December is special in my calendar year. I thank everyone who took the time to extend birthday wishes to me. Thank you. It is a joy to be remembered. More importantly, I thank everyone who took this month of giving and reached out to Urukundo/Hope Made Real and its mission to the children and families in Rwanda. Your support makes a difference for so many.
Happy New Year 2023!
Urukundo does not celebrate Thanksgiving as a holiday, but we have so much to be thankful for this November.
Urukundo Dental Clinic was given approval as a Health Care Facility in Rwanda. The dental clinic is registered with the Rwanda Development Board, and we are official. We are in the new building, and the new license has been issued.
Thanks to all who helped make this happen.
Dental Clinic in progress. Handicap parking and ramp are a must.
We are thankful for improvements to the Dental Clinic.
From this ...
to this.
From this …
to this.
From this …
to this …
and this.
Sterilization is so important. The old sterilization room.
The new sterilization room.
What a difference the move has made for our dental staff and clients!
The renovation is complete except we are waiting for our new chair to be delivered. The room is ready. This chair will be for orthodontics.
After several months of no assemblies because of Covid, our students had an assembly.
Various school clubs available for students to join gave presentations. It was awesome.
The November assembly for students and teachers. Kids enjoyed a break after a month of hard studies. Fun is important along with school work. The various clubs gave presentations to the student body.
The English Club did a radio broadcast with news, weather and interviews.
The French Club sang songs (of course, in French).
Karate Club
Karate Club is now part of the extra school activities. The team demonstrated moves.
Dance Club
Cultural Dance Club in action. Beautiful!
Kinyarwanda Club
The Kinyarwanda Club did a presentation on the calabash, which is a large gourd used to churn cream from milk to make butter in early Rwandan culture. Mom and Dad were teaching the children the history of the calabash and its use.
We are preparing to share the gifts we received from you with more than 700 community children.
Little girl gifts
Hair ribbons, bracelets and My Little Pony with hair brushes.
Just a few of the gifts we received are toothbrushes; coloring books and crayons; pencils with notepads; Matchbox cars; and stickers.
We thank our donors who make giving gifts to children a real pleasure.
Soft and cuddly stuffed animals are new friends and work well for the little ones. They are such fun.
New and slightly used clothes make great gifts.
Like all kids everywhere, our kids love Legos.
These packaged Legos are great for boys and girls.
The youth at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in State College, Pennsylvania, USA, packaged Legos and sent them for our youth.
I hope these young people in State College know how much they are appreciated and how they have enriched the lives of children in Muhanga, Rwanda. We are grateful.
Giving is not a matter of age. It is a matter of love.
Betty Knouse, 91, joined the youth at St. Paul's UMC in filling a need at Urukundo Foundation/Hope Made Real. These receiving blankets are so appreciated and needed.
Hi, Betty! We share an age, but I will pass you by turning 92 in December. We are awesome women
Other donors include the kids from Park Forest Village United Methodist Church in Pennsylvania, USA. They gave the gift that keeps on giving.
Books for Urukundo Learning Center Library. So appreciated.
Our staff pitched in and helped wrap the presents.
Colored tissue paper, tape and willing hands. Gift wrapping in progress. Eric, Urukundo’s executive secretary, lent a hand. His help is appreciated.
We are in the computer age. Checking the list of our staff’s children under 12 was made easy. Chantel, co-manager of the daycare, is checking it twice. We give a gift bag to each child and make sure their names are on each gift.
Please remember that the greatest gift is love during this season of loving and giving.
Of course, a donation would also be appreciated. Please send to:
Hope Made Real
PO Box 3222
Williamsport, PA 17701
USA
Or donate on the website, hopemadereal.org.
Hey, this is a sneaky way of getting in a commercial.
Seriously, your love and support are so appreciated all year long, not just at the season when we are all THANKFUL and counting our blessings. As Tiny Tim said in “A Christmas Carol,” “God bless us, Every one!”
Because the December newsletter comes out in January 2023, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
To friends of Urukundo Foundation / Hope Made Real.
I am told that the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been designated a time to give to your favorite charity. If we are among your favorites would you consider giving? Any amount would be appreciated. Our children need study materials. Those books are available here in Kigali city. With your help, Urukundo Learning Center could purchase the books so needed.
Don’t let the figures frighten you.
Remember 186,000 RWF is $186. USD
Below is the list. Scroll to the bottom.
Pick a textbook or an amount and send the donation to:
Hope Made Real
PO Box 3222
Williamsport PA 17701
This can also be done through the website: hopemadereal.org
Education is so important and you can help supply the tools to further improve the quality of education at Urukundo Learning Center by giving a little or a lot.
The total amount needed $9359. USD
Thank you.
Mama
| Item | Books | Qty | Unit Price (FRW) | Total (FRW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MATH P6 | 31 | 6,000 | 186,000 |
| 2 | ENGL P6 | 34 | 6,000 | 204,000 |
| 3 | KINYARWANDA P6 | 31 | 6,000 | 186,000 |
| 4 | SCIENCE P6 | 31 | 6,000 | 186,000 |
| 5 | SOCIAL STUDIES P6 | 34 | 6,500 | 221,000 |
| 6 | FRENCH P6 | 31 | 5,000 | 155,000 |
| 7 | MATH P5 | 56 | 6,000 | 336,000 |
| 8 | ENGL P5 | 58 | 6,000 | 348,000 |
| 9 | KINYARWANDA P5 | 54 | 6,000 | 324,000 |
| 10 | SCIENCE P5 | 55 | 6,000 | 330,000 |
| 11 | SOCIAL STUDIES P5 | 55 | 6,500 | 357,500 |
| 12 | FRENCH P5 | 70 | 5,000 | 350,000 |
| 13 | MATH P4 | 65 | 6,000 | 390,000 |
| 14 | ENGL P4 | 65 | 6,000 | 390,000 |
| 15 | KINYARWANDA P4 | 63 | 6,000 | 378,000 |
| 16 | SCIENCE P4 | 64 | 6,000 | 384,000 |
| 17 | SOCIAL STUDIES P4 | 64 | 6,500 | 416,000 |
| 18 | FRENCH P4 | 82 | 5,000 | 410,000 |
| 19 | MATH P3 | 81 | 6,000 | 445,500 |
| 20 | ENGL P3 | 40 | 6,000 | 200,000 |
| 21 | KINYARWANDA P3 | 40 | 6,000 | 240,000 |
| 22 | SCIENCE P3 | - | - | - |
| 23 | SOCIAL STUDIES P3 | 60 | 6,500 | 330,000 |
| 24 | FRENCH P3 | - | - | - |
| 25 | MATH P2 | 56 | 5,500 | 308,000 |
| 26 | ENGL P2 | 64 | 5,000 | 320,000 |
| 27 | KINYARWANDA P2 | 62 | 6,000 | 372,000 |
| 28 | SCIENCE P2 | - | - | - |
| 29 | SOCIAL STUDIES P2 | 61 | 5,500 | 335,500 |
| 30 | FRENCH P2 | - | - | - |
| 31 | MATH P1 | 51 | 5,500 | 280,500 |
| 32 | ENGL P1 | 55 | 5,000 | 275,000 |
| 33 | KINYARWANDA P1 | 61 | 6,000 | 366,000 |
| 34 | SCIENCE P1 | - | - | - |
| 35 | SOCIAL STUDIES P1 | 61 | 5,500 | 335,500 |
| 36 | FRENCH P1 | - | - | - |
| Total | 9,359,500 |
As promised, I present to you the “talking wall” at Urukundo Learning Center.
I hope you enjoy it as much as our students do.
Artwork on the preschool wall.
The wall is a retaining and protecting wall, so it extends the length of five classrooms.
Lots of space and this artwork is a good use of the area.
It is a teaching tool as well as art and fun. Our kids call it “the talking wall.”
Please take note of the beautiful view we have standing and looking over the wall.
On entering the school campus, the first wall teaches numbers and letters. I love it. What do you think?
Urukundo Children at play.
School days
Domestic animals. Of these, we have cows, pigs, chickens and a dog.
African animals
Vegetables, grown and served in Rwanda.
Fruits, fresh and full of flavor.
Utensils we use.
Transportation, other familiar objects and consonants.
Shapes
Letters, both Vowels & consonants.
Standing on the walkway looking at the wall art and enjoying the view beyond our compound. Great Photo.
Our beautiful Rwanda
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.
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.
Divine is on a journey.
Saying goodbye is not easy. We will miss her, but she will be back in a year. Experience is the best teacher, and this journey will be an educational experience for her.
Divine is on her way to Germany for a year of special training in entrepreneurship. Our prayers and best wishes go with her.
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.
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
