Sharing the joy!

Happy New Year 2016 to family, friends and friends yet to be!

I have spent a pleasant and inspiring few hours reading through this blog which I started in December 2010 because I was preparing for a new adventure in my life. I had signed up for a two year placement with VSO(Voluntary Service Overseas)and had been placed in Rwanda as Education Leadership Advisor in the district of Muhanga. And what an adventure it turned out to be! How could I have predicted what would happen and to what it would lead? 

Tricia, ready for work.

This is me in February 2011 showing off my new work outfit specially tailored for me by the dressmaker in Gitarama. I only wore this type of clothing when I was office based. It was totally unsuitable for the bulk of my work which involved riding on the back of a motor bike, scrambling along earthen roads which were either wet and muddy or hard baked by the sun. Falling off into the mud was preferable to falling off the motor bike onto hard baked earth. But what exhilerating journeys and experiences to look back on and to read about.

In the early days everything was so new and there was so much to learn every day, no, every moment of everyday. I remember much of the time I hadn't got a clue what was going on, but I learnt to relax and just let life happen. Eventually it would usually become clear - but not always! Sometimes I never understood what had happened and why, but I  grew to love this country and it's wonderful people. 

My first trip to the village of Gasundwe in Nyamasheke District was one of the most exciting events of my life and I still feel privileged to have been given that opportunity. You can read about it again by going to the blog entry dated 20/02/11.

The boat we traveled on

The storm on the Lake Kivu

The villagers welcome us and praise God for keeping us safe.

The first time they saw me I was an unusual sight.

I have been back to the village many many times since then and so much has happened for them and for me, and this blog tells the story of those adventures. It has been lovely to read it again. Of course it also includes my experiences working for VSO and the experience of living in Rwanda for two and half years.

But back to the village - At this point, five years on we can celebrate and be thankful for many blessings:

Every school day for five years the youngest children in the village have had a protein meal, and for four years we have sent children to the local Primary schools.

Sometimes we get beans and rice. Thats a real treat.

Those children have been taught at our Nursery School by a talented, dedicated now highly skilled teacher using interactive learning methods. We now have two teachers and a cook working full time .

This year we have concentrated our efforts in the design and building of a Children's Centre which will incorporate our Nursery school and also provide space for an adult workshop and a Health Worker.

 

It became very clear on my last visit in 2015 that there is a great need for basic health and sanitation facilities and education. Consequently, we are now raising money to provide new toilet facilities. The plans are in place for a set of African Dry toilets, we just need more cash (hint, hint!)

Our dream toilets!

 

Please help us by donating either a small amount every month or a one off donation.

I was thrilled last year when some friends agreed to help me form a registered charity and thanks to lots of hard work we achieved charitable status in June 2015. Two of the trustees, Lynne and Darryl came to the village last summer for the first time and gave great impetus to the building project.

Village Rwanda UK,
Registered charity number: 1162004
E-mail: villagerwandauk@gmail.com
Website: villagerwandauk.com


I am packing my suitcase once again to return to Rwanda this week, I will stay for two months. Two other trustees, Chris and Margo, will come to visit the village for the first time and they each have specific tasks that they need to do. My particular task now is to look towards income generation and listen to advice and proposals from the locals. I keep my ear open and I try to network with others in Rwanda who may be able to give us skills training. 

The aim has always been for the village and the school to be self sustaining by the year 2020. Yikes! That's only four years away!!! Better get cracking.

'Thanks for helping my family' 

To donate please go to the website: villagerwandauk.com

Please keep checking in for updates in the next few weeks.