Enjoy every day to the fullest. Time moves so fast. Share your love and joy with friends and family at every opportunity. Live, love and be happy.
Mama
Graduation Special
Graduation at Urukundo Foundation / Urukundo Learning Center.July 2022.
We started off with practice on the basketball court in early July.
Band and Marching unit in practice.
Adding the school band to the graduation ceremony is exciting for the kids.
The day finally arrives July 22nd, 2022.
Trucks bring tents and chairs and the setup work begins.
A platform was constructed for the band with a cover. 5 hours in the direct sun would have been bad for the students, their director, and instruments. Band set up ready to work.
Primary students anticipate a very special day. Are we ready? Yes, we are.
Urukundo Students wow! A vision to behold.
I marvel at the growth in numbers, from past graduations with about 15 graduates to the present graduation with 117 graduates. More children are receiving an education every year. Because you care, Urukundo is making a difference.
Kindergarden
Ready for a march to the football field for the ceremony.
Primary 6
Primary 6 graduates are all set to follow Kindergarten graduates.
Jubilation
The march begins to the football field. Primary 1 and parents on the march. We honor our neighbors with a parade.
P2 students parade.
P3 you can see the age difference.
P4 in Sports clothes.
P5 our future 2023 graduates.
The sewing Center graduates complete the marching line.
P6 and Sewing Center grads strut their stuff.
Through the main gate of Urukundo Village.
The parade continues.
We have arrived.
New this year.
A bandstand and a wonderful band and director Emmanuel.
Our own band instruments. We are still renting the sound system.
Violins
Drums
Piano
Guitar
Presenting for our parents and friends.
Precision marching.
Saluting the honored guests as they pass, A Rwandan tradition.
Music is essential. Chorus is accompanied by music supplied by the learning center band.
Primary 6 leads the National Anthem.
A special moment for a little sister
Older brother is graduating and leaving the school. He will be missed by his young sister who is also a student. The two of them sharing a song together touched my heart..
Traditional Music.
Girls, traditional dancing.
Traditional Dance. Boys and Girls.
Honored guests, even me. Urukundo’s Headmaster, Viateur, Mama, and Olive, Mama’s assistant.
Urukundo Director Jean Marie, Jeanne d’arc executive secretariat Kinihira sector / Ruhango District, and Oswald the President of the Urukundo National Board were among the honored guests.
Daniel Habyarimana. Director of Education for Muhanga District was the guest speaker of the day.
Awards were given to outstanding students.
Best student Albertine Tuyishime Uwase at Sewing School.
Director of Music gives award to Primary One student Luc Hategekimana who plays the piano in the band.
Awards for best grades from P1 to P6 were given to these 6 students.
There were many more awards given.
I was privileged to be the mom when Claudine was given a special award. Claudine received an award as an outstanding student.
Claudine receiving her special award.
On presenting Claudine’s award, headmaster Viatiur said Claudine has proven that disability is not an inability.
Claudine is our only graduate from Urukundo Home for Children this year. Claudine is family.
We are Claudine’s family. Her Mama, Claudine, Chantel her Urukundo Auntie, Seraphine her older Urukundo sister.
Claudine's advisor Libby, Claudine, and Olive, Mama’s assistant.
A presentation by the Sewing Center students.
Fashions for special occasions.
An everyday dress can be elegant with matching head dress. Men's shirts are part of the tailoring program.
Stylish jackets enhance any outfit.
Knee-length attire is now in fashion.
Perfect for a dinner date.
The Sewing Center students learn the basics of sewing & tailoring, learn to create designs, and are willing to model what they feel are their best creations.
Each student received a sewing starter kit. Their teacher Epiphanie and Headmaster Viateur assisted me in presenting the gifts.
In conclusion, thank you for taking the graduation journey with me. I hope it gives you pleasure and a good look at what Urukundo Foundation with your help is able to provide for the students in our school.
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL GRADUATES.
THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Ok, When is it my turn? The future in his eyes.
Wonderful group photo. Love it.
June 2022 Newsletter: Dental Clinic renovation
June is a month mixed with joy as the renovation starts on the relocation of the Dental Clinic and sadness as I watch the destruction of my lovely yard and the beautiful old tree become firewood.
I walked down the mountain to stand in what was the great room in my former dwelling. The window is gone and a larger one will take its place.
Jean Marie stands with me viewing what was my beautiful front yard. This room will now be the patient waiting room. Sad to see the garden go but necessary.
It was a big beautiful tree with problems. Remember when in July 2018 a large section yielded to the storm and landed in the driveway? Same tree, but we won’t have to worry about it falling on the house anymore.
This will be the parking area for dental patients. The tree limbs will make good firewood when propane gas runs out.
Area being prepared for off-street parking.
Welders making frames for new windows.
Small windows give way to larger ones. The workers are replacing windows and adding more ventilators.
Air conditioning is not needed, but airflow is so important
Windows and ventilators completed.
The very old roof was removed. Ready for metal sheets that will protect the interior from rain and wind.
Blue metal sheets arrive.
Frame support work in place. This is work to be completed before a new roof can be placed.
In process.
The new roof is on. Work inside to begin.
Plant life in Rwanda
Remember this plant? The plant supplies palms for Palm Sunday.
It had to be saved. Now it has a new growing space.
New location
Pretty setting and it has survived the move.
Mama’s house
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.