Message from Mama

Friends and followers, if you are thinking this woman with a mission is coming to the end of her time, I agree with you. There are only about 10 or 15 more years to go. That is a short time in the scheme of things. There is much to do and so little time.

What next? Well, let me tell you that knowing the kitchen will be completed soon (a bigger and better one) made me start thinking. Question: What kitchen does not have a giant-size blender, a mixer for baking and making my favorite mashed potatoes, and an oven to bake bread, cakes and cookies and to roast meats like turkey and ham during special times? All of these things are missing in Urukundo’s new kitchen, so you see I have work to do. I will check on Google and see what kitchen appliances are available in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Urukundo Learning Center needs an O-level junior high school. (This is the same as grades 7, 8 and 9 in the USA.) Then it will need a gymnasium. Even primary schools need a gymnasium.

There is still so much to do. This all has to happen in the next 10 years.  Then I think I will retire and rest for the next five years.

Hang in there with me for the long haul.

Much love,

Mama

Travel and service possibilities

This year starts a new beginning at Urukundo. It is our hope to offer not only volunteer possibilities to our friends but also to introduce you to a beautiful land with beautiful people and a culture of its own.

Here’s our new brochure:

Urukundo Travel with a Purpose

Experience the Heart of Rwanda with Mama Arlene and Urukundo.

Urukundo welcomes volunteers to an unforgettable journey where a real impact can be made in the lives of children with Mama Arlene and the dedicated Urukundo teachers and staff. While volunteering, you can discover the rich cultural tapestry of Rwanda through exciting tours and adventures.

Why Choose Urukundo Travel with a Purpose?

  1. Give back and make a difference.

    Come to Urukundo to join forces and make a positive impact; to both contribute and learn. Volunteer opportunities include working with teachers in daycare, preschool and primary grades; playing children’s sports; assisting in dental care; supporting new mothers and their babies; and mentoring musical instrumentalists. Come share your particular expertise. Volunteers are asked to give at least 20 hours of work and advocacy.

  2. Gain a new perspective.

    Immerse yourself in a new country and culture for a transformative experience. Your trip to Urukundo will allow you to see the world with fresh eyes and gain a deeper understanding of a different culture and way of life.

  3. Meet new people.

    Connect with the Urukundo faculty and staff, who are members of the local community, as you work together toward a common goal. Volunteers often form life-long friendships and connections, enriching their journey.

  4. Get out of your comfort zone.

    Step out of your comfort zone. Discover a new sense of purpose and redefine your life. This challenging and rewarding opportunity is a chance for personal growth, discovering strengths and weaknesses, and shaping your purpose.

Useful Information

Only US$100 bills with a date of 2017 or newer are acceptable for exchange to Rwandan currency.  Smaller bills are not acceptable for exchange.

US dollars can be exchanged for rwf (Rwanda Franc) at the current exchange rate at the Urukundo campus office.

Local crafts and souvenirs can be purchased with rwf.

Costs to Plan for Your Visit:

  • US$50 for a visa upon entry

  • Transportation from and to the KIgali International Airport

    • Via car, 1 to 3 passengers, US$50 per trip, shared by all passengers

    • Via minibus, 4 to 8 passengers, US$100 per trip, shared by all passengers

    • Via big bus, 8 or more passengers,  US$150 per trip, shared by all passengers

Accommodations:

  • US$50 donation per day per person covers lodging, three meals a day, purified water, and fiber-optic Internet Wi-Fi.

Guest House (2 options):

  • Private rooms with a double bed and a single in each room and private bath.

  • Male and female dorms with baths for groups.

Residence:

  • Three bedrooms with a choice of single or double occupancy, shared bath.

Examples of Urukundo campus volunteer opportunities:

  • Preschool and primary school teacher’s assistant 

  • Dental Clinic project

  • Farm animal project

  • Staff and community daycare program

  • Vocational sewing school

  • Mama and Baby outreach project

  • All-faiths, community-and-visitor Worship Center

  • Worker/kitchen aide or nutrition advisor

  • Sharing your expertise: Do you have a special ability, talent, hobby or expertise? Let us know before you come, and we can help you determine how it might best be utilized.

Sightseeing, day trips and overnight excursions

Embark on unique adventures with our local guides or with a Rwandan-licensed tour agency who will introduce you to Rwanda’s treasures and hidden gems. Further details and prices upon request.

  • Kigali City tour with market

  • Akagera National Park (guided by African Big Five Safari)

  • Volcanoes National Park (gorilla trekking and more)

  • Nyungwe National Park (rainforest and more)

  • King’s Palace (traditional royal residence, Inyambo royal cows and mor)

  • Drone Zipline

  • Mindleaps dance troupe

  • Azizi Life Cultural Center

We are here to answer your questions and inquiries to make your visit the very best.

  • U.S. Contact: Patricia D. Brown, pdbrown@spiritworks.org

  • Rwandan Contact:  Arlene D. Brown, brown.arlene30@gmail.com

Kitchen update

The kitchen project has become a hope made real.

The long-awaited and needed kitchen project is in progress. I was beginning to think it would not happen in my lifetime.

The first step was building a place to cook while the project was in progress.

That is done.

The second step was moving kitchen equipment to the new building.

Shelves had to move. It is good that we have strong young men to do the moving.

In it goes.

Garden fresh vegetables, carrots, beets, peppers, onions and tree tomatoes.

Bulk foods came next.

Heavy load.

Maize flour, rice and beans.

Setting the perimeters.

Demolition started with removing the roof.

The building was taken down one brick at a time. We salvage as many building materials as possible.

Where did the old kitchen go? It is gone.

Construction has begun. Digging the foundation.

Construction so far on Feb. 23.

Kitchen Feb. 26. Making progress.

February Visitors

Sisters Lisa and Lena Wesnz are teachers from Germany. They visited for a few hours. We do hope they come back when they can spend more time.

Amelia Clark, who arrived from Florida, USA, last month, has settled in and is doing a great job in the library activity room and the daycare. Amelia has preschool and daycare experience. Her three months serving as a volunteer is a blessing to the Urukundo Foundation.

In addition, a team of 12 volunteers from Hebron Church, near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA arrived for a week of service at Urukundo. Projects they participated in included: worship, daycare, preschool, primary school, music, Mama and Baby Project, dentistry, accounting, photography, sewing, painting, construction and other service. Twelve individuals with diverse talents made a real impact.

Urukundo’s Director Jean Marie, along with Urukundo’s bus, met the Hebron Church volunteers at the Kigali International Airport and transported them to Urukundo Village.

Settling in at the guest house

Daycare and sharing

Love is what matters.

Working with little ones at the daycare is an added joy for both the babies and volunteers.

Dental Clinic

Visitor Dr. John, right, and Dentist Irene converse.

Margie sorted clothes at Mama and Baby House

John observed in the classroom for Preschool Level 3. These students will be first graders next September.

Hebron team leader Bruce experiences the farm as presented to the children. Chicken, dog, and rabbit. There was a goat, but she must have been camera-shy.

Paul, a professional painter, painted Urukundo-style. On his knees. What a guy!

Assembly and music

The Urukundo Learning Center presented an assembly with music as the main focus.

Rob was invited to play the drums.

The kids loved it.

After a very busy week, the team took a side trip to visit the Drone Zipline and the King's Palace.

Urukundo wishes to extend our thanks to these volunteers.

Message from Mama

Volunteers are a large part of why Urukundo is a success.

What a delight it is for me to be able to share this beautiful country and its people by offering a bit of the culture and the countryside as you travel to different tour sites!

It is my pleasure to welcome volunteers to work with Urukundo’s many projects. Short-term or long-term, you can make a difference.

Come, learn, teach, share and enjoy.

Mama

January Newsletter

I start the New Year by being grateful and thanking all who shared in the

Urukundo Advent calendar for 2023.

The list includes the following: Stephen Bauman; Lucia Gloddy;  Nina Wilson; Henry and Carla Biaggi; Bruce and Margie Krogh; Pastor Carolyn Nunnally; Pastor Henry Knapp; Ellie Benna; Pastor Rebecca Holland; Pastor Jason Schwartzman; Connie Cousins; Pastor Lori Betsworth; Calvin Phillips; Pastor Ann Runnels; Pastor Caitlin Werth; Mary and Bill Vandivier; Forest Hills Rotary; Churchill-Wilkins Rotary; Bob Dove; Hillary Deckard; Nathan Sutherland; Ruth Cox; Terry Masch; Jeanne Willis; Jane O’Conner and friends; Donna Timblin; Maynard and Betty Grunstra; Mill Creek United Methodist Church; Phelps Chapel United Methodist Church; Richard and Joyce Johnson; Ward Yorks; and Kevin St. Marin.

Thank you, one and all.

It is my hope that as you opened each day you learned a bit more about the Urukundo Foundation and the love we share.

Moving forward on the kitchen

Finally, the much-delayed replacement of the kitchen will take place. We are demolishing the old kitchen and building a new one in the same place.

Rebuilding the kitchen should be simple but not so. While we are rebuilding, we also must cook for our staff and our many students. It was necessary to find a temporary kitchen while the improvements are in progress.

Our solution: A new structure is being built for a temporary kitchen. After the new kitchen is completed, the building for the temporary kitchen will be used for utility and storage purposes.

The above photo shows people working on the roof of the new building. On the right are the daycare center and guesthouse.

The above photo shows how close the existing kitchen, at left, is to the temporary kitchen, at right. They are separated by the propane tank.

One of two tiki huts and a huge tree already have been removed to make way for the new building.

We are almost ready to move the old kitchen to its temporary quarters.

Demolition of the old kitchen starts soon. A team is coming in February from

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, to take part in the new construction. We look forward to working with them.

January visitor

Amelia Clark is from Florida. She originally was from the United Christian Parish in Reston, Virginia, USA, where we met through a mutual friend, Dr. Kathy Kelley. Amelia arrived on Jan. 11 and will stay until March 27.

Amelia has preschool and daycare experience. She has come as a volunteer and will work with daycare manager Anita and the teachers.

On her first Saturday at Urukundo, Amelia viewed the decorations at the Urukundo Wedding Center, located in the Hopemadereal (HMR) House.

On her first day helping, Amelia met Desire, the librarian, and Anurette, the dean of discipline.

Amelia has hit the ground running.

Upcoming special week

An important week is coming up in November 2024.

Paying attention to a newscaster today on the Internet, I discovered that there is a week set aside each year as International Education Week. In November 2023, the week’s theme was celebrating international partnerships. This was welcome news to me.

The news story was about a person raising money for desks and donating them to a classroom for students who did not have desks to write on.

You, Urukundo’s dear friends, have gone far beyond that gift. Since Urukundo Learning Center had its beginning, you have supplied more than 1,000 desks and have built the classrooms for the desks. More than 1,000 children have benefited. That was just the beginning. Because of you, 41 qualified teachers have jobs. The school has textbooks, a playground, sports equipment, a library with books, educational toys, computers and a computer lab. I take this opportunity to say thank you.

International Education Week this year is Nov. 18-22. Urukundo’s goal for 2024-25 is to construct a gymnasium. It means dreaming a new dream and setting a new goal. We would have two years to raise funds toward that construction in the hope we could break ground on Nov. 18, celebrating this year’s International Education Week.

Are you up to the challenge?

In Rwanda, an indoor gym where sports can be played no matter what the weather is a dream and for the Urukundo Foundation a new goal.

Gift from a friend

James is a 10-year-old student in Pennsylvania, USA, who shared his love of rocks with our students.

James sent several books along with his photo.

He also sent a message.

Our elementary Grade 6 kids are sending messages to James with Amelia when she returns to the USA in March.

One of their messages reads:

Dear James,

We would like to thank you for the interesting books you have sent to us and we are proud of you. We also thank you for your generosity in giving books to African children located in Rwanda.

Bonette, Lucky, Pacific

Urukundo Learning Center

Urukundo students find the crystals most interesting.

Library news

Urukundo has opened a new department connected to the library.

Thanks to the Keating family in Philadelphia, USA, and others, our ever-expanding library has added a section for activities that are fun as well as educational, such as matching games, puzzles and building materials.

Matching game

Building activities

Puzzles. Table for older learners and the floor for younger learners.

Very high. As high as you can reach.

Doesn’t look very stable.

Magnets for building