AIC visit to the Children's Home!

Last Thursday the AIC (Africa International Club) Charity Committee

took a very short trip to the Urukundo Children's Home! 

Six of us went with Kirsty's driver and he joined us for the tour, too! 

This was the first time I had been there during the week to see the

preschool in action! And that they were... I think our educational jargon

would be that they were in the "active learning" stage.

This class was learning objects in the room and
what colors they were.  All the teachers are Rwandan and
all of them teach in English. 

 Note the simplicity of the room.  The kids all wear the same 
smocks as uniforms.  Everything was in order and the class
size was 20 in each room. Most of the kids come from the village.
Only 15 of the kids are from the home.  There are a total of 120 kids
in the program!  It is a great outreach.

THIS is my kind of school...  Leave your shoes at the door! 

 Even large group/small group priniples are used here
in the classroom.  The kids were working on their colors. 

This little one was writing a captial "B".  He did a very nice job, too!
Resources are limited but what they have is used.

This was half of the class working on letters and writing them. 

 Satu, Arlene and Kirsty

Our group.... Anne, Ceren, (Mama Arlene) Satu, Kirsty and Bea!
Mama was filling them in on how everything runs. 

 This class sang 3 songs for us and they sounded great! 

"Head, shoulders, knees and toes!"

Once again....

I wonder if they line them up like this everyday or just when they have visitors?
I was impressed overall by the order in which things are done. 

Then we headed down to the newest project.

Mama realized in the spring that oh... no... the little ones would be
graduating from preschool and then what?   So, she started praying
for a donor or a few donors that would help contruct the new
primary school.  Well, those donors haven't stepped up yet... BUT...

the contractor said he would build and
she could pay him when the money came in.  That's faith!!!!

Bruce and I were at the home the last week of July... right before I
came back to the States to visit.
THERE WAS NOTHING ON THIS SITE AT THAT TIME
AND LOOK AT IT NOW.

I was truly surprised.  The group with me was surprised, too, but
I don't know if they really realized just how fast this building has
gone up.  The school year starts in January and it
looks like it will be up and running.  We, the AIC are
hoping to contribute to new furniture or other needs that
this building might incur.  The electricity is in already. 

Oscar, Mama's right hand man (and a linguist) took a rest and i thought
the backdrop was just too beautiful to miss..  

From another angle.  Looks like the roof will go on next!
This building will house 6 classes.  

Learning more about the building and all the
needs that are present.  Alon...the driver was taking 
it all in, too! 

 Walking back on the pathway of learning... to see the little
toliets and sinks in the preschool building.  This picture
will give you an idea of how nice the other building will be....
It is a little bigger though...since the children will be growing, too.

The building wasn't the only new addition to the 10 acres
that was empty when purchased in 2008.  
Yes, all the buildings and farm and everything
has been done since 2008.
A new playground has been constructed.
New Swings!  Check out these seats!

Cool designs for the swings!

A new sandbox... with a drainage system in the bottom.
The kids were really digging in!

Recognize the lollipop girls???  

Looks like they are still eating together...They are really growing.

 We finished our tour and walked back to the car... alongside the garden.
These little flowers were pretty as a border for the whole garden.

Although our time was short.. Arlene had given us a great
picture of what goes on at the Urukundo Children's Home.

And I thought you would be interested in the progress
that has taken place.

If you know anyone or a group of people that would like to help
Mama Arlene pay for the new school... please let me know and 
I'll put you in touch with the right people.  

We have all been praying for the Lord to bring in the necessary funds
so if He is speaking to you about this.. please follow His lead!

all for now,
love,
margie