Back in Kigali to re-group!

  I have arrived back in Kigali after a promising start in the village and a journey by boat, moto and bus.

Gabriel and I left Gasundwe on Friday morning last week, we took Davide's boat to Mugonero and got the bus along the new tarmac road to Kibuye. 

That new road has already made such a difference to the travel times from the village. In the past this journey by road, on the back of a moto would have taken 2 and 1/2 hours, and even longer by bus, but now it takes about 50 minutes. This improved infrastructure opens up so many possibilities for the local population; trade with the towns and villages along the whole route from Kamembe to Kibuye, opportunities for developing tourist attractions, little gift shops etc. But you need to be an entrepreneur and have a little bit of capital. Here in

 Rwanda there is a great drive for people to create their own jobs and I can see that there will be many small businesses here soon. There already are some but I expect in a couple of years time there will be many more. One of the most popular subjects for study in the schools and universities is Entrepreneurship. The young people are so keen to learn and they work very hard. They deserve success.

Arriving at Kibuye we were greeted by Gabriel's wife, Christine and then I left them to go down to the lakeshore to get the 'big boat' to Gisenyi. I have wanted to travel on this boat for some time so it was a treat for me. Alexis and his family live in Gisenyi and I looked forward to seeing them and staying with them for a few days. This big boat is a great asset to locals wanting to travel for work or family reasons. I have been told that it was given to the people by the president and they are very proud of it. They also love their president very much because he is making so many improvements to their lives and the lives of their children. 

It was a beautiful journey and totally unmarred by the torrential rain. Elsewhere in this blog I have described a journey on the lake in one of the usual wooden boats - a totally different experience. This is a big metal boat with windows and comfortable seating, snacks available and a toilet. 

I arrived in Gisenyi during the heavy rain, and in Rwanda unless you have a car, or are on a bus, nothing moves. So Alexis was stuck at home and couldn't come to meet me for a while. That doesn't bother me, it just gives me more chance to chat to the locals and have them laugh at my kinyarwanda. I spent most of the time talking to a young boy aged about 12. He was carrying a clean plastic bucket with a lid and inside there were lots of amandazi, which is a heavy type of doughnut beloved by Rwandans. He wanted me to buy one but I'm not keen so I declined. The business part over he asked lots of questions and I tried my best to answer. 

Alexis arrived as the rain stopped and we got on a small matatu bus crammed with people and produce. Alexis has very long legs and is almost doubled up when he is sitting in one of these vehicles! That's a problem I don't have.

I was very warmly greeted by the family and treated like an honoured guest. 

The church service on Sunday was something to experience. Wonderful!! 

Their home is right on the border with DRC. The town on the other side of the border is known as Goma. You may have herd of it. If you have, it will be in connection with either volcanic activity, earthquakes or conflict. Well, I can tell you that for the vast majority of the time these things are irrelevant. The main aim of life is living, feeding and clothing your family and supporting your neighbours. People come and go across the border every day. They are friends and and neighbours to each other. At the church there were Rwandans and Congolese of all descriptions worshipping together. They have many problems but they also have great faith. In UK we have many things but we are short on faith. That's because we think we can control everything in our lives, and we can control many things, therefore we think we have no need of faith. What a loss!

A couple of days later I said farewell fo my friends and caught the bus to Musanze which is famous for volcanoes and gorillas. The volcanoes are truly a magnificent sight on a clear day. I stayed in Musanze for a couple more days and then returned to Kigali by coaster bus, a journey on tarmac of about 2and 1/2 hours.

Lovely shower and rest at Tom and Ritah's house now.

Lots of love

Tricia

A lunch party and a boat trip

Today was another busy day in the village. 

You may think it is a sleepy village because it is hot and humid, but everyday for me here is different. 

This morning Eric came to visit the house. If you have been reading this blog from the beginning you might remember Eric. He is the little boy who was born with talipes in one foot. This means that his right foot was turned completely over and the only way to walk was with the top of his foot on the floor. I knew that if he had been born in the UK that foot would have been 'repaired' when he was a baby. My own godson was born with talipes in both feet. So, for Eric it was impossible to get health care as his family are basic farmers and do not have access to money for health care. I arranged for him to be seen by a doctor from a Belgium NGO. Eric had to leave his home in Gasundwe village and go to live with a family in Kamembe. To cut a long story short, two years later he returned home to the village walking and playing football. 

Now he is able to go to the local Primary School and also help his family with cultivating the land, which is how they make a living. Today he came to the house and helped us to make some teaching resources and learn some new counting songs like 10 Green Bottles, and 1,2,3,4,5 once I caught a fish alive.

After that, Esperance made us a lovely lunch with a Kivu Lake fish each, a very tasty treat! I only ate the fleshy part of the fish because I am a squeamish muzungu but all the others ate every part of those fish. I could hear the crunch as they it off the head. Nothing is wasted here in Rwanda!

After lunch we traipsed down to the lakeshore because we had arranged to meet Davide with his boat. The expedition comprised of Davide, Gabriel, Theogene and his little niece, Esperance and her little boy named Peace and me. 

Gasundwe village is situated almost at the end of one of the many, many inlets on lake Kivu and from our vantage point at the top of the hill on the peninsula we can see for miles. But just across the water is another peninsula, which looks like an island but it is not. We have heard rumours for about two years now that a rich man from Kigali is going to build a hotel on that piece of land and now we have proof. There is indeed a building being erected there. I jokingly said to Davide that we must make friends with this rich man! He took me at my word and organised for us to go and have a look around this building site. 

The lake was beautifully calm and still. I don't know whether you have read 'The Voyage of the 
Dawntreader' by C.S.Lewis but there is a point in that story when they reach the World's End and the water is still, calm and sweet. It is a very special  event in the story because it is at this 
point that Reepicheep decides to go and live in Aslan's country. When Lake Kivu is like it was today it always reminds me of that moment. 

As we neared our destination we could see many people working on the building and they waved to us with cheerful smiles. We also noticed that the rich man had built his own road so that he and his guests could access the area by car. So, we arrived at the opposite shore and 
made our way over the gangplank to the land. We were greeted by a friendly security guard 
who showed us the way to the main construction site. 

The manager/foreman gave us a guided tour and it is going to be a beautiful hotel in an amazing location with unsurpassable views. Rwanda is a beautiful country and visitors will really appreciate the peace and calm, but it does contrast markedly with the hardship 
experienced by the locals. This is what occupies my mind as I live here. And, truly, I have no 
problem with the acquisition of wealth, the important thing for me is how you use that wealth. 

If you hang onto it for personal greed, all that happens is that you get very fat!!(only joking!) 

The teaching of Jesus is clear on the use of money. If you don't know what it is get yourself a modern version of the bible - maybe The Message - and read it for yourself. Don't take my word for it. you may remember the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Matthews Gospel chapter 19, verse 21. The point of that story is not that Jesus is saying you must not be wealthy but that you must not treasure your wealth more than you treasure your relationship with God. Anyway, sermon over! Back to the story.

After we had a good nosey around and were informed of how much a room would cost per night (2000$, but I think they must've meant 200$, surely?) whichever, totally out of our price range! We got back on the boat and started to make our way out of the bay but just as we were leaving Davide saw the owner's car coming along his new road. Davide said we must turn around and that I must go and greet this man. So we did! We turned around and three of us left the boat and went to talk to the owner. He seemed to be genuinely interested in our project and asked for my contact details. I will try my best to follow up this contact. It would be a wonderful asset to the village and to the surrounding area.

We re-embarked and set off once again for home. This time singing praises to God. Esperance has a truly beautiful voice and I love to hear that music wafting over the water. It seems to be the voice of angels.

So, the sun sets on another amazing day here in Rwanda. 
Thank you for reading. Much love, Tricia 

There is a shop in Gasundwe village!!

The village is developing.... Our friend Alphonse has built and opened a shop in the village. 

He stocks basic requirements like rice (umuceri), sugar (isukari), tomato paste, oil, potatoes, bottled water. He also sells shoes (flip flop sandals) and a small amount of second hand clothing. 

Until now, the closest shop is in Mugonero which is a boat ride away. On Wednesday there is also a market in Mugonero. The villagers take their produce to sell and then they use the money fo buy other food that they don't grow themselves. Fortunately for me it is the season for mangoes and there are many many mangoes on the trees, also avocados are available all year round. Two of my favourite foods.

Back to reality here in Rwanda

My posts so far have been slightly whimsical but my meeting with Gabriel, our teacher, has brought me back down to earth with a bump.

I am so sad to hear that another child has died because of lack of clean water in the area. The village has been in quarantine for several weeks because there were so many people suffering with sickness and diarrhoea. The government put a health team there for some time. I'm not clear on the details, but once again it is clear that the issues are still very basic, even to the need for clean water. I will try to find out more details when I go to the village tomorrow. The village is out of quarantine but I hope to meet a health official.

The good news is that apparently the road from Kibuye to Kamembe is now tarmaced so it will make the journey much easier and quicker. We will still get a boat but that journey also will be shorter. I'm off down to the pharmacy to see if I can buy some water purifying tablets, and rehydration salts.

If anyone has any guidance on easy ways of providing clean water in communities like this please share, either by comments or e mail me on tricia.atherton@gmail.com

Thankyou, dear friends

Things I had forgotten about Rwanda

Things that I had forgotten about Rwanda but now that I'm back, I remember:

How red is the earth
How heavy is the rain
How quickly the soaked land dries out
How wide and welcoming are the smiles


How busy is the traffic in Kigali
How hot and sweaty it is in Kigali
How wonderful is a cold shower in Kigali
How wide is the gap between rich and poor in Kigali


How interesting is life on the road
How crowded the buses
How good to be by a window and be able to open it
How deep and wide is the River Nyaborongo


How beautiful is lake Kivu
How changing is the view of the layers of misty hills
How perky and cheeky is the pied wagtail
How lovely is is to back in a place with so many happy memories.


So, why am I missing home?
Lots of love everyone
Tricia xxx

Where am I ?

Well, I seem to have arrived!

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. 

Please help us provide decent toilets for our children.

As you can see from this film the toilets are horrendous and grossly unhygienic and no model to teach personal hygiene to young children..

OK, so we need new toilets for the children and adults attending the Children's Centre.
BUT, what can we do without access to running water?
ANSWER, we will build toilets based on the African Dry Toilet (composting) system.
There are commercial systems available and ours will be built to the same design by experienced local builders, using the same waterless principles.
the plan for the new toilet block includes separate cubicles for boys and girls and an extra large one for eventual wheelchair users and adults. Water catchment from the roof will provide water for personal hygiene and hand washing.

   To donate through Paypal click on this button

To make online payment to Village Rwanda UK, The Cooperative Bank, Sort code 08-92-99, Account number 65765678, putting “World Toilet Day” as your payment reference.

If you are a UK taxpayer, please let us know whether you would be happy for this to be a GiftAid contribution.We are a registered UK charity, number: 1162004

World Toilet Day

World Toilet Day

Thursday 19^th Nov

Regular supporters of Village Rwanda UK will know that our big project this year has been supporting GiFo (an NGO in Rwanda’s Gihombo Sector) to build a purpose-built children’s centre building to house a nursery school, health centre and family services. Gihombo is a very remote rural area where we have been supporting the establishment of the nursery school in a borrowed church building over the last 3 years. You can see much more information about all of this work to date in other entries of this blog.

The new children’s centre, however, has extremely primitive latrines, as you can see in the photo… It looks lovely but, trust me, you don’t want to see inside. But it is all they have for 60 children and several adults.

The photo below shows an “African Dry Toilet design very similar to the latrines we have planned with GiFo for the children’s centre to be built in 2016. These will cost £2,000 to build. Will you help us with a gift towards these toilets for our children, which will completely change their experience of a day at school?

To donate: Either click on

to contribute through Paypal, or make online payment to Village Rwanda UK, The Cooperative Bank, Sort code 08-92-99, Account number 65765678, putting “World Toilet Day” as your payment reference.

We are a registered UK charity, number: 1162004

If you are a UK taxpayer, please let us know whether you would be happy for this to be a GiftAid contribution.

Thinking of Christmas Gifts???

The toilet with a view looks lovely but, trust me, you don't want to see inside!

We want to provide new toilets for our children in the village. You can help us provide this basic facility.

To donate:
Village Rwanda UK, The Cooperative Bank, Sort code 08-92-99, Account number 65765678.
Registered charity number: 1162004


or message me on tricia.atherton@gmail.com

The new Childrens Centre in Gasundwe is coming along nicely, thankyou!

Good news

I am very happy to tell you that Christine is out of hospital and is back at home in Kibuye with her baby. Thank you so much for all those people who have prayed and showed concern. I am amazed and humbled when so many people show compassion for friends in Rwanda whom they have never met. This is the milk of human kindness. As you know, Christine is the wife of our teacher Gabriel and for most of the week they live apart because he travels to the village on Sunday, lives there during the week and travels back to Kibuye on Friday. So, for several weeks he was unable to leave Kibuye to go to work. This meant that our young teacher, who is called Gaudence, carried the work by herself. Now she has malaria and Gabriel is back at work, leaving Christine and the baby.
All this serves as a reminder to me about how precarious life can be without a solid foundation of faith, community and indeed financial security. So Thankyou again and be blessed!

Tricia

Things are moving on...

The roof will go on before the rainy season starts

During our visit to the village this time it became very apparent to me that the need for instruction in basic sanitation and health issues was a priority. I think some of you will know that one of our little girls in the nursery died just a few days before our visit. She was almost four years old and her name was Joyeuse. There are still problems with fresh water supplies and Joyeuse became ill with sickness and diarrhoea. The nearest nurse and health post is a two hour walk away and it was just not possible to save her. The next day two of her brothers were taken to the health post and fortunately they survived. There are no facilities in the village for any type of medical care, no medicines, no painkillers, no malaria treatment. In addition some families are not boiling the water for drinking purposes. The need for parents to be educated in these things is critical.

Lots of other exciting things happened which I will continue to write about in the blog. However my main purpose in sending out this newsletter at this time is to inform you that we are now a Registered Charity, Village Rwanda UK and so have a new bank account!! In doing this I’ve been supported by five other trustees – their profiles are on the blog. We are currently working on our Business Plan and I want to assure you that 100% of the money that you provide will continue to be spent on the children and families so that the village will become self-sustaining by 2020. This is our aim and will remain our aim. We are a national UK charity working with a local Rwanda charity (NGO, Non-Governmental Organisation) called ‘Gihombo Forward’ We work closely with them because they know what is best for their community and how it can be achieved.

So, folks, if you want to donate you can transfer money easily to our new bank account as follows:  

The Co-operative Bank

Name of account: Village Rwanda UK

Sort code: 08 92 99

Account number: 65765678

One big advantage is that we can now claim gift aid. I am attaching a Gift Aid form for you to complete and return to Chris Park our Treasurer either by email or post (for those replying by email a signature is not required as we will acknowledge the receipt of your email)

The challenge is that we need to raise £5,000 to complete the building and then another £2,000 for the latrines and another £3,000 for furniture and teaching materials. Work has now stopped until more funds can be raised. We are currently exploring potential donors that might be interested in contributing to this. If you know of any groups or businesses please don’t hesitate to send me their details.

For those of you on Facebook we now have our own page (thanks to Jack Lofthouse, formerly R2R). Search for ‘Village Rwanda’ but don’t expect amazing things yet because I am just getting to grips with the administration!

The folk in Rwanda now have a postal address and you may like to write letters or send cards and greetings. Please don’t send money or anything very valuable. Any correspondence should be addressed to our teacher and he will make sure it gets to the appropriate people.

GIHOMBO FORWARD

C/o NTEZIRYAYO Gabriel

PO Box 51

Karongi

Profiles of the Trustees of Village Rwanda UK

The six trustees of the charity Village Rwanda UK

Tricia Atherton

I am 64 and I have devoted my professional life to education, firstly as a primary school teacher and then as Primary headteacher. On retiring from that position I went to Rwanda with voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) to serve as an Education Leadership Advisor. I lived and worked there for 2 ^1/2 years and during this time I started a Nursery school in a remote, rural village. On my return to the UK I continued to support the school and in June 2015 we formed the charity Village Rwanda UK. I am responsible for leadership & sustainability for the projects In Rwanda.

Lynne Gregory

I am 63 and retired. I have first hand experience of living in Rwanda for 15 months where I worked as a special educational needs adviser with VSO. Prior to retirement and becoming a volunteer,

I worked in the local authority children's services as Strategic Manager of Special Educational Needs. This is a complex area of operations, balancing legal & budgetary requirements with the          expectations of schools and the very specific needs of vulnerable children within a tight policy framework. I am Secretary to VRUK

Darryl Gregory

I am 67 and I retired several years ago after a lifelong career working with children with emotional and behavioural difficulties as teacher and then deputy and headteacher. My work was              challenging, requiring knowledge of personnel management, legal and budget considerations,   specialist educational pedagogy and creating environments to promote learning. I volunteered with VSO in 2011 and worked in Rwanda for 15 months as a special educational needs adviser.

I am Projects Co-ordinator for VRUK.

Margaret Park

I am 60 and have been a Primary teacher for 30 years. I am now a self employed education tutor and also host and teach English to overseas students (EFL), which is a rewarding progression from a career as a teacher and education professional. I volunteered with VSO in 2012 and worked in Rwanda for 6 months as a Teaching Methodology Adviser. I am responsible for the education programme for VRUK in Rwanda.

Chris Park

I am 61 and have had a 33 year career with Legal & General Group in a variety of senior roles,    latterly as Head of Operational Development in their Customer Insight team. In September 2014  decided to pursue a role as a self employed business adviser working in the data analysis area.
I have been contracting for Equifax Group since February 2015 involved in a review of their         financial services intelligence products. I have visited Rwanda whilst my wife volunteered with VSO in 2012 and I am Treasurer for VRUK.

Paul Campbell-Kelly

I am 58 and a Business Change and IT Management professional. After an early career as IT         developer and architect I was IS Director at Waterford Wedgwood for 10 years, then Director at PwC and IBM Consulting working in Utilities, Oil & Gas. My key skills are in strategy, business   planning and programme management, in the context of organisational, process and technology led change. Most recently I have implemented Business Intelligence solutions at Morrison’s        supermarkets and led the redesign of Santander's account opening process. I am also a keen sailor and commercial yacht skipper. I am responsible for business planning, fund raising and             communications for VRUK.

Please pray, friends living in fear.

On 8 Aug 2015, at 07:30, ALEXIS SABANA <sabanalexis1965@gmail.com> wrote:

Dear Tricia!
Did you know that we had a terrible night yesterday? It was awful! The earthquake!!! It was arround 3:20 when I felt my bed and all the house shaking . It was the earthquake.  Immediately I rememberred what  happenned in 2008 when many buildings collapsed and many persons died and I rememberred that I am near volcanoes and a lot fear took  me. But it passes  3 times  with a  terrible shaking  and it ended.
My mother and a lot of persons from other arias called me in order to know if there was no problem in Gisenyi we said that it was okay.  Tricia it was terrible! We praize God we are  safe. All buildings are safe even the children center building didn't have any damage.
By the way all madriers (pieces of timbers for making roof) have already been purchased Fabien is waiting for iron sheets money to make the roof. He is afraid because sometimes rain season begins earlier. I told him that you know it.

Thanks
Alexis

Exciting news!!!

Hi everyone. I have some very exciting news, so read on to find out what it is....

We went to Rwanda in June with the intention of making some improvements to the building that we use for the Nursery School and of building some new latrines. We came back from Rwanda with the gift of a piece of land and plans for a new purpose built Children's Centre!Wow!

And this is the latest photo sent by Alexis from the village:

nearly up to roof level already!!

here are some extracts from my journal:

Sunday 07/06/2015

Yesterday we had the meeting with the church leaders about improvements to the building and our request for a ten  year contract to use the building. This was Plan A. We came to an agreement but it had some worrying aspects to it. This morning we discussed it and decided that Plan A was no longer viable – a good decision, but what now?

Plan B, of course! Mama has offered to give some land to the village (GiFo) so that we can build from new. Currently. this piece of land is used for growing coffee and has belonged to the family for generations, so it was important for us to ascertain that the whole family were in agreement. I contacted Fidele in Canada and he assured me that they had discussed it many times and were all in agreement. So, that was it. No sooner said than….. the builder (Fabien) came that afternoon with his daughter, Therese. Darryl spent the day drawing up plans, the umudugudu leader came and explained the process to us. The three surrounding land owners have to agree and sign a contract between Mama and GiFo. All this was done in a couple of days. Within 24hours the builder came with an estimate which we took away with us so that we could show someone with local knowledge to give us an idea of land costs, building costs, rules and regulations etc. 

Here is Mama giving the gift of the land. She is a lovely faithful Christian woman.

From then on, things moved very quickly indeed! We left the village for a few days and on our return the plans for the new building were crystallised. It will not be just a school but it will encompass space for a health worker, the Gifo coordinator and for the sewing cooperative as well as other cooperatives that may be developed in the future. 

More extracts from the journal:

Tuesday 16^th June

Met up with Lynne and Darryl again and returned by boat to Gasundwe.

Reflection on these few days:

All my planned trips to Nyamasheke were not possible because of the rain, frustrating for me but better for the project because Alexis, Darryl and the builder were able to itemise the costs of building and phase the work so now we have a planned project, costed out. It can move forward now and when we get back to UK we will know how much money we need to raise and by what date.

Friday 19th June

This is a very special day in Gasundwe. Almost before we were awake we were surprised by the arrival of Fabien, the builder, and several of the young men from the village. They were carrying pick axes, hoes and machetes so that they could begin clearing the land, ready for the foundations to go in. What a surprise! And it was so exciting for everyone. There was a real buzz going on. We had no idea this was happening today. Lynne dragged Darryl out of bed because we didn't want him to miss it. The lads set to work with such energy. I say lads but actually there were a real mixture of ages. The children watched in amazement at history being made in their village. The women came from the household to rescue the food crops, like yams. They took them away and replanted them in a safe area. Other women came to ask Fabien for work and he took some of them on. There will be fish on the plates this weekend.

The village is thrumming with activity. The primary school children are not at school so they are watching and sometimes joining in - helping dad. Lynne and I stand watching in awe. I have a try with a machete and manage to make two small chips in the trunk of a coffee tree. I wonder how old they are? How does Mama feel to see them go after all these years? She is such a good and faithful woman, such an example. 

The contract with the builder was handwritten yesterday and signed by us all and today the work started! Amazing. How long would this process take in UK?

The hens arrive, two impressive cockerels strut around taking part in the celebration.

Today is a very special day. The president is in Kibuye visiting so no traffic is moving either on the roads or on the lake, everything has stopped. The prime minister is visiting in Kibingo, along with the Monseigneur of the whole region. Everyone is out there enjoying the spectacle. There is no school today.

But the most special thing of all is happening here in Gasundwe. 

I managed to make two small dents in the coffee tree!

And by mid afternoon the boys were able to play football for a while.

 We made the decision to build a new centre partly based on our experience of  visiting the family of the little girl, Joyeuse, who died just two weeks before our visit. She was very ill and although the health worker tried to help the family there was nothing that could be done. She died at midnight and the next day two of her brothers were taken to the nearest health post, two hours walk away. Fortunately they recovered and came home a few days later. When we heard the facts of what had  happened we realised that one of the most important requirements is teaching about basic sanitation, clean water etc.

 The feeding programme will continue and so will the nursery school but we will also work towards having classes for parents and teenagers to improve skills and understanding of hygiene, sanitation and healthy living. there will be new latrines based on the African Dry system. All this will cost money of course, but considering the benefits we believe it will be very worthwhile.

The cost of the new building will be £12000 which, in the great scheme of things in the UK is not much, however it will make a world of difference to the lives of many in Gihombo. Also we can spread the fund raising over three phases. We have enough money for phase 1 and we can raise £2-3000 before phase 2 begins, then another push for phase 3 which will be paid in two halves. In addition there will be the cost of the latrines (one of Darryl's favourite projects). 

Remember, in Rwanda we must always be prepared for plans and particularly time scales to change but in February 2016 Margo, Chris and I will be able to see progress when we visit.

The other great news is that now we are a Registered Charity and we have a new bank account. On a personal note, I really want to thank those friends and family members who have supported the project since the beginning. It is you who have started all this and you who have made it happen so far. We are in the throes of writing a 'business plan', setting target dates and other administrative things which I hate, but I know they are necessary and will be very useful.
I will be posting again very soon with details of our new bank account and updates of progress in other aspects of life in Rwanda, including THE ROAD!!!
Please do comment or send me a message. Love Tx

Back in the lovely Rwanda....

Hi everyone. I am now back from my latest visit to Rwanda and I have only just been able to sit back and post some of my thoughts and experiences. Here are some extracts from my journal, i hope you enjoy reading them xxx

Monday 01/06/2015.

Well, here I am, back in the lovely Rwanda – not quite so naïve this time, each time I come I learn to be more circumspect about life here. The realities are that people who have experienced poverty, danger, insecurity are just out to survive, to make as much money as they can. I’m learning more and more about this side of life in Rwanda. I don’t like it. But that makes it even more special when I meet people like Alexis and Gabriel who do what they do from genuine desire to serve other people whilst also looking after their own families.

It was lovely to meet up with them today at Beausejour Guesthouse in Kisimenti, under the deliciously smelling, bright magenta Bougainvillea. Big welcome and hugs all around. The double shoulder greeting, smiles. Somehow, here in Rwanda there is always a sense of relief when a person is greeted, relief and thankfulness that you are still alive. We caught up with all the news from the village and made plans for our visit.

All things worked out well with meeting up with Lynne and Darryl. They arrived, but their baggage didn’t. They are two of the trustees of our newly registered charity. They lived in Rwanda for a year so they know the ropes.

Thursday 04/06/2015 at Home St Jean, Kibuye

Today we travel by boat to Gasundwe. Lots of really positive things have happened. The helpful conversations with Tom in Kigali about many things. His suggestion that we make a contract with the church leaders for 10 years with no rent but making improvements to the building. (Alexis suggested we put in a concrete floor like we did in the old church building). Would that come first? Once we have the contract with ADEPR, we can move. The first five years we would be sending money, after that the GiFo would be making the money themselves. And would take over.

Building latrines. We met up with Christianne and Baj and went to see their construction site in Macheo. Great. Ecolodge camping project. One of their contacts, the pastor is coming to the village with us today to give advice and options on toilets for the children- bio toilets.

We will fence around the school building

The teachers’ office will be shared with the GiFo coordinator

I have an appointment with the SEO on Friday to discuss EYDC

Darryl asleep on the toilet rolls on the boat trip to Gasundwe.

Everything here is a stop – go – stop-wait- then what?

Friday 05/06/2015 at Pascal’s house, waiting for him to take me to the Umurenge, He’s changing the wheel on his moto (again!) so familiar!

The walk from the guesthouse has been hot and sticky. Why do we always have to rush? Got an appointment at 9am with the SEO, that’s why! Maybe eventually it will not be like this. I can relax instead. The people along the path have welcomed me back like an old friend. ‘Muraho, Tricia!’ shoulder hugs, greetings. There was an umudugudu meeting along the path. The chief came to see us yesterday and checked our identity. He is responsible for security and for notifying the authorities about who is in the area.

A bent, very old lady with a stick struggled down the path from her house to greet me. She had tears in her eyes and her daughter (50ish) also. Her granddaughter from high School rushed to greet us. This family now live close to Pascal, near the road (well, near the mud track).They used to live in very very poor accommodation down by the lake. The government have moved them up the hill and away from the lake where it is safer from attack and where they can access facilities. That is one reason why they are delighted to see me.

I have just learnt that one very big consequence of our project is that previously the local authorities didn’t know a great deal about the village and the situation of the people. They could only look at statistics and location on a map. There is a national plan to group people more closely together so that services can be provided, infrastructure etc. The people around Gasundwe were going to be re-located until we introduced the school and the water, i.e. Until we began to build infrastructure in that specific locality, that caused the authorities to change their mind and allow the people to stay in their homes, apart from the very vulnerable like the old lady and her family. The people were very happy that they could stay in Gasundwe.

Electricity is in Pascal’s house and village – called Nyabitare. This road where Pascal’s house is forms the border with the next umudugudu. Anyway, there is electricity here now. There was also water here before Gasundwe and the pipes to the village join the mains here at this point.

On our walk from Mamas house we look across the river valley, where the rice is growing green and healthy, to Rususimiro (Viro 3), and see the electricity going to those houses. The people of Gasundwe are saving up for their contribution for the government to install electricity in the area. It will be in three phases. 1^st phase will be sufficient power for lighting. 2^nd phase… 3^rd phase. The electricity, like water, has to be paid for and will be metered. So the people will need to have enough income to pay their bills – links with secure livelihoods. Water at the Nursery school has been cut off, disconnected because it was not metered. Mama has paid for a meter to be installed at the house. Who will pay for the meter at the school or in the village at the top of the hill? The people have gone back to using the spring water, straight from the hillside.

Later that day. The meeting at the Umurenge was very positive, having got through the ‘When are you building a Primary School?’ conversation when I was able to once again insist that we were not building a primary school but we would help Viro school, I was able to explain the vision of a children’s centre. It really clarified thing in my own mind too. The SEO took us to see the Executive Secretary who was also very supportive.

Whilst I was away, Lynne and Darryl spent the day with Gabriel and Gaudence at the Nursery School. 

Esperance making the protein enhanced porridge

Gaudence is the new assistant teacher

Here is Gabriel serving the children with porridge.

Interactive teaching methods

Saturday 06/06/2015. Gasundwe Village

Another productive day. This morning, Lynne and I, along with Reponse and Seden, the two boys of the household, went for a walk towards Pascal’s house. We met many people along the way, including the umudugudu chief with many villagers. (This morning, early, I heard him calling them to come to the meeting) We also met the health worker, Stephanie, and a lot of others, Visitors to Gasundwe would enjoy such a walk with someone who can point out the different crops, farming methods, coffee growing process, bananas, avocado trees, mango trees etc.

When we got back we sat and helped Mama to get the beans out of the pods. Esperance was washing clothes under the tap. We had seen other women washing clothes in the streams running down the hillside. The water tap in the village has been disconnected until it can be metered, which is fair enough, but how will the villagers find the money to buy the water? This is the same situation with the Nursery school, there is no water there now. Mama has paid for a meter to be installed at the guesthouse, so we have water. Regarding electricity we have had to rent new batteries to store power from the solar panels. Otherwise there would be no electricity. Maintenance is a constant issue. It raises the issue of maintenance again and payment for water use and later electricity.

Esperance doing the washing under the tap.

Helping to get the beans out of the pods

Our Primary School children enjoying reading on the grass outside the guesthouse. 

Later today we have a meeting with the church leaders who have a long journey to get here because they don’t live in the area. But that's another story!