April Newsletter

The month that starts out as a day for fooling your friends and family (April Fools’ Day) is no joke in Rwanda.

We mean business.

That business is to share the further progress of the kitchen with you

March 29

April 22

April 26

Now the internal work will be the focus. Decisions must be made on walls, floors, painting, workspace, utilities, etc.  What equipment best fits our purpose? Domestic or industrial?  There are three work centers in any kitchen. Storage area for bulk and fresh foods; the sink (water) area; and the cooking area. In our building, we also must have an office for the kitchen manager and a dressing room where workers can change into clean work clothing, saving wear and tear on their regular clothing. This building is big enough for all.

More on the kitchen progress in May. Stay tuned.

New vehicle

Our 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser has reached the time when its parts are worn, and it is no longer economically sound to maintain.

Decision made.

Urukundo has a new-to-us vehicle.

It is a Toyota RAV4. Gas mileage is better; tires are less expensive. It will be used for short runs and two-person transport. I would have preferred a blue one, but silver is ok.

A special volunteer team has committed to raising funds to pay for a minibus that would hold up to 12 people and luggage for picking up volunteers at the airport. We are grateful for that promise.

Carol Falke, president of the Hope Made Real International Board, was the first to be picked up in the new RAV4.

Carol arrived at Urukundo bag and baggage on April 14. We look forward to her visit every year. This is Year 13. She missed one year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. She brings lots of goodies for the village and the school.

New math books

We share the joy.

Imagine a math book for every student! This is what St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in State College, Pennsylvania, USA, made possible. Every Primary 5 and Primary 6 student at Urukundo Learning Center will be able to use a classroom set of math textbooks. This is a first. When more than 60 kids have less than 30 math textbooks, sharing is necessary. No more sharing and better access to study materials. Even our teachers now have a teacher’s manual.

The church, which is Carol’s home church, raised money to buy the books, which were published by the Department of Education in Rwanda to fit our curriculum. Thanks to St Paul’s generous gift, other subjects will also have textbooks. Thank you, St. Paul’s UMC.

Headmaster Viateur and math teacher Pascal.

Books are ready to be stamped with the school stamp and assigned to a student.

P6 kids examine the new math books.

P5 students each received a textbook. We are blessed to have Carol here to help distribute the new books.

Come and visit

We are preparing for your visit. We (kids) are building a house for you to live in when you come to visit us. OK, so maybe it is a bit small, but Urukundo’s guest house is big enough. We have rooms with baths and good food to accommodate up to 20 people. There is lots of volunteer work to be done. There are side trips when you need a break from the work you came to do.

Work first; side trips later.

Pique your interest?

Contact:

Patricia Brown in the USA.

pdbrown@spiritworks.org

Louise Medland in Europe (England)

lsmedland@gmail.com

In Europe (England)

       or

Mama Arlene Brown at the Urukundo Foundation in Rwanda.

brown.arlene30@gmail.com

We are full of helpful information.

Worship Center news

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church also can be pleased with their young people who took the time to make bracelets to be shared with the Urukundo Worship Center Sunday School class kids.

There were about 49 kids who received the pretty bracelets and were delighted. Carol, who brought the bracelets, had one remaining.

Our kids loved the bracelets.

Recent visitors

Visitors in late March included the Schriver family.

Dr. Michael Schriver was our Urukundo Home for Children’s family doctor when he lived in Muhanga, Rwanda, and worked at the local hospital. His wife Orlinda is a midwife who worked with us establishing our Mama and Baby project. Their children, Folke and Hilda, were babies when they returned to Denmark. How they have grown!

I thank Michael for this comment. In an email, Michael wrote: “You have a very special place in our hearts, and we are so impressed and inspired by what you do and have done in Urukundo – continuing to improve the lives of destitute children and families in the community.”

It is always a blessing when after many years good friends return for a visit.

On April 25, we welcomed Lynne Sunderland

Lynne was raised in Scotland where her Mom and Dad and three siblings live, but she now lives in London, England. She has chosen to serve as a volunteer at Urukundo long-term. She is planning to be here for at least one or two months. Lynne attended Newcastle University and her hobbies are yoga, cooking, and travel. More about Lynne in the May newsletter.

Esperance, our PR person, is now the official greeter at the airport. She is a super fill-in for Mama.

Message from Mama

This message is one I never thought I would write nor did I want to write.

It is with a broken heart I share my grief.

On April 11, 2024, my Rwandan son Claude Habinishuti gave up the fight after a long illness and moved on to a better place. Claude was one of the first boys brought to Urukundo by the Umudugudu (village leader) when we opened the home for boys in 2007.

Claude was among the older street boys picked up by the police begging for money and food in the streets. He had no family that we were aware of. He was part of our Urukundo family. Claude was 29 years old at the time of his death. He is mourned by all his brothers and sisters in the Urukundo family.