, ,

May 2022 Newsletter: Advocating education

, ,

The focus of this May newsletter is a journey in our library.

A school library should be a place where children want to go and experience learning through reading and activities. Urukundo Learning Center’s library is such a place.

Library in action.

Train leaving the station. All aboard.

This train goes to the library where we will meet librarian Assumpta and assistant Viateur, who is a teacher, to keep us on track.

Assumpta and Viateur lending a hand.

Reading and being read to are, of course, first and foremost on our journey.

Reading materials, research materials and teaching materials are available for both children and teachers.

Library books are so important for all age groups.

A good area for study and research is also important in a library.

Along with the academic aspect, we also use visual and hands-on learning.

Preschoolers and numbers. Magic with a whiteboard easel.

Domestic animals, life on a farm and tractors are new concepts, but learning ones.

From domestic animals to African safari animals to the vehicles used are exciting.

Teachers get educated on different animals and vehicles and how hands-on can be a fun way to teach.

Moving on

Hard hats and jackets are worn as we learn about construction. The person in the white hat is Carol Falke, president of the Hope Made Real International Board.

Building as construction workers or just kids with a dream, our kids get to test their imaginations with different construction materials.

A new kind of car?

Bendable parts and an imagination.

Tinkertoys

Now to the domestic angle.

Shopping, cooking and eating.

Dressing up to go shopping.

Shopping carts are necessary.

Pizza, cupcakes or cookies, anyone?

Vegetables and fruits make a healthier diet.

Let’s cook.

Time to set the table. Let's eat.

Now we pretend to eat a delicious meal. Imagination and pretend make a delightful experience.

Creative educational toys make our library a place of enjoyment while learning takes place.

Creating objects with Play-Doh is a step toward life skills.

Pottery is good practice.

This one with flowers added is unique.

Play-Doh can also be used to make animals. There is just no end to ideas.

Volunteer of the month

Our volunteer of the month is our own Hope Made Real International Board president, Carol Falke of Pennsylvania, USA.

Carol (flowered shirt) was welcomed by Oswald Ruremesha, Hope Made Real National Board president (black shirt), and Headmaster Viatuer Ngiruwonsanga (white shirt).

Two good-looking presidents: Oswald and Carol. Both are exceptional leaders.

Carol visited a new mama at the nearby birthing center. It is our joy to help to care for newborns and their mamas through our Mama & Baby project.

Mother and grandmother welcome twins. So now we are the “Mama, Baby and Gram project”? How about that? I like the concept. It touches my heart even more.


Sports

Urukundo Learning Center’s girls’ volleyball team is the winner of the district championship.

Short note on the Interschool Competitions for 2021-22:

Every academic year, the Rwanda Federation of Sports in Schools organizes competitions in schools from the sector to the national level in games such as soccer, volleyball, basketball, handball, and netball.

Urukundo Learning Center participates in both girls and boys teams in soccer, basketball and volleyball.

This year, the girls’ volleyball team beat various local schools and qualified to represent our district (Muhanga). They will face other teams from different districts, and we hope they will do well and win a trophy.

The girls were the winners in the district competition and now move on to the nationals.

Mama congratulated the girls’ team with Fanta and cookies.

Honored guests

The new residence with a great room is perfect for showing appreciation to groups as we honor students who are part of our learning center.

My great pleasure was being honored by a visit from our preschool.

Kindergarten class visits “Mama’s house.” It is such a delight to have a home large enough for a group of children to come to visit.

The preschoolers examine the African art in Mama’s house.

Visitors

Irene Farley of West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA, came to visit. She is the mother of Erin Farley, who is a frequent visitor.

A visit with our dental staff was on her agenda

Along with the daycare.

And the preschool.

Being the caring person she is, Irene is ever conscious of health problems. Irene wore her mask even though the mandate has been lifted. It was a fun visit for her and the kids.

Now let me tell you about another visitor. No photo.

Her name is Jane Spenser. Jane is from the United Kingdom and has visited Urukundo once before. Jane came on the day the flu put me to bed. I did not even think about a photo. I really did not think at all. She was so helpful in my house, visited the school, had her meals with the kids then helped out at the daycare. Those few days allowed me to rest and get well. Thank you, Jane.

,

Development

,

Our 2022 project is moving along.

The project is relocating the Dental Clinic to my former home. The costs are:

• $15,000 to renovate the house

• $1,450 for the new dental chair

• $6,200 for chair accessories.

That’s a total of $22,650. Of that, $2,950 (counting a donation for the chair) has been raised. That leaves $19,700 to raise. Small donations help a lot.

Work in progress on my former residence on May 26.

April newsletter

April came in with many pleasant surprises in store at Urukundo Village and Learning Center.

Leading off with Palm Sunday.

Kids in the lead. Singing “Hosanna.”

Waving palms and walking to worship as a group on Palm Sunday has become a tradition for the Urukundo Worship Center. Looking forward to Easter.

Our focus on Easter Sunday was children.

We are so blessed.

Visitors for April

I am thankful many of the Covid restrictions have been lifted and volunteers can return to Urukundo. Covid testing, masks and distancing are still in effect, but these are minor inconveniences.

Kevin Castle, a Rwandese citizen and a long-time volunteer at the Urukundo Home, returned for a too-short visit this Easter season. Kevin is now a teacher and his passion is art. He shared his love of art with our kids.

Mama’s porch was the perfect place for the art project. Easy cleanup.

Acrylic paints with brushes and eggs are a fun project.

Well, maybe painting hard-boiled eggs is a simple form of art, but it is art nevertheless. A bit messy, but so much fun. Kevin brought the acrylic paint and brushes.

What a happy project. Our kids feasted on the eggs at the finish of the project.

We have several visitors who are regulars at Urukundo. Carol Falke and Marilyn Ely from the USA usually visit every year. Covid changed that, so they missed two years. We were so happy both ladies were coming back together in April this year. This did not happen. Only Carol was able to make the trip. Marilyn, who is treasurer of the Hope Made Real International Board, had to cancel because of a positive Covid test.

Marilyn

We miss you, Marilyn. Next year, hopefully.

Carol, president of the Hope Made Real International Board, traveled alone. Carol traveled with many educational supplies for the Urukundo Learning Center.

A lot of luggage but precious gifts.

Our third visitor of April was Dr. Danilo Milanes, dean of the School of Dentistry in the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the CMHS, University of Rwanda.

Dr. Danilo’s expertise is in orthodontics. We met the doctor thanks to Dr. Valli Meeks,

clinical professor in the Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry. Dr. Meeks was instrumental in starting the Dental Clinic at Urukundo Foundation.

Dr. Danilo is interested in learning more about the Urukundo Dental Clinic and our orthodontia program.