Creativity

Volunteer Clyde Santana, who visited Urukundo from the USA in May, has been a screenwriter and mural painter for some time. For Urukundo and our school, he is a master puppeteer and friend who believes that puppets are a useful tool in storytelling.

Hope and Imagination Theater (HIT)  exists thanks to his love of children and encouragement of their creativity. Clyde has purchased playwriting software for our media center.

He is active in encouraging scriptwriting and playwriting for both teachers and children, allowing children to use their imagination. We look forward to his return.

Urukundo’s theater

The theater is far from finished, but it will be ready for productions when the new school year opens in September. It stands on its own. It is portable and will have a home in the new and improved library and activity facility. It can be moved from the activity facility to classrooms to the auditorium, wherever a story needs to be told with action puppets. This is our first try at using theater to teach. Guidance would be appreciated as we start this journey.

Improved Library and Activity room.

Changes at the library and Activity Room. Forgot to take before photos. So this will have to do.

On the left is the door into the Library. On the right is the door to the activity Room. Space between the buildings will no longer exist, connecting the two buildings into one.

A large window will fit in this wall.

Work has progressed.

Rear wall.

Waiting to see the finished expansion.

Filling a need

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in State College, Pennsylvania, USA, shares outreach efforts with Urukundo Foundation. Their outreach is to the State College community and a global outreach that includes Urukundo Foundation. This time, our families received shoes. Thank you, St Paul's UMC.

Children coming in hopes a pair will fit. Children arrive anticipating lollipops and shoes.

A day of sharing shoes for little feet.

A variety of sizes

Footwear for adults: flip-flops, sneakers, and dress shoes.

Checking out their good shoes.

Career in progress

A young man needing a residence in Rwanda for a research project in linguistics contacted Urukundo for living quarters while he pursued his career goals. It helped that he was recommended by a former board member, Kyle Jerro. We were happy to welcome him. His stay has been different but delightful.

His name is Patrick Kinchsular. Patrick is from Canada. At present he is attending New York University.

Patrick arrived while Tim and Mason were here.

Friendships are made at Urukundo.

He joined the village tour.

He met our neighbors, explored Muhanga town, had meals with Mama and beat her playing Uno.

He spent time at the Learning Center connecting with students and studying Kinyarwanda, the spoken language here.

Best of all, he will be here for graduation and has volunteered to be Urukundo’s photographer.

Message from Mama

Wow, what a month! Each time I think things are winding down, I am reminded there is more to be done. Summer has arrived, vacations started, and many are traveling. Enjoy whatever you are doing and stay safe.

Urukundo students are busy preparing for graduation. They like sharing their accomplishments with family and friends. The week of July 1, Primary 6 students will take National Exams. Prayers for success are requested.  Graduation exercises are on July 11.

Would love to see you there.
Mama

May newsletter

The end of April was a busy time for our visitors, who arrived in April: Carol Falke, from State College, Pennsylvania, USA, and Marilyn and Ward Yorks from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, USA. Carol and Marilyn are members of the International Board of Hope Made Real. Ward is a retired teacher.

They made a visit to a local village, and a driving tour of Muhanga town and the super highways (tongue in cheek) in rural Muhanga.

Our HR person Juliette greeted them at the gate to her home.

Juliette entertained Carol (left), Marilyn and Ward at her home and in her village. Fanta and peanuts were a treat.

The village

Village children ran to greet our volunteers.

Children

Adults did their part.

Carol is a hiker. On one of her hikes, she visited the water source at the bottom of the mountain.

Forest Hills Rotary in the United States, Kigali Virunga Rotary in Rwanda, and Rotary International made this water source possible.

The vehicle of the tour group Let's Go There Africa was the transportation to Akagera National Park and a big animal safari.

Too close for comfort. Wow!

On his last day, the little boy in Ward wanted to sit on a moto bike and dream of younger days. Motos are our main source of local transportation. Wish granted.

Marilyn and Ward, who visited for nearly two weeks, and Carol, who stayed a few days longer, got ready for their journey back to the USA. We bid them a fond farewell.

Secondary School progress

We continued to make progress on the construction of the new Secondary O Level School that will serve grades 7, 8, and 9.

May 1

While we were watching the progress on the first classrooms, the other four were being constructed. Now paying attention, we are seeing the progress already made. Astonishing.

Front view of all four classrooms and the inside stairway on May 1.

May 19, front view, lower floor.

May 19, top view.

May 26, general view as to where the Secondary School is located. The library and school office are on the left in the photo.

May 26

Mama & Baby Project

Why the Mama & Baby Project is so needed.

This little one came into the world at about 6 pounds. She is wrapped in her mama’s shirt.

She is tiny and beautiful. “Thank you” to the many for the newborn clothes shared with Urukundo (love).

Carol also visited a newborn and her mama at the birthing center.

More May visitors

Valli Meeks and Clyde Santana arrived on May 6 for 11 days. Dr. Valli is a clinical professor in the School of Dentistry at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, in the United States. Her husband, Clyde, is a man of many talents, including serving as an adjunct instructor at Norfolk State University in Virginia, USA. (Put his name in the search bar and learn more about this remarkable man.)

They brought disassembled chairs in boxes for the daycare.

At the top of their agenda was putting these chairs for the daycare back together. Dr. Valli commented, “Taking them apart was easier than putting them back together.”

Benjamin gets an assist.

The chairs are great and a welcome addition to the daycare.

Happy smiles.

Urukundo's dear friend and donor in Germany, Angelique Westmark, started a puppet ministry at Urukundo many years ago. So we had puppets, but we needed a puppeteer to make them productive. Prayers are answered if you are patient.

Working with children to create hope and encourage imagination, Clyde shared so much with the children at the Urukundo Learning Center. During his time with us, “Hope Imagination Theater” – HIT – became real for our students and our teachers.

He even included the daycare kids in his sharing.

Dr. Valli acted as the photographer at the daycare play area.

While Clyde volunteered with the school, Dr Valli spent precious time at the dental clinic.

They did take a bit of time to visit Akagera National Park.

Richard and the tour group Let’s Go There Africa were the perfect hosts for the safari.

Their volunteer time was too short, but so appreciated

Message from Mama

Another school year is coming to an end. The graduation ceremony will be on July 9. Urukundo celebrates its graduates (kindergarten, Primary 6, and the Tom Nunnally Sewing Center) with a full day of activities. If you want to experience the Urukundo Foundation and Urukundo Learning Center, Graduation Day is the day to see the many talents of our students and teaching staff. The guest house is inviting. Make your reservation ASAP.

I would be delighted to welcome you.

Love,

Mama