RWANDA
It was good to finally be on my way on Jan 2 after a mad few weeks finishing up endless pre-departure tasks, moving my stuff out of the house and saying good bye to family, friends and beloved animals. I seem to recall spending Christmas with my girls as well. And I am amazed that I brought mostly the right stuff with me considering most of it got packed on New Year's Eve with the help of Margot's fortified eggnog. The trip here was four flights long but uneventful and happily my mostly appropriate luggage and I arrived all together. It was a welcome sight to see Nicole, Manu and Rodrigue waving at the arrivals, and we were soon out into the beautiful warm African night and on our way to the Umudugudu (village) where I'm staying with the widow Verdianne and her four grown kids. It's taken a while to get over the jet lag which I think was made more intense owing to how completely wiped out I was prior to leaving Canada. But, I'm here and am happily helping out at Nicole Pageau's centre (Ubuntu Edmonton) and re-united with the wonderful widows and other folks who live nearby and come every day. It has been a joy almost beyond description. I didn't think I would ever see these people again.
The weather is humid and there are afternoon thunderstorms nearly every day. When I have errands to do I walk a long way uphill through back yards and pathways and along the red dirt road to the main road where there are shared minibuses packed to the gills, or motorcycle taxis. I prefer those because it's cool and breezy, and also a bit thrilling as traffic rules are somewhat theoretical here. The chaos of the Kimironko market is intense and multi-sensory and the shopping there is always an experience. I never leave there without having seen something that amazes me in some way.
At the centre, every day brings something new. This new spacious multi-purpose building was made possible by another Canadian volunteer and it is a beehive of activity during the day. There are women working in the sewing atelier, in the crafts area doing beading and making paper beads, a doctor comes several times a week to do a clinic, one of the boys cooks a midday meal to take to the 30 little ones in the daycare over a charcoal burning stove, the mechanics guys work on cars, and last week we organized almost 300 back-to-school packs and suitcases for the students who are sponsored and who have started their new school year this week. By the way, if anyone is interested in sponsoring a child there are about 18 who still need one. The cost is $150/year. There's information on the Ubuntu Edmonton website. I've seen first hand and up close the profound difference that this small but determined NGO has made in the lives of the people, most of them genocide survivors, who live in the area, so if you're looking for an organization to support this one is most worthy of consideration.
Before I left Canada some of my friends generously entrusted me with some money to do with as I pleased here, and I have already had the opportunity to use some of it on Nicole's recommendation as she is well acquainted with the stories of everyone here. So far, and there's still quite a bit left, it has helped to pay one person's rent for four months, sent a young man to the dentist for some badly needed repairs, paid a little girl's school fees, helped a large impoverished family being supported by one of seven siblings, and paid registration fees and one month's tuition for a young single father and genocide survivor who wants very much to finish secondary school this year but cannot afford it. It's been a complete pleasure to be able to intervene with these relatively small but meaningful gifts to people who are just barely getting by and who do not expect a handout from anyone.
So, thanks to you all - be assured your money is being received with deeply sincere and moving gratitude, not to mention amazement, and is being put to very good use.
This Saturday, the 15th, I'll be joining the rest of the newly arrived VSO volunteers for a week of in-country training before we all depart to begin out new jobs around Rwanda. I promise more posts as it all unfolds. A fond hello to anyone reading this...please stay in touch!
