A special journey with Buffalo State College

On June 8-9, the Urukundo Learning Center and our teachers again welcomed The Anne Frank Project from Buffalo State College (SUNY Buffalo) in Buffalo, New York, USA. The project uses stories as a vehicle for community building, conflict resolution and identity.

The visit has become a yearly event. This year, 11 students and two faculty members came from Buffalo State to Urukundo to participate in the program.

The purpose is to provide Urukundo’s teachers with the knowledge and ability to conduct the teaching sessions themselves. Teachers teach teachers to be able to teach other teachers. The program shows success. Leading in this year's module were our teachers from Urukundo Learning Center. Congratulations, Urukundo teachers. Well done.

I am proud of our teachers and their success.

Urukundo Learning Center team

The Buffalo team (with Mama) advised and made suggestions.

More than 90 local teachers from Urukundo and neighboring schools took part in the two-day teaching and learning experience.

On June 10, the Buffalo team spent the day at the school.

They also visited the daycare.

They participated in sports with our students. Fun was had by all.

We look forward to next year.

More volunteers

Return guests are always welcome.

Learning Center dean Anuarite, center,  welcomed returnee Keena, right, and her travel colleague, Yiwei.

Keena, a Pennsylvanian, first visited Urukundo in 2009. She indirectly started our instrumental music program by introducing the violin and made it possible for Urukundo to receive additional violins from J.R. Judd Violins, a shop in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA. Our music program continues to grow with a full-time music teacher, a school chorus, and an orchestra. Keena is a teacher at the Chinese International School in Hong Kong, China. Although Keena has been back many times, this was Yiwei’s first trip to Africa. 

Headmaster Viateur, third from left, and school secretary Adeline, left, welcomed our visitors to the Urukundo Learning Center.

Keena and Yiwei spent happy hours with the little ones at the daycare.

The final day of their visit.

Love Yiwei’s new Rwandan dress.

Urukundo Learning Center field trip

All aboard for the Primary 6 (sixth-grade) trip. The trip is always a thrill for our students. This year, the trip was to discover and learn about their heritage.

They saw how the king lived long ago. This is a replica of the King's Palace.

Urukundo kids and teachers were photographed in front of the King's Palace. So many shoes! In Rwandan culture, you never enter the palace wearing shoes.

Yves Irakoze sat where the king sat to give out judgments to his people when there was a monarchy.

Cows are a traditional animal in Rwanda. Our students were amazed at the size of the horns. These are not the same cows as on our farm.

The next stop on their journey to learn about Rwanda's history was at the Rwanda Cultural Heritage Academy.

New kitchen

The long hoped-for kitchen is finally a hope made real.

It has propane gas cookers.

There is a wash station for large pans and utensils.

Stainless steel tables are for preparing fruits, vegetables and other foods.

A cart on wheels is for transporting huge pans of hot food to the serving area.

Shelves are for large pans and cooking utensils after washing.

Empty shelves are awaiting appliances such as a microwave, blender and mixer. There are four rooms down the hall: a dressing room, an office, a storage room for fresh foods, and a storage room for bulk food such as rice, beans and cooking oil.

Message from Mama

A huge THANK YOU to all who made the kitchen possible.

And an overdue thank you:

Urukundo/Hope Made Real, which is a foundation based on love, is blessed to have many of different faiths as part of our Urukundo family. Our support system is not large but mighty. We serve an awesome God and together we are making a difference. I want to thank everyone in the many walks of life who have taken this mission into their hearts and decided to share in our love. My hope is that many of you will come as volunteers to work and witness what we have accomplished together. I invite you to share the love.

Mama

May newsletter

Our May newsletter begins with Urukundo Learning Center. We proudly salute Marie Merci Kamikazi, representing Urukundo Learning Center in the National Writing Competition. Marie Merci, a Primary 5 student, won a place in the National Writing Competition for primary students.

Headmaster Viateur and her dad accompanied her to Kigali for the presentation. As the winner representing our school, she received a special gift from the foundation for work well done.

Climate change in our world

May 2024 has seen a change in the weather pattern. Rain, although necessary, can cause problems when it does not conform as expected.

Here’s what unexpected devastating wind and rain storms can do to homes in Rwanda. I see the devastation and compare it to the damage done by tornadoes in the USA. We do have much in common.

Torrential rain storms cause mudbrick homes to crumble. Standing in front of what is left of his house with Pastor Yves, Claver, left, one of our church family, admitted he needs help. Pastor Yves and his fellow Christians will help him and his family rebuild their home.

Pastor Yves with Claver and his son.

Volunteer Carol

Carol Falke, Hope Made Real president, returned to her USA family after a very fruitful time volunteering at the Urukundo Learning Center. Follow Carol on Facebook. Her photos and comments tell the story of Urukundo Learning Center and how volunteers can participate in enriching the lives of children in Rwanda.

Being the gentleman, Director Jean Marie assisted Carol by pushing the luggage up the ramp at the airport. Carol appreciated the help. Safe travels, Carol.

Old friends meet again

Read about Tresor Cyubahiro, right, in Hope Made Real: The Story of Mama Arlene and the Children of Urukundo” Page 85, “Hungering for Education.”

Tresor, one of Mama’s Rwandan sons, graduated from Arizona State University with honors.

After graduating, Tresor interned in California, where he met and became friends with Sasa Arsic from Switzerland. Tresor shared his story of his home in Urukundo and the wonders of his beautiful country, Rwanda.  Sasa heads an NGO named “The Lucky Wagon.” His friendship with Tresor resulted in his NGO sending a team of five to Urukundo to see what it was all about.

This group of five arrived at 12:05 midnight on May 17 for pickup at the airport. Oswald, our minibus driver, and Esperance, our public relations person, brought them to Urukundo.

All five boarding the minibus: Sasa Arsic, Michael, Katarina, Frederick and Kevin. 

After breakfast with Mama, it's time to visit the Learning Center and meet the kids.

The gate is a good place to start.

Little kids greeted with love.

Older kids reached out a hand.

The volunteers also helped in the classroom.

Giving a helping hand in class. It could be math or spelling.

Sasa shared reading time with the kids in the library.

In the activity room adjoining the library, it is creative time with Legos.

The volunteers also helped in the daycare.

Katarina learned how to secure an infant and continue to care for others. Hey, Rwanda mamas do it all the time. It works. Anitha, daycare manager, instructed.

It was fun to get down on the mat and be kids again. Great photo.

The daycare photo op. Kids love sunglasses.

It's a girl thing.

There also was time for play.

Selfies are such fun.

Ready for sports. Anyone for foote ball (soccer)?

The group visited the farm.

Really,  there is milk coming from this faucet. Stand still, cow.

Baby calf born while they were here. I did not prearrange this. At Urukundo, things just happen.

Old McDonald had a farm, but I bet his cows did not have horns like the king's cows at King's Palace in Rwanda. King’s cows are more picturesque than Urukundo’s cows.

Mama to baby above. She is beautiful but has no big horns.

Ollie found a new friend.

A story to tell

A box arrived from the USA. I was so excited to receive it. These are the contents of the box after unpacking. Beautiful crocheted newborn sweater sets, hats and lots of goodies.

I sat down to send a thank you to the sender, Margie Krogh. I always start by saying “Thank you for your package sent  (the date it was sent). I looked at the date and could not believe my eyes. This was not possible. I looked again. The date sent was indeed June 14, 2021.

Not sure the journey this box took, but for sure South Africa was in there. Three years is a long time to travel, even for a box of goodies. Glad there was nothing perishable.

Community reach

The Mama & Baby Project is growing, It has gone beyond newborns. Caring for the children in our community is important.  We can not turn our backs on the needs of other little children in the community.

Through the Urukundo Worship Center and the Mama & Baby Project, our outreach has expanded to include toddlers and preschoolers.