Volunteer teacher welcomed

Most welcome at Urukundo are volunteer teachers interested in primary and early childhood education and who want to make a difference.Their purpose is to work with Urukundo Learning Center teachers for the benefit of children. Our teaching staff welcomes them.

Jeanne Willis from Hughesville, Pennsylvania, USA, is such a teacher. Jeanne is a retired primary school teacher and a blessing to our teachers and students. She visited for three weeks.

This is Jeanne’s third mission trip as a volunteer educator at Urukundo. She is loved and welcomed by our Primary 6 children. They remember her from her last visit in 2017 when they were in Primary 1. Good teachers are not forgotten. Jeanne is a good teacher.

Jeanne brought nine suitcases. Included in one were these letter bibs. The kids and teachers love them. Great teaching tools.

Spelling is fun with the letter bibs.

Occupations

Our P3 students dressed for their chosen occupation. If you look closely, you will see the tools of their trades. Left to right: driver, carpenter, builder, pilot, chef, farmer and fireman.

Librarian Assoumpta getting tips on whiteboard use.

Notice the bottom two books on the desk. In those books –  “Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo” – are stories of Claudine, Pages 129 and 165-167. Divine is on Pages 69 and 96. Urukundo Foundation’s beginning starts on Page 63.

Teacher working with teacher. Our library extension is a perfect workstation. Sharing knowledge.

Our volunteers participate in serving lunch in the dining room to our many students each day. We are grateful for the help.

Saying so long to Jeanne makes for sad faces. She has promised she will return.

Mama and staff gather to bid Jeanne a safe journey as she returns to her home in the USA. From left: Juliette, Mama, Eric, Jeanne, Oswald and Jean Marie.

Claudine’s progress

Our girl Claudine is on her way to see Dr. Piet. Accompanying her are our driver Oswald and Chantel, co-director of the day care. It is our prayer that she finally will get new glasses. This depends a lot on how she has progressed over the last two months. Prayers, please.

Walk down Memory Lane with me.

Claudine’s arrival at Urukundo.

Dr. Piet with loving care.

The smile that brightens my day. A happy little girl. We are blessed.

Some vision restored. The eyes shine.

Now a teen.

Love abounds. Precious gifts appreciated.

Her graduation. Ready to face the world. She is doing an internship in early childhood care.  Claudine is a Hope Made Real. Urukundo is so proud of this young lady.

A message from Mama

Claudine's story is not unique. She is one of many who have benefited because of your love and support. There are so many stories to share. Your donations, dear friends and family, make this ministry possible. Your support is essential if Urukundo is to continue to make a difference in the lives of children such as Claudine.

Please consider making a pledge in 2023 to support the work begun at Urukundo Village and Learning Center. Your support can make a big difference in the lives of so many. My email is brown.arlene30@gmail.com.

Much love and appreciation.

Mama

Newsletter for September 2022

August and September have been wonderful months.

Having so many of our kids home during the school break has been great.

From left, Claude #1, Lucky, Kenilla, Kenny, Forever, Yves and Claudine

I am amazed to see how grown up they are. Several are now old enough to travel alone on public transportation and come home to Urukundo.

Kenny and Kenilla, the twins, were here for two weeks and returned to their biological family. Their grandfather, who is the caregiver for them, is a paraplegic. I am not sure who cares for whom.

My little kids are growing up.

Claude #2 came in August for a week and then returned to his bio family.

I find it hard to believe Claude #2 will start secondary school this year.

Kaboss, Egide and David came Friday, Sept. 2, and Prince arrived Monday, Sept 5.

From left, Kaboss, David, Egide and Prince

From left, Kaboss, Soso, David, Egide and Prince

I needed to get Soso in the photo. He is our ambassador on campus. He meets and greets all the kids as they come home. Sorry to say he will move off campus this October to live in a family situation.

Claude #1, Lucky and Aline are now in Senior 4. Senior 4 is when children in Rwanda must choose a career goal and a school that specializes in the subjects to help them attain that goal.

From left, Claude #1, Aline and Lucky

Claude #1 is going into the medical field. He intends to be a general practitioner and have a family practice. Lucky’s goal is to be a journalist. Aline wants to be a web designer.

I do hope we can help them reach their goals.

News of other children not pictured.

Sarah and Livine were here for a short time, but no photo.

Nelly and Rebecca are fine. They were not able to make it home to Urukundo this school break.

Kavine, Diane, Joyce and Benita all live close by and attend Urukundo Learning Center. I see them most every day.

My little ones, Jacob, Jeanette and Jason, are still too young to travel alone.

Their time will come.

We are blessed to have 26 boys and girls in the younger generation of Urukundo kids.

Urukundo is financially responsible for all of our kids. I am concerned about how long we can continue with their support as donations and child support are trending down. We need all sponsors on board. We need your continued support.

We are just now feeling the impact of covid on donations.. Strange, I would have thought it would have been in 2020 and 2021, not 2022.

Beautiful weddings

This wedding took place at Urukundo Hopemadereal (HMR) House on July 23. The groom is Eric, my executive secretary. His lovely bride is Noella. I was not able to get a good photo as my camera malfunctioned. This photo was just sent to me, so I want to share it with you. Better late than never.

We had another special wedding.

When Urukundo opened the Learning Center in 2011, David was one of our first teachers. After several years, David moved on in his career. It was a pleasant surprise when David and his bride-to-be chose to have their wedding celebration at the Urukundo HMR House.

Regretfully, the wedding took place at the same time as pneumonia put me in the hospital so I did not attend the wedding. After their honeymoon, David came to visit me. I was so pleased with his kind consideration. We had a nice visit and he promised to bring his bride on his next visit.

Mama and David

Baby news

Our staff, along with my daughter Jacque, celebrated this blessed event.

My assistant Olive gave birth on Sept. 14 to a beautiful baby girl.

Mama Olive, Papa Guy, Jacque and baby Linn. Linn shares her birthday with Jacque. I know because I was there for Jacque’s birth. Awesome that Jacque happened to be here just after the birth.

Her name is MWIZA Linn Tiana Fogang. A lot of names for such a little girl. MWIZA in Kinyarwanda means beautiful.

Visitors

What could be more wonderful than to have two daughters come home at the same time? That happened to me in September.

My Rwandan daughter Solange arrived on Sept. 16.

Read about her in my book “Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo” on Page 74. Her story is unique. She moved from Rwanda to McAllen, Texas, when she was about 13. She became a citizen of the USA and now lives in New Mexico, USA. This was her first visit home since leaving Urukundo as a little girl.

Accompanying Solange were her fiance Mark and his sister Ana. Solange was surprised at the many changes at Urukundo and in Rwanda. While at Urukundo, they visited Akagera National Park and the King’s Palace at Nyanza.

Urukundo Director Jean Marie (right) led them on a tour of Urukundo.

They stopped at the new dental facility.

The day care children greeted Mark.

Solange got lots of hugs from staff who knew her as a little girl.

They are hikers and sightseers. Solange enjoyed showing her guests her country, Rwanda.

Aline walked with them.

The next daughter to arrive was my youngest daughter, Jacque, who arrived on Sept. 18. I do have three daughters in the USA plus two daughters-in-law.

Jacque was accompanied by her husband, Sean. His smiling face made my heart sing.

Spending time with the little ones at the daycare was a highlight in their visit.

Daycare manager Anitha looks on with an approving smile.

A special vehicle is needed for a visit to Akagera National Park and the King's Palace Museum.

Urukundo has access to such a vehicle through Let’s Go There Africa.

So much to see and do. My favorite photo is my son-in-law and the big horned cow.

Sean petting the royal cow at the King's Palace.

Notice he did not pet the elephants at Akagera National Park.

Worship

Pastor Yves and co-pastor Chantel had the pleasure of presenting Bibles to our two P6 graduates during the worship service.

Presenting Bibles

Sunday School resumes

In 2020, all group gatherings were stopped to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. In late 2021, groups were allowed to meet with distancing and masks, but children under age 12 were not allowed to be in those gatherings. Now it is 2022, and we rejoice. Our young children are again in our midst. Sunday School resumed as a part of our worship.

This was our first Sunday School since covid stopped all children under age 12 from coming to worship.

It was so great to welcome the children back.

Sunday School must have a teacher. We welcome and thank teacher Donatille.