University visitors

A delegation from Youngstown State University spent two days of quality time with Urukundo’s teachers.

Thirty-two volunteers arrived on campus.

The group gathered at Mama’s house for orientation. Then they headed on a sightseeing excursion of Urukundo’s campus.

Hillside House was perfect for the teaching program on emotional well being.

Classrooms at the school worked well for small group sessions.

During lunch break, they enjoyed the basketball court.

The second day, they spent time with the children in their classrooms.

The nurses spent time at the daycare.

What an amazing group!

Message from Mama

Urukundo Advent Journey Calendar

My daughter, who wishes to aid you in your support for me and the children, invites you to participate in the “Urukundo Advent Journey Calendar.” (As a pastor herself, she knows how far ahead you may begin to plan.)

Participation is simple. You’ll receive the one-page calendar to print front and back. It can be distributed to friends and family or any club, group or congregation. Each day, the reader will discover interesting facts about Urukundo Village, its school children, the teachers, dentists and farmers as well as the people of Rwanda. They also will be challenged to consider their own life blessings and be challenged to give a suggested small amount. This can be a special offering brought on Christmas Eve or Christmas, concluding the journey. As always, 100 percent goes directly to support Mama Arlene and the children and mission of Urukundo.

If you’d like to participate, she asks you to contact her by phone, text, or email:  Patricia Brown, 412-999-1912, pdbrown@spiritworks.org.  She looks forward to hearing from you.

Visitor No. 1 (not in order of importance; just by arrival times)

Kyle Jerro

Before covid, Kyle was a yearly visitor. In 2020, covid changed all that. Having Kyle come home was special as he has been missed. Kyle is from Texas and is currently employed in the UK. His position is senior lecturer, Department of Language and Linguistics, University of Essex. Kyle also served on our Hope Made Real International Board for three terms.

His arrival on March 23 was a celebration. He had a short time with the Urukundo students as the first two weeks of April are spring break. The students were spending time at home with their parents and siblings.

We were happy to welcome Kyle back even though his visit was short.

Meeting with and greeting the kids was special.

The tradition for our students is to gather for closing exercises. That event happened this year on March 31. The soccer field is the perfect place for more than 1,150 kids to gather. Awards and report cards were given for the term, and parents accompanied the kids to this gathering.

I also am privileged to attend this momentous occasion.

A bench was provided for me. Kyle and I shared the bench.

Kyle spent free time at the daycare. Our daycare is open year-round. Kyle was caught on the floor playing with the younger set.

Pretend cameras are fun. Doesn’t everyone smile for the camera with their eyes closed?

A new experience

It is our wish to share a bit of the Muhanga District with visitors.

The only body of water in Muhanga was visited by Olive, our hospitality manager; Kyle; Oswald, our transportation manager and president of the Hope Made Real National Board; and Juliette, human resource manager and vice president of the national board

Yes, we do have a small lake (reservoir) in Muhanga. Better known as the Muhanga Dam. Because of this dam, we are able to irrigate our rice fields. It is a site (sight) to be enjoyed. Kyle enjoyed the sight-seeing tour in the Muhanga District. This tour included the Zipline Airport.

The drone manager explained how essential this service is to our mountainous world. Emergency medicine that used to take five or six hours by car now reaches the patient in minutes.

Lives have been saved because of the drone service. The red containers hold the product, and parachutes are attached to drop essential items where needed. Drones carry the containers but do not land. They drop their cargo and return to their place of origin.

Kyle’s expression is priceless.

Zipline Airport Muhanga. Amazing to watch how the drones land, are taken apart, reassembled and are ready for the next delivery in a very short amount of time.

Pushing a button sends the drone on its mission of mercy.

A much-needed visit

Claudine is spending a few weeks with her grandmother for the first time since covid in 2020. Claudine is now 17 years old. Imagine this gram carrying this child to Urukundo when she was 3 years old. Claudine, who was blind, was small for her age because she was suffering from malnutrition.

What a difference the years have made in her life!

The computer age

An adult computer class in progress. Our managers must have the computer skills necessary to complete their jobs.

Managers Libby, Delphine and Anitha are apt students. Urukundo’s Director Jean Marie Ntwari teaches the class. Just one of his many responsibilities.

Development continues

There are still three buildings on the property constructed of mud bricks. They are the kitchen, the Mama & Baby Project house, and the house used for storage. Mud brick buildings have no foundation and the walls crumble with time. These buildings were on the property when Urukundo purchased the land. We upgraded them with paint and repairs, but, needless to say, they are in bad condition and have to be removed. Demolition is in progress.

Demolition in progress on April 5, 2023

The cobbled roof is gone, and doors and windows removed (to be used elsewhere). In short order, the building will be no more. The roof tiles will be sold. Sorry to see this building go but necessary. It has had many lives. It was the original Mama & Baby Project house, then used as a guest house, after that a home for little boys, and last year we used it as the Christmas house (a space where we wrapped and stored Christmas gifts for all the Urukundo and community children).

The original view

The view after removing the mud brick houses. It opens up the view. It is time to finish upgrading the kitchen, which is the small light green building at the far end of HMR House. Our plan for this piece of land is to have a lawn garden with trees and flowers. A place where visitors can enjoy a cup of tea, coffee, Fanta and each other. It will be interesting to see what the future holds.

Visitors No. 2 and No. 3

Marilyn Ely and Carol Falke

Marilyn and Carol are members of the Hope Made Real International Board of Directors. Carol is president of the board, and Marilyn is treasurer. They have been yearly volunteers at Urukundo. That is until covid struck. Carol returned in 2022 after covid restrictions were lifted. Not so for Marilyn. Carol and Marilyn were scheduled to come together in 2022, but days before their departure date Marilyn tested positive for covid and did not accompany Carol. Sad to say, Marilyn stayed home in the USA. We missed her and were happy to welcome both Carol and Marilyn in 2023.

Carol teaching a 1-year-old to motor. No pedals, just foot power.

It worked.

Learning to walk with the aid of a vehicle on wheels. This little one is on all fours when the vehicle is in use elsewhere. Our daycare is an amazing place for learning motor skills. Thanks to gifts from donors.

Carol and Marilyn spent many hours in the Learning Center library.

Visitor No. 4

Benjamin Western

Benjamin visited Urukundo in 2017.

Our kids were home then. Love the photo.

This time, his purpose was to photograph and record Urukundo for a documentary. This should be interesting. I will keep you informed on the progress of this venture.

Benjamin and his camera on a visit to the Sewing Center.

The Sewing Center has a new location. Update in May’s newsletter.

No documentary would be complete without visiting the Urukundo Learning Center.

Walking the walk with visitors Marilyn, Carol and Benjamin were Headmaster Viateur and Dean Anuarite.

An interesting visit was to the Music Center.

Both choral and instrumental music were performed.

The library and our visitors got his attention.

The daycare was next on his list.

His equipment was fascinating for the older kids.

Better watch that tripod, Benjamin! You may have an assistant someday from Urukundo. Bruno is more than curious and is investigating further.

During their visit, our visitors – Carol, Marilyn and Benjamin – explored the Zipline airport, the location of the spectacular drone medical service to Rwanda. Our twin Kenny was home at the time and journeyed with them. It was a great experience for him.

Hearing from the expert.

It was a pleasant surprise to have Kenny drop in on his way back to secondary school.

Benjamin and Kenny became good friends.