The daycare children visited Mama’s residence.
Manager Anitha and kids.
What joy!
I am delighted. The children are no longer afraid of Ollie.
He decided to stay in my garden.
June visitors
Pastor Alexi is a United Methodist Church pastor from the Gisenyi area of Northern Rwanda.I have known Pastor Alexi and his family and was able to give them a safe haven when their lives were in danger. Pastor Alexi just achieved his master’s in theology.
Alexi introduced Bill Graf to the Urukundo Foundation in 2007. Bill was a witness – along with Marilyn Ely (now Hope Made Real International Board treasurer) – to our first purchase of land in Gitarama (now Muhanga). Bill is an attorney and lives in Colorado, USA. Urukundo Village and Learning Center is on his agenda each time he returns to Rwanda. While he was a regular visitor for many years, Covid-19 interfered with his usual schedule of visits. I am so happy to have Bill and Pastor Alexi back at Urukundo. Both men are part of Urkundo’s history.
Bill Graf and Pastor Alexi
Ollie has become the official greeter. She loves the camera.
More June visitors
We welcomed Sarah McCarthy and Kathryn Jacobs from the BK Foundation to Urukundo Village and Learning Center. BK Foundation works with various local and international partners. Their visit was a few short hours. Much too short. During their visit, they enjoyed lunch with the students and teachers and then toured the compound.
Our director Jean Marie was the tour guide for Sarah and Kathryn.
Three other visitors to Urukundo were part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kigali.
It was my pleasure to meet and greet Emile Munyangabe, a founder at Sierralines Ltd and WazoPlus.com. Emile is Rwandese and lives in Madison, Wisconsin, USA.. The visit was short but delightful.
Mike Kwizera, who lives in Kigali, is Rwanda operation and project manager of Sierralines.
Office Manager of Wazoplus.com. Felix Tuyisenge (red shirt) lives in Kigali, and is Rwanda Managing director for Sierralines Ltd. Also in the photo are Eric Bakinahe, Urukundo’s executive secretary and Emile Munyangabe.
Eric and Felix renewed their long-standing friendship. They were friends and neighbors while growing up. Felix served his internship at Urukundo Daycare and Learning Center in 2016.
A field trip for students
The best for last. What a blessing they are!
A week after the daycare kids came to visit Mama’s new residence, the second preschool class arrived for their visit.
Visiting Mama’s house is such fun both for the children and for m
Cultural art for art's sake. Love these kids.
Pastor Yves joined the kids. Each student enjoyed a cookie along with the tour.
Singing “Jesus Loves Me.”. See video.
Kindergarten kids travel back to class with teachers Jovia and Solange.
Volleyball
Our girls reached the semifinals of the volleyball competition. This is a great accomplishment for Urukundo Learning Center. Sorry to say they were eliminated in the semifinals.
We toasted their success in reaching the semifinals with juice.
In closing
Dear Donors,
The visits of children enhance my joy any day. Because of you, our donors, these children will have an education and a brighter future. One person cannot make this happen. It takes the love and caring of all of us together to make it possible. I am well aware of how much this ministry depends on its generous donors. I am humbled by your generosity.
I am in your debt.
Mama/Arlene
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.
New life
May 16 was a productive day. Six new babies were born at the birthing center.
Thanks to the many suitcases with new and slightly used baby clothes that Mama; Drew Kahn from SUNY Buffalo College in the USA; and Carol Falke brought. Our Mama and Baby shelves have supplies to last for some time. Olive sorts and fills the shelves.
Thanks to all of you who hold this project dear.
Bus update
There is a new sign on the Urukundo buses.
This shows the left side.
Here’s the right side.
Thank you to all who helped us assure safe travel to and from school for our children. We are grateful.
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.