photo. In addition to Jean Marie, Oswalde and me, our visitors were joined by Juliette, third from left, who is head of human relations and vice president of the National Board, and Eric, on the right, office secretary and assistant to the director. Oswalde is both transportation director and National Board president.

Finally, we sent them off to their next destination with a warm drink in hand. We hope they will return soon.

More visitors

Wow! My cup runneth over. After no visitors for so long, to have four in March, what a treat! Director Jean Marie and I welcomed Francoise Uzamukunda, academic director, Africa, for the Global Engagement Institute, and professor Drew Kahn from SUNY Buffalo State College, USA. Drew is also a member of the Hope Made Real International Board of Directors.

Of course, Drew had to be tested for Covid-19 before going to his next destination. It was our pleasure to meet with Dr. Valli Meeks, our dentist friend from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, at the testing center. Valli was in Rwanda with the nonprofit Operation Smile. Small world.

Closing Thoughts

Ending the month of March, I share this with you:

I am not into fasting. Nevertheless, I do believe truly in these fastings. Think about them, please. This has been widely circulated on the Internet; some attribute it to Pope Francis.

Fast from hurting words – and say kind words.

Fast from sadness – and be filled with gratitude.

Fast from anger – and be filled with patience.

Fast from pessimism – and be filled with hope.

Fast from worries – and trust in God.

Fast from complaints – and contemplate simplicity.

Fast from pressure – and be prayerful.

Fast from bitterness – and fill your heart with joy.

Fast from selfishness – and be compassionate.

Fast from grudges – and be reconciled.

Fast from words – be silent and listen.

February 2022 newsletter

Share the love month

The first visitors in Urukundo’s new residence were Margie and Bruce Krogh from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. They are former residents of Kigali, Rwanda, and friends to Urukundo Village and Learning Center.

Arriving on a Saturday evening, Bruce was the logical speaker for the Sunday morning service. Divine (one of my university graduates) acted as a translator in both English and Kinyarwanda.

Divine and Bruce at the worship service.

The women’s choir sang and danced praises.

Pastor Yves and Bruce served communion.

The congregation was so pleased to have these special visitors.

On Monday, the Kroghs visited the school.

Margie and Bruce got acquainted with new headmaster Viateur.

Visiting the classrooms was on the agenda.

Witnessing a reading group in the library proved to be a special event.

Margie's passion is the music program at Urukundo Learning Center. She has long been a monthly contributor supporting music for kids.

Emmanuel, head of the music program, gives Margie some pointers.

The violin section and the chorus entertained our guests.

Not to be outdone, the guitars, the drums and keyboards joined in. They presented quite a concert.

Truly it was the highlight of Margie’s visit.

I was so excited to see them when they came that I forgot the camera. No incoming photo. I decided to get a photo as they were leaving after their visit. OK, so it is a bit in reverse. Not the usual. They have promised to return before going back to the USA. I look forward to that visit.

Climate change

The violent storms we are experiencing are beyond any I have witnessed in the 20 odd years I have been in Rwanda.Tropical storms are expected, but wind and rain, mixed with lightning, rumbling claps of thunder, and hailstones big enough to dent your car are a little much. The storms are truly testing my new residence and the hilly land around the Learning Center.


Damage in front of the preschool.

Rwanda’s flag is no longer surrounded by mud.

Benjamin and his crew went to work, and the mud is no longer a problem. Safer for the kids. Now the children can run and play without mud. I am happy.

Living on a mountain is always exciting. Rwanda is all mountains. There is no choice.

Watching a mountain erode in the form of a mudslide behind the primary school. Retaining walls are a must. We cleaned up the mud, but it will take some time to build the retaining wall to prevent further damage. We know each storm will make it worse. The ground is so soft.