Construction is progressing for the new Secondary O Level School which will serve grades 7, 8, and 9. This is a Hope Made Real.
March 4
March 13
March 15
March 17
Two more photos taken from the top will cover development for March.
March 26, Photo #1. Front.
March 26, Photo #2. Back view from top of the retaining wall.
Next step: adding the second floor.
These stones at the Urukundo Learning Center honor Mama and Mama’s sons and daughters.
The wonders in the eyes of the children who are toddlers in our daycare. A very special haven filled with love and care.
Visitor John Irwin from the Wilkinsburg Rotary Club near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, had the primary purpose of delivering six musical instruments to our music department. John was here for only four days, but what a blessing!
Emmy, our music director, welcomed John and accepted with appreciation the gift of three clarinets, one flute, one saxophone, and one trumpet.
John also brought footballs (soccer balls), a pump, and a goalie net. Imagine his suitcases!
The first three balls were Rwanda’s colors: green, blue, and yellow. How neat! Sports coach Felix appreciated the much-needed supplies.
John's visit was short, but he spent the time well. With our kids in the daycare.
With students and teachers at the morning assembly.
With Headmaster Viateur and children at the school.
Also, giving low fives and high fives on the playground. John is a tall man.
Saying goodbye to Urukundo.
After too short a visit, John began his journey home. Our executive director, Jean Marie, and PR person, Esperance, accompanied him on the first leg of his journey.
They went on to the capital, Kigali City, and the surrounding area, including visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, the city, the Carnegie Mellon University campus, and an open-air market. In the evening, John visited the Rotary Club of Kigali Virunga and gave greetings from his home club, the Wilkinsburg Rotary. We appreciate various Rotary Clubs and Rotary International for supporting our mission of supplying water and caring for vulnerable children wherever they are globally.
Safe journey, John.
This month, the world celebrates “International Women's Day.” I received many messages. This one was very special to me:
Good morning Mama I hope this email finds you well! I would like to wish you a happy International Women's Day. You are a super woman and a blessing to us! May God bless you abundantly. We love you!
Enjoy your day
Headmaster
This is my reward. God in charge.
I pray April is even better. My thanks to all who are making this ministry possible.
Love, Mama
Happy Valentine's Day. Share the love.
Michelle, who is a representative of the United Methodist Church Volunteers in Mission, tried to figure out how Ethan could fit into her suitcase. Sorry, Michelle. Ethan can't fit.
Let me share with you how exciting it is for me to see the Secondary School become a Hope Made Real.
This is the view that will be seen every day from the Secondary School complex. Awesome!
I would like to join Benjamin, but it looks a bit scary to me.
A Jan. 29 update on Secondary School progress: Ready for inspection. Government inspectors are on site this morning. We need their approval before we can go ahead.
Approval given. Yay!!!
Work began on the upper retaining wall.
Feb. 4. Work continued.
Feb. 16. Upper retaining wall is finished.
Pillars for support of a two-story building. There are many – about 12.
To my amazement, we have a cement mixer. Not the big truck like in the USA, but it works.
Foundation going in. The pillars are encased in cement and are included in the foundation.
Feb. 26. Progressing.
Our director Jean Marie donned a vest and helmet to inspect the work in progress.
Our community outreach continues. We are aware older children are also in need.
It was my pleasure to attend the wedding of Adeline, who is the Urukundo Learning Center’s secretary, and her groom, Oswald, who doesn’t work for Urukundo.
The wedding took place in the Urukundo Hope Made Real House, which serves as a pavilion for weddings and other events.
Adeline has been part of Urukundo staff since April 2011. She filled many jobs before becoming school secretary.
Many of you know my time to relax is used in working on jigsaw puzzles. The perfect personal gift for me is a new puzzle.
A special puzzle. The Lucky Wagon team from Switzerland, who volunteered in 2024, took photos while they were here and had a puzzle made and sent to us. What fun to see our faces and the faces of the team!
Ruby from Maine wanted me to remember winter in the USA. After volunteering here, she sent this puzzle. I shiver just looking at it.
Snow is not my favorite thing. Photos or puzzles of snow are OK. Thank you, Ruby and Jim.
My house manager Libby assisted me in this endeavor.
Our kitchen now has the tools needed, thanks to Maddi Dunlap and her team of women at WAWHO. Maddi is a co-founder WAWHO – We Are Women Helping Others – in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA.
Abdoul, left, who is a sales person for the equipment, demonstrated the equipment for two of the kitchen staff members, Onasimo and Seraphine. Life just got easier in the kitchen.
We hosted our first debate competition between the Urukundo Learning Center and Bright Future Academy.
Subject: Education or money. Question: Which is more important?
Urukundo students welcomed the Bright Academy students as they arrived. Two busloads.
Our library amazed them.
Visiting the library.
Walking across campus. There were many students. They were most welcome.
Team #1 Urukundo: Education is most important.
Team #2 Bright Academy: Money is most important.
Judges. The teachers got the tough job. Both sides did a good job, but all agreed that education is essential to earning money. Money cannot buy education. Both must work together. The winner of the debate: education. Congratulations, Team #1.
Photo after the debate. Everyone had a glass of joy – a bottle of Fanta soda pop.
The rematch will happen in the near future.
Staying in shape is the priority of morning exercise. As much for the teachers as for the students. Not for Mama Arlene.
