Buy art directly from Rwandan artists

If you're interested in supporting Rwandan artists directly, visit Ivuka Arts at http://ivukaarts.com/
This co-op has some incredible talent and I look forward to visiting them again in Kigali in November.

p.s. they ship internationally so pls ask for details.

Going back to Rwanda

I'm thrilled and so excited to be planning another trip to Africa!

Since my trip to Rwanda in December, I've been talking about going back and saving for the possibility of returning at Xmas this year (2010), but to be honest I didn't think it would happen because it's quite expensive to fly there and stay for two weeks. Despite what you may think about a developing country, Rwanda is surprisingly expensive.

On Friday I woke up with no intention of buying a ticket anywhere - my travel savings account was collecting dust...errr I mean interest...but that afternoon my colleague (thanks Justin!) sent me an email with a link to an incredible seat sale to east Africa. One that I couldn't pass up. So, by 7pm Friday night I had reserved my seat back to Rwanda in November, 2010 for two weeks. YAY!

Just as I did last time, I'll be taking items with me to donate to the kids at Gisimba Orphanage and Faith Victory Association. Here are a list of items - if you are able to donate anything, please let me know and I'd be happy to take it:
1. toothbrushes and toothpaste
2. clothing - all sizes, for men, women and children
3. stickers
4. balloons
5. soccer balls
6. small (light weight) books (preferably in English since this is now an official language)
7. sanity pads
8. bras
9. school supplies - notebooks, pens, pencils, paper, etc
10. If you have other suggestions, they are welcome...let me know.

How will my donation help?

I keep saying over and over again that every dollar donated does make a difference. That's especially true in a developing country where there are no resources and "basic amenities" like electricity and running water.

To-date I have raised $10,000 for GRDP and here's how your contribution has helped (email from Dave Ormesher, CEO of Global Relief and Development Partners (GRDP):
The donations to GRDP (through private donation and Art for Africa) are going towards a couple of different projects.

Gisimba Orphanage: Sixteen Gisimba orphans are being sponsored to attend one of the top private schools in Rwanda. To help them make the transition from learning in French to learning in English, we have purchased an English dictionary for each child. In addition, there are a number of personal items they needed to make the transition to a boarding school. We bought them new shoes, a new mattress with sheets and blankets, towels, etc. and paid for private bus transportation for the children to travel the two hours to the boarding school.

Creating A Bigger Future: GRDP is working with 50 entrepreneurs in Rwanda to help them build their companies in order to create jobs, provide living wages, and impact the local economy of Rwanda. Donations are helping to pay for the educational tools and a Rwandese staff person in Kigali to help facilitate the quarterly workshops and ongoing coaching.

email from a Rwandan entrepreneur

Today I received an email from a woman I met in Rwanda in December. She is from Saskatchewan (the Province I grew up in) and is married to a Rwandan. They moved back to Kigali last year with their four kids.

Hi Melanie!

Nice to hear from you! And good to hear you're returning. I've become so attached to this place I feel sorry for anyone who has to leave!!

Business is going pretty well considering that I'm working full time. Only three more weeks of that, however. My "Spice Girls" have mastered the art of the sugar cookie and I'm looking forward to teaching them new skills.

I will be travelling to Dallas in June to benefit from some intensive training in entrepreneurship :)!! Can't wait! When I return I'll be ready to devote my full attention to Sugar and Spice Kigali.

Sugar and Spice will be taking an unexpected turn. We just moved into a large house with a new - never used two car garage. This will become my work space once I fix it up. And it will be the location of cake decorating classes. Customers will pay for 30 - 90 minutes of instruction, and for a cake baked and iced by us (since very few Rwandans own ovens). They can use my equipment to decorate their own cake, and perhaps buy some edible decorations to put the final touch on it. Then take it home with them.

Speaking of the new house, we have started a second business - a bed and breakfast. We have two rooms functioning now and hope to furnish the third soon. Breakfast and internet are included, and other meals can be purchased for a small fee. You can even order a fresh pizza whenever you like! I think our cook makes the best pizza in town. We charge a weekly rate of $250 single and $300 double occupancy. Any additional nights beyond a week would be prorated to that fee. The house is fairly close to the MTN location of Bourbon coffee. It's close to transportation and convenience stores, and it has a big yard and beautiful view.

Letter from a U.S. child asking about the orphanage work

This is taken from Elizabeth's blog. Elizabeth is my colleague and was my travel companion to Rwanda/Kenya in December, 2009. She is working with Faith Victory Association and Gisimba Orphanage to create new websites for them so they can receive International donations.

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Below is her letter with my responses to her questions.

Dear Elizabeth Cox,
In our French 1 class at my school we have been learning about the genocide in Rwanda and now we are doing a follow-up project about a topic of our choice. I wanted to learn about people who helped during the save people during the genocide and also about current things in Rwanda, so i decided to learn about the Gisimba Orphanage. As i was researching, i found your email on gisimbaorphanage.org, and thought maybe you could answer some questions that i had about the orphanage now. If you could answer any of these questions for me, it would be greatly appreciated!
Sami

How many children are currently living at the orphanage? 156 in December

Where does the orphanage get their fundings? Mainly from people who have visited in Kigali, they don’t have a web presence yet (which is an issue I am trying to help solve for them) but they are known and appreciated for rescuing people during the genocide and therefore have a strong presence in Kigali.

What are some things that the children do for fun? Volunteers teach art classes and English. When I was there, a volunteer from Australia was teaching music lessons as well. They LOVE soccer!

What are the responsibilities of the children in the orphanage? The older ones help tend to the younger ones, they help with chores, some are at boarding schools to go to school as well.

How many more children come to the orphanage every year, on average? I don’t know the answer to this, but with AIDs and malnutrition it has been on the rise in recent years.

What are some of the orphans who have grow up doing now? If you search the Web I have seen testimonials from Gisimba orphans that have succeeded through education. In general in Rwanda, education is everything. What is given away so freely, here in this country, is desperately sought after not just by orphans but every child there… They want to be educated! Not only is school not free in Rwanda but you must also buy books and you cannot attend without shoes (some schools also require a uniform). Many of the children who were not educated, have become adults but still stay at the orphanage because they don’t have anywhere to go.

random stuff

I was talking to my mom about my blog tonight and didn't realize people were still checking it. Nice to know that someone is reading this (I'd like to know who you are)!

My mom is going to look for some books for Bella because she is struggling with English, and since my mom is a former principal I trust she can find the right books. haha
My 14 yr old cousin is saving her unwanted clothing and collecting clothes from her friends too so I can send them to Bella and the other kids at the orphanage.

I am planning on registering a non-profit - name TBD - so I can help more kids in developing countries get an education. I plan to have it registered by the end of the year...Don't ask me how this will all work. I just trust that it will.

After a recent conversation with one of our coaches he asked me if I would write a story about my experience. It hadn't really crossed my mind - I admittedly have a fear of writing and allowing people to read my words. Ironic isn't it?! Maybe I'm too hard on myself and critical of my style, but I think I should give it some serious thought. I've been back from Rwanda for 4 months and am still enjoying the high of the trip and the inspiration it continues to bestow on my everyday life. For example, I'm not a morning person but I need to get into the habit of training for my upcoming triathlon, and mornings are the best time to fit it in. On Monday when my alarm rang at 6:15pm I tried to make every excuse in the book as to why I should roll over and go back to sleep, but I stopped myself. I thought about what Bella would be doing at that moment and suddenly all my excuses seemed ridiculous. I wonder if she knows how inspirational she is?