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