"Turi Umwe" (We Are One)

30 July 2016

Kigali, Rwanda

Sector Nyamirambo

"Turi Umwe"

We are one. The saying in Rwanda rings true and close to my heart today more so than ever before. Over the last few days, we've welcomed our new group of volunteers for our annual leadership and immersion program and with great excitement we introduced them to a great tradition and custom of the Rwandan culture today. With tired eyes and jet lagged brains, we took our hired van over to the sector Nyamirambo and met with the village leader, Bonani to get the schedule of the events for the morning. Today was Umuganda day in Rwanda!

Current day Umuganda takes place on the last Saturday of each month, from 8:00am to 11:00am when communities come together to do a number of public acts. Click here: http://bit.ly/2aDd3Vr to learn more about Umuganda. We arrived by 7:45am and waited as the village folks arrived to the center to get instruction on the day's activities. We were tired but still ready to get into this custom. The word Umuganda can be translated as ‘coming together in common purpose to achieve an outcome’. In traditional Rwandan culture, members of the community would call upon their family, friends and neighbors to help them complete a difficult task. Umuganda activities can be anything from cleaning streets, cutting grass and trimming bushes along roads, or repairing public facilities or building houses for vulnerable persons. 

Great turn out from the villagers in Nyamirambo

Our Hope Shines team were greeted by friendly villagers and immediately felt the awkwardness of everyone staring and showing interest in these new foreigners in their village....what were we doing here was written all over their faces. We immediately were given shovels, hoes, machetes, and a large area of grass, trash, and shrubs that we needed to cut down for Umuganda day. Everyone participated and it was a great feeling to help out the community where Hope Shines operates and make new friends and frankly be treated as they would treat their own family. I can't say enough about this country and the people in it. I've never been treated so whole-heartedly and loved before in any place in the world I've visited. 

Even New Yorkers (and Board Members) like Joanne can get those hands dirty!

Country Manager Phillip always smiling

No man is safe around Director Dan. Having too much fun!

The hard work ended after 2 hours and we all had a big sweat and plenty of dirt and blisters on our bodies! The last hour was led by Bonani as he spoke to the villagers about local priorities, the importance of security and healthy living, and by welcoming us once more. The village now knows Hope Shines, and in a positive 'light'. They know we work with THEir vulnerable children who have so little, opportunities or otherwise. It's a struggle here in Rwanda for many but we are certainly trying to do our part. Yes, we have challenges to keep the programs running, but I am reminded each time I'm walking here on flour dirt that we will make it work and we will improve lives of children in mnay ways. This day was great not only for our new volunteers but for the reason that we all came together as one....Turi Umwe, we are one!

Perfect togetherness of two strangers from very different worlds

Village Leader Bonani stressing the importance of acquiring health insurance

Warm Regards,

Dan Gladden
Executive Director

Outside Kigali

For many years Hope Shines has traveled to Rwanda, a world away from where we call home, and we mentor and educate Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the urban capital city of Rwanda, Kigali.  We have made a lasting impression on these children as we have watched them grow into energetic, intelligent, prospering adolescents and young adults.

Since becoming registered nationally in Rwanda on 15 July 2015 our U.S. based 501c3 no longer is limited to work only through other organizations to implement our child Education and Health programs but we can now intervene in these areas with more beneficiaries throughout this beautiful country in both urban and rural geographies.  Nationally registered status also allows us to partner with like-minded NGOs in country whose mission and values align with ours to impact a larger number of children.

Friends of IPEA School of Rwanda is a local Rwanda NGO that has a school in the Base Sector, just 1 hour by car north of Kigali City, the capital of Rwanda.  They provide education for 60 children under the age of 7 in a sector that is surrounded by 3 areas that does not have a Nursery School (or Pre-K and Kindergarten as we know it in the U.S.).  The children are divided into 2 classrooms, those that are ages 4 and under and then the 5 and 6 year olds.  They have 2 teachers and the children are taught all in English.  Every day the children are dropped off around 7A, they eat a breakfast that is provided by their own family and then they progress through the lessons until around noon learning everything from personal hygiene to their ABCs.  Since the program does not currently have funding for food, the children are picked up around lunch to go home for the day.  Most of these kids would not be afforded the opportunity to go to school if not for the Friends on IPEA School of Rwanda.

The second bridge to get to the school. This was recently built by the government, previously the children would have to go the long way around to get to the school!

We pulled up after crossing 2 bridges, down a narrow dirt road barely wide enough to fit a car and children came running out of a building.  Towards the left we see that workers are busy making bricks that will one day become the foundation of a Vocational Center for the community.  As we enter the center we see children sitting quietly at their desks only to be greeted with (once we enter through the classroom doors) singing and smiles, “Welcome welcome we are happy for beautiful YOOOOUUU?” and then a version of their “ABCs” followed by “Head, shoulders, knees and toes!” A lasting impression to all on the visit that day.

Always curious as to what the "Muzungus" are up to! The younger classroom of children.

A familiar site for sure as we remember back to 2009 when Dan and I first traveled to Rwanda and saw those smiling faces of the children at the Learning Center and then again in 2010 when Hope Shines welcomed the children at an orphanage called Peace Village and SINAPISI into Hope Shines summer camps.  The children of Rwanda have so much promise and “Hope” in their eyes…

Leaving the busy hustle of Kigali reminds us of ALL the children in Rwanda that are in need of education.  Education in the form of personal hygiene and health as so many are dirty and dusty.  Education in English as the country moves more and more away from French.  Education to stay in school and have a plan for the future whether it is in a vocational training program, at University, or a technical program; planning for the future is essential.

Hope Shines is in a period of growth and with growth comes need, a need for additional funding.  We would LOVE to include and welcome these Nursery School children into our Hope Shines Summer Program, as we know they are successful in helping change children for a brighter future.  However, we will be taking on additional beneficiaries in the coming months and have the challenge of funding school fees, uniforms, school supplies and health insurance for our new additions to Hope Shines.  This growth is both exciting and somewhat unknown as to exactly what the future brings since there is always a financial piece to growth and there in lies the uncertainty.

So as I sit here in Rwanda as the Summer Camp Director, Medical Consultant and Volunteer Coordinator for the Hope Shines 2015 Summer Program. I would like to ask you to support something that I have been a apart of since 2009 and more importantly I ask YOU to join me in thanking our Executive Director and In-Country Manager for ALL of their self-less and often “free” work in turning Hope Shines into a nationally registered organization.  It was always in my vision of how great Hope Shines can be and now it is actually becoming a reality and our footing is stronger now to help us achieve our mission!

If you are interested in making a donation, please visit our website to donate today! Every donation counts no matter how big or small, one-time or recurring. Be a part of a small group of people making a BIG impact! www.hopeshines.org

The countryside and the area surrounding the school in Base Sector.