News from PREFER Preschool
Second Quarter 2010 Report
Our last 3 months have been filled with excitement and surprise. It began on April 22nd when Governor General Michaelle Jean awarded me the GG medal at a function held at the Canadian Residence in Kigali.
Another wonderful surprise was Joseph receiving his marks from writing his secondary 6 national exams.....55 out of 60! This qualifies him for a very good accounting school in Kigali and a scholarship that will help with university tuitions. Find out more about Joseph on the cases page.
Jimmy is writing his thesis for the completion of his 3 years of Tourism College. We are so very proud of him. Before he has graduated the Gorillas Hotel, where he has been doing his 4 month apprenticeship, has offered him a job.....at a good wage!
Nyree arrived at the beginning of May for her 3 month volunteer stint. She has a blog that you can check http://www.nyreepinder.moonfruit.com. Nyree is holding adult classes in the afternoons and has 30 students that keep her laughing.
Joe, Carmela, Pacifique, Pilar & Charo, July 2010
The 3 weeks we had Joe, Pilar, Carmela (4 yrs) and Charo (15 months) with us flew by. Having 2 little white girls in Rwanda was very new for our community. Everywhere we went people wanted to touch them and hold them...the girls were celebrities all over town. Our children at school were intrigued with Carmela and Charo and loved it when they joined a class. Carmela and Adeline became very good friends and could be seen walking to class holding hands.
We've been able to purchase more land for the primary school. It is currently covered with potatoes and beans but when the crops are harvested we will plant grass and use it as a football field. There is nowhere safe for the children to play afterschool and weekends and the big boys kick the ball too hard to let them in our yard (the ball always ends up in my garden taking out a few cabbage and tomato plants). We thought until construction begins it will be a great playground.
Adeline's House, July 2010
Electricity has now come as far as the road!!! It won't be long and we will have electricity in the classrooms and be able to hold evening classes for adults. The school was all pre-wired so it will be an easy hook-up. Find out more on the building page.
May was the month of house construction. Adeline's house was only half complete. Half a roof meant the entire family was living in one room and in a very unhygienic way. The family now has completed walls, a new roof that covers the entire house plus doors and windows. The change is incredible for them.
Abraham, Dorothea, Yvette, Jean de Dieu, Chance and Tamukund's new house being built, with the old in the background, June 2010
Speaking of incredible changes, our family behind the school: Abraham (the Papa), Dorothea (the Mama) and the 4 children Yvette, Jean de Dieu, Chance and Tamukunda are almost ready to move into their new home. After years living in a round bamboo and mud house with a leaky thatched roof and dirt floor they will have a 2 room plus salon home with doors and windows, a cement floor and metal roof. The family has been working beside the workmen every day and the majority of the neighbours stop in at least once per day to see the progress and share in the excitement....this house is the talk of the town.
Abraham, Dorothea, Yvette, Jean de Dieu, Chance and Tamukund's completed new house, July 2010
Dr Helen from Rome returned this year and brought 4 of her secondary students with her for a two week visit with us. The children really enjoyed all the attention and candy that Lucia, Emma, Mariavictoria and Marguerite brought for them.
The street children are meeting us Saturday mornings for bread and sorghum, football and crafts.....we have some amazing artists. We have hired Thomas (an 18 year old from this group) to work at preschool with us each morning, he is a very welcome addition, and Nyree is teaching Bosco photography in hopes they may create a job for him as a portrait photographer in town.
Thomas, Simon, Rosa and Papa Sara, July 2010
We have 5 new students at preschool. One family with 2 little ones recently moved into our area, Sandrine and her brother Thierry. Teste noticed 2 little faces peeking between the metal rails of our fence and went to speak with the Papa. The children are now with us every morning.
Two little ones from our street, Jocyanne and Juwzyse, now feel they are ready to attend preschool, they slowly made their way front their front yard to the school gate and finally into the baby class. Find out more on the school page.
Another new one is Cyzuzu Nozeema. We noticed him while we were visiting Dorthea, checking on the progress of her house. He was sitting with a group of children with only his dirty shirt on...no pants anywhere in sight....but wearing a big grin...and he knew me by name. Teste made a few inquiries about him and found that his Mama had run off with some man and left Nozeema. The neighbours heard him crying and when they came to check they found he was alone. The neighbour Mama has taken him in with her family and now he comes with us each morning.
Cyzuzu Nozeema, July 2010
Mama Amina and Mama Egid graduated from their sewing course in May and received a sewing machine as a grad present. You can imagine my surprise and delight when, as we were driving to school one morning we saw the two of them sitting in front of their storefront "tailor shop". Unbeknownst to us they had arranged with a shop owner to rent space for themselves and their machine to set up a business. I am so proud of these women.
I am proud of all of us, the Gashangiro community and the global community that is assisting us. Gashangiro is one of 9 cells in Cyuve sector. The government has taken a survey, accessing each cell for growth in education: number of children attending school, living environment: replacing old grass roofs with metal roofs, crop production: variety and abundance of crops, number of people with medical insurance, and cleanliness of the cell. We were, this week, proud to be awarded 2nd place.
Our primary and secondary students will begin their 3 week break on July 24th. We will continue with preschool each day, plus our secondary students will come and take a group of primary students to tutor each day. Our newest secondary students have promised to practice English so they may write a letter to their sponsors while they are home.
We are becoming well known...if you are in Canada pick up a copy of More magazine, the summer issue has an article about our preschool! For more information in Canada refer to the PREFER Rwanda, Canada website.
There's a new web site with Rwanda information http://www.Rwanda365.com. Check it out for news and reporting about what's happening in Rwanda.
Just a few years ago there were 800,000 Rwandese children attending school.....in 2010 there are now 2.3 million children attending primary school in Rwanda, paid for by the government.
The children are helping me paint a banner to hang on the school..."Vote Kagame", our presidential elections are being held on August 9th and we are excited to support President Kagame's re-election.
I have heard a number of returnee volunteers say how much the children's appearance/health has improved. Helen noticed no "fungus heads" this visit. The children really do look good, and they feel good, I see it in their faces and hear it in their laughter. We give you our gratitude and love in appreciation of all that you do for us. It really is working.
