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Saturday, June 21, 2008
THIS BLOG IS MOVING!
There is a bug in the blogger software and we can't seem to work around it, so off we go...
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Blog
We will be updating this blog, with entries from Rwanda by Richard.
Upgrades soon so come back often. Thanks.
Upgrades soon so come back often. Thanks.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Starting Home
Tonight is my last night in Kigali. The last few days have been quiet -- planned trip for Burundi called off because of the security situation, so with no plans, reading, writing, and one last visit with the children of AMAHORO. There were 300 or 400 children having a great time. I interviewed some children. Heard stories that are heart breakers. These children as so very brave.
Also one boy I've gotten to know had wonderful news. He graduated from secondary school a short time ago. His scores on the final exams were high enough to gain him free access to the main Rwandan university -- in Butare. This boy has no family - has persevered - and returns to AMAHORO to lead songs and games.
There is much for me to ponder about Rwanda and, by extension, the US.
Family and friends, love, and see you soon.
Susanna
Also one boy I've gotten to know had wonderful news. He graduated from secondary school a short time ago. His scores on the final exams were high enough to gain him free access to the main Rwandan university -- in Butare. This boy has no family - has persevered - and returns to AMAHORO to lead songs and games.
There is much for me to ponder about Rwanda and, by extension, the US.
Family and friends, love, and see you soon.
Susanna
Friday, April 25, 2008
Friday afternoon, April 25
Greetings,
We were going to go to Burundi tomorrow until Monday but the trip has been called off. There is fighting AGAIN by rebels near the capital, Bujumburo, and the rebels are in a forest we would go through. Probably would be okay, but better to be cautious.
Today there was an incredible event with AMAHORO. On the last Saturday of every month, Rwandans are expected to spend the morning doing community work -- such as pickup up any trash. Richard and the AMAHORO leaders decided to have the AMAHORO children do their own community work. Last month and today they made bricks. Last time to build a wall for a family where one had fallen down, and today to build a kitchen for one of their families, a woman (HIV+) and her three children. There must have been 125 - 150 working, carrying water from below, digging mud, squishing mud with bare feet, hand over hand carrying blocks of wet mud to put into frames to dry. Next month they will go back and put up the walls. The children started at 7:00 AM and went home at 12:30!
(The event was today because we thought we'd be on the bus to Burundi tomorrow.)
We had visitors at the AMAHORO event! Three women who know about AMAHORO from the Global Fund for Children. They asked great questions, especially when we went into the living room of the house. They appreciated being there rather than in an office.
The next visitors were people from the Rotary Club of Kigali, the folks who helped get us the vehicle. After them came three newspaper journalists and, finally, a TV crew. They said we would be on TV tomorrow. I think they were all impressed by the idea and the hard work of the children.
Here is another child's story: Let's call this girl Elishia. Elishia is 17 and in the equivalent of the 8th grade. Her dad died just before the genocide, and her mom shortly afterward. She was infected at birth and lost her mother when young. She now lives with her older sister in their uncle's home with his wife and children. She says her uncle is very nice to her, and his children share with her. Elishia is having a very difficult time in school, partly due to time lost when ill. She even spent an entire year in the hospital. She is often distracted when she should be studying. She has many worries, and here is one: A music teacher came to her class and said, "Why are infected students here? They are going to die, so why are they in school?" After that Elishia believed it was true. Finally she told her uncle who reassured her and said the teacher is probably crazy. But she wonders about her future. She is in a boarding school and needs to go to her clinic once a month to be checked and to get her drugs. The authorities of the school have told her she has to show her health papers. The clinic won't release them. Emile, an AMAHORO leader will accompany her to school to sort it out.
Each child I talk with has a different story, and all are difficult. Elishia, like the others, has drawn a picture of a time in her life. She drew a time when she was happy -- when her mother was with her.
I have finally gotten to the bottom of the contradiction between the government policy of universal primary education and the fact that we are providing the funds to send hundreds of children to school who would not otherwise be there. It's complicated. Maybe next time....
Susanna
We were going to go to Burundi tomorrow until Monday but the trip has been called off. There is fighting AGAIN by rebels near the capital, Bujumburo, and the rebels are in a forest we would go through. Probably would be okay, but better to be cautious.
Today there was an incredible event with AMAHORO. On the last Saturday of every month, Rwandans are expected to spend the morning doing community work -- such as pickup up any trash. Richard and the AMAHORO leaders decided to have the AMAHORO children do their own community work. Last month and today they made bricks. Last time to build a wall for a family where one had fallen down, and today to build a kitchen for one of their families, a woman (HIV+) and her three children. There must have been 125 - 150 working, carrying water from below, digging mud, squishing mud with bare feet, hand over hand carrying blocks of wet mud to put into frames to dry. Next month they will go back and put up the walls. The children started at 7:00 AM and went home at 12:30!
(The event was today because we thought we'd be on the bus to Burundi tomorrow.)
We had visitors at the AMAHORO event! Three women who know about AMAHORO from the Global Fund for Children. They asked great questions, especially when we went into the living room of the house. They appreciated being there rather than in an office.
The next visitors were people from the Rotary Club of Kigali, the folks who helped get us the vehicle. After them came three newspaper journalists and, finally, a TV crew. They said we would be on TV tomorrow. I think they were all impressed by the idea and the hard work of the children.
Here is another child's story: Let's call this girl Elishia. Elishia is 17 and in the equivalent of the 8th grade. Her dad died just before the genocide, and her mom shortly afterward. She was infected at birth and lost her mother when young. She now lives with her older sister in their uncle's home with his wife and children. She says her uncle is very nice to her, and his children share with her. Elishia is having a very difficult time in school, partly due to time lost when ill. She even spent an entire year in the hospital. She is often distracted when she should be studying. She has many worries, and here is one: A music teacher came to her class and said, "Why are infected students here? They are going to die, so why are they in school?" After that Elishia believed it was true. Finally she told her uncle who reassured her and said the teacher is probably crazy. But she wonders about her future. She is in a boarding school and needs to go to her clinic once a month to be checked and to get her drugs. The authorities of the school have told her she has to show her health papers. The clinic won't release them. Emile, an AMAHORO leader will accompany her to school to sort it out.
Each child I talk with has a different story, and all are difficult. Elishia, like the others, has drawn a picture of a time in her life. She drew a time when she was happy -- when her mother was with her.
I have finally gotten to the bottom of the contradiction between the government policy of universal primary education and the fact that we are providing the funds to send hundreds of children to school who would not otherwise be there. It's complicated. Maybe next time....
Susanna
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Busy Days
Hello,
We have just returned from Nyamata to Kigali. We spent the morning talking with the Executive Committee of AJESOV. We learned a lot about the details of their work, and I'm eager to share that with the Priory Group. We also worked on the budget. That's what we are doing with each project this week, and it's hard work, as you can imagine.
After the meeting, I interviewed two young persons who are part of AJESOV, with translation help from Micheline and Richard. Both young people told their stories in full. Let me share Paul's story with you.
Paul and his four sisters lost their mom to AIDS; at that time a baby sister died as well. Their father has disappeared.
Each of the children was sent to a different family. Paul did not do well in school and was forced to do farming. He felt he was not well treated, so he left and found his sisters. Then he found a friend whose parents had been friends of his parents in better days, and the friend gave them a small house. There, the five young people live, and Paul at 20 is the head of the household.
All four of the oldest are in school and are boarders at secondary schools. The youngest is still in primary school and stays with religious women except when they gather back together on school hokidays.
Paul was with the AJESOV Life Skills Workshop this weekend and learned about prevention of HIV infection, including about condoms.
Getting food is difficult. He works at a neighbors in exchange for food, and his sisters do the same.
He wants to become independent so he doesn't have to ask for anything.
I asked Paul to draw a picture, and he did, quite a nice picture. There you can see him facing his sisters. They are asking what will happen if their friend wants to take back the house. He is saying, "Look we must work hard. When our parents could no longer lead us, we have to do it by ourselves. We need to be strong. We are sure God is looking over us."
Paul's story is one of many brave young people working for a better future.
CHABHA is glad to help. We need to work as well to be able to help Paul and the others like him.
On Friday we will join AMAHORO in a new venture: They take children to a family whose house needs fixing. As a community enterprise, they work to repair roofs, build kitchens, etc.
On Saturday we leave for Bujumburo.
There will be more, later.
Susanna
We have just returned from Nyamata to Kigali. We spent the morning talking with the Executive Committee of AJESOV. We learned a lot about the details of their work, and I'm eager to share that with the Priory Group. We also worked on the budget. That's what we are doing with each project this week, and it's hard work, as you can imagine.
After the meeting, I interviewed two young persons who are part of AJESOV, with translation help from Micheline and Richard. Both young people told their stories in full. Let me share Paul's story with you.
Paul and his four sisters lost their mom to AIDS; at that time a baby sister died as well. Their father has disappeared.
Each of the children was sent to a different family. Paul did not do well in school and was forced to do farming. He felt he was not well treated, so he left and found his sisters. Then he found a friend whose parents had been friends of his parents in better days, and the friend gave them a small house. There, the five young people live, and Paul at 20 is the head of the household.
All four of the oldest are in school and are boarders at secondary schools. The youngest is still in primary school and stays with religious women except when they gather back together on school hokidays.
Paul was with the AJESOV Life Skills Workshop this weekend and learned about prevention of HIV infection, including about condoms.
Getting food is difficult. He works at a neighbors in exchange for food, and his sisters do the same.
He wants to become independent so he doesn't have to ask for anything.
I asked Paul to draw a picture, and he did, quite a nice picture. There you can see him facing his sisters. They are asking what will happen if their friend wants to take back the house. He is saying, "Look we must work hard. When our parents could no longer lead us, we have to do it by ourselves. We need to be strong. We are sure God is looking over us."
Paul's story is one of many brave young people working for a better future.
CHABHA is glad to help. We need to work as well to be able to help Paul and the others like him.
On Friday we will join AMAHORO in a new venture: They take children to a family whose house needs fixing. As a community enterprise, they work to repair roofs, build kitchens, etc.
On Saturday we leave for Bujumburo.
There will be more, later.
Susanna
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Days in Kigali
Saturday evening
BIG NEWS!! JUST YESTERDAY rICHARD MUTABAZO, OUR RWANDA DIRECTOR COMPLETED THE EXTREMELY COMPLEX PROCESS OF ACQUIRING THE CAR. WE HAVE THE CAR. HOPEFULLY, DOLLY CAN GET PHOTOS OF IT TO WILL WHO WILL PUT IT ON THE BLOG. WE HAVE THE CAR -- AND IT IS BIG -- THANKS TO EILEEN KAWOLA, LEN STENGER IN ANN ARBOR, THE ROTARY CLUB HERE IN KIGALI, ERIC RWABUHIHI, AND RICHARD.
We've just left Dolly and Thomas at the airport after four very filled days. I will miss them - they are great travelrs. There is a lot to tell, and I think I'll go backwards in time.
We went to the AMAHORO Saturday gathering this afternoon-- as usual it was great. Circle games, dancing, songs, and play. There are new, younger dancers, all with costumes. I've asked but not heard why the older ones were not there. I do kow thatthe wonderful boy dancer hs left Kigali.
And that is a story -- quickly -- the cost of living here is going up as food prices go up, and families are leaving the city to try to join relatives in rural areas.
Back to gathering -- We each said a few words-- Thomas taught a song - the word "Alleluia" sung over and over. I think I haveit on my digital recorder -- I'l try it.
This morning we went to the genocide memoral - though I have been there several times, I learn more each time. It is the room with the children's photos and stories that make it so sad. Since we are still close to the anniviersary of the start, lots of people were there, flowers in memorium, very quiet.
Yesterday was a day of travel out to the countryside - still Kigali but one and a half hour drive to very rural place were we visited three families. I am mindful of Joe's thinking about agriculture development, and all here seem in agreement as the papers are full of pending food shortages. The land there is rich and filled with vegetables. Those families also need goats. Dolly had lots of toys and presents that gave delight to the children. We also had dolls for each.
In the afternoon was a "party" for Project Independence graduates. The speechifying went on too long, but it was great to hear from graduates about their jobs. Pascal at Hotel Tech has hired many of our graduates, and Eric is now the chief cook! Others have jobs, too, but some are still looking. They spoke to the need for additional help to start their own businesses. We are working on that.
The day before held a meeting with project leaders and we talked about the work they do and their challenges. We learned that both AMAHORO and AJESOV have positive reputations in their respective communities. That is both a blessing and a burden because more and more children are sent to them for help. Even the national AIDS Commission, CNLS, sends children to them. That in turn creates greater needs they look to CHABHA to fill. It was good to hear them through the "ears" of Thoms and Dolly for the evident commitment of the leaders for their work, for the children, and for their associations was veryclear. They continue to face challenges. Secondary school fees have doubled, and we are all concerned about that. Another challenge is when they find children whose rights are not being oberved. For example, sometimes children are not sent to school - even when there is money - so they will work at home.
We have talked alot about school. Even today at AMAHORO a girl spoke about their additional needs they hope CHABHA will fulfill. Not all primary ages children are in school, and that is worrisome. Yet the government continues to speak to their universal primary education. While they say that the few (in their report, less than 10%) who are not in school are not there because of parents, in fact, lots of poor children are not in school for lack of a contribution. I did learn that if a child can prove in the local authority that they are very, very poor, they will get a paper to take to a school and be accepted. We will talk about helping children in this way, but until the distance between policy statements and reality are brought closer together my hope is CHABHA can continue to bring more and more children to school.
One morning truck after truck and bus after bus took people in white shirts to the nearby stadium. We learned that the government announced to all primary and secondary Rwandan teachers the day before a three week holiday that they were required to attend a "camp" to reinvigorate -- to fight against any "genocidal ideology" and to encourage teachers to participate in the country's "economic revolution". They were to start teaching again on this Monday but got a dispensation for one real week of vacation. Our sources were two VSO (UK volunteer teachers) who were exempt but worried about their colleagues.
Probably it is a good point to stop. Rwanda continues to fascinate. The children continue to be compelling. My own goal is shifting towards creating greater opportunity for the leaders and our staff to write proposals to bring in money.
We need to put the "independence" into the enterprise by building skills among leaders.
That's it for now,
Susanna
BIG NEWS!! JUST YESTERDAY rICHARD MUTABAZO, OUR RWANDA DIRECTOR COMPLETED THE EXTREMELY COMPLEX PROCESS OF ACQUIRING THE CAR. WE HAVE THE CAR. HOPEFULLY, DOLLY CAN GET PHOTOS OF IT TO WILL WHO WILL PUT IT ON THE BLOG. WE HAVE THE CAR -- AND IT IS BIG -- THANKS TO EILEEN KAWOLA, LEN STENGER IN ANN ARBOR, THE ROTARY CLUB HERE IN KIGALI, ERIC RWABUHIHI, AND RICHARD.
We've just left Dolly and Thomas at the airport after four very filled days. I will miss them - they are great travelrs. There is a lot to tell, and I think I'll go backwards in time.
We went to the AMAHORO Saturday gathering this afternoon-- as usual it was great. Circle games, dancing, songs, and play. There are new, younger dancers, all with costumes. I've asked but not heard why the older ones were not there. I do kow thatthe wonderful boy dancer hs left Kigali.
And that is a story -- quickly -- the cost of living here is going up as food prices go up, and families are leaving the city to try to join relatives in rural areas.
Back to gathering -- We each said a few words-- Thomas taught a song - the word "Alleluia" sung over and over. I think I haveit on my digital recorder -- I'l try it.
This morning we went to the genocide memoral - though I have been there several times, I learn more each time. It is the room with the children's photos and stories that make it so sad. Since we are still close to the anniviersary of the start, lots of people were there, flowers in memorium, very quiet.
Yesterday was a day of travel out to the countryside - still Kigali but one and a half hour drive to very rural place were we visited three families. I am mindful of Joe's thinking about agriculture development, and all here seem in agreement as the papers are full of pending food shortages. The land there is rich and filled with vegetables. Those families also need goats. Dolly had lots of toys and presents that gave delight to the children. We also had dolls for each.
In the afternoon was a "party" for Project Independence graduates. The speechifying went on too long, but it was great to hear from graduates about their jobs. Pascal at Hotel Tech has hired many of our graduates, and Eric is now the chief cook! Others have jobs, too, but some are still looking. They spoke to the need for additional help to start their own businesses. We are working on that.
The day before held a meeting with project leaders and we talked about the work they do and their challenges. We learned that both AMAHORO and AJESOV have positive reputations in their respective communities. That is both a blessing and a burden because more and more children are sent to them for help. Even the national AIDS Commission, CNLS, sends children to them. That in turn creates greater needs they look to CHABHA to fill. It was good to hear them through the "ears" of Thoms and Dolly for the evident commitment of the leaders for their work, for the children, and for their associations was veryclear. They continue to face challenges. Secondary school fees have doubled, and we are all concerned about that. Another challenge is when they find children whose rights are not being oberved. For example, sometimes children are not sent to school - even when there is money - so they will work at home.
We have talked alot about school. Even today at AMAHORO a girl spoke about their additional needs they hope CHABHA will fulfill. Not all primary ages children are in school, and that is worrisome. Yet the government continues to speak to their universal primary education. While they say that the few (in their report, less than 10%) who are not in school are not there because of parents, in fact, lots of poor children are not in school for lack of a contribution. I did learn that if a child can prove in the local authority that they are very, very poor, they will get a paper to take to a school and be accepted. We will talk about helping children in this way, but until the distance between policy statements and reality are brought closer together my hope is CHABHA can continue to bring more and more children to school.
One morning truck after truck and bus after bus took people in white shirts to the nearby stadium. We learned that the government announced to all primary and secondary Rwandan teachers the day before a three week holiday that they were required to attend a "camp" to reinvigorate -- to fight against any "genocidal ideology" and to encourage teachers to participate in the country's "economic revolution". They were to start teaching again on this Monday but got a dispensation for one real week of vacation. Our sources were two VSO (UK volunteer teachers) who were exempt but worried about their colleagues.
Probably it is a good point to stop. Rwanda continues to fascinate. The children continue to be compelling. My own goal is shifting towards creating greater opportunity for the leaders and our staff to write proposals to bring in money.
We need to put the "independence" into the enterprise by building skills among leaders.
That's it for now,
Susanna
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