departing Toronto

I'm sitting in the Toronto airport waiting for my flight, which is scheduled to leave in an hour. YAY for WiFi and small portable computers!

My biggest dilemma today - what to wear on the plane...I wore one outfit and packed another in my carry on. Oh and YAY for not being over my weight limit - I was worried I was going to have to get rid of a few clothes for the kids. :(

Off to find fruit and water for the flight.

Catch ya in Amsterdam.

leaving today

My flight cannot come soon enough - I couldn't sleep last night and all I could think about was "I should have left Friday instead." Oh well, I'm sure after 26hrs of transit it won't really matter.

Today I have a few last minute things to do like get US cash - I can use US currency there which they'll then change to local currency. It's not possible to buy Rwandan francs in Canada. Then I have to get a carrying case for my computer - oops, completely forgot about that, and then do some cleaning for my friend who is staying at my place while I'm gone.

I checked into my flight last night and thought about upgrading but in the end I decided against it. Yup, I think it's going to be something I regret mid-way from Amsterdam to Nairobi. Ah maybe I'll do it at the airport...it made a huge difference last year.

I'll try upload pictures of my airport adventures as I go - I have to make this long-haul exciting somehow!

See you soon. XO

questions

Here are the most common questions I am asked:
1. Am I packed?
Huh, anyone who knows me will know that this will be done at the LAST minute.

2. What items am I taking for the kids?
I am really restricted this year since I'm only allowed one bag, however I have packed an extra suitcase and will try to sweet talk that allowance to two bags. I have clothes, books, and toys for the kids.

3. What will the temperature be while I'm there?
Rwanda is very mild and typically 20-30C year round. I expect to see sun each day and have a nice brown colour upon my return!

4. Where am I staying in Rwanda? Last year we rented a gorgeous, huge house, but this year there are too many of us so we're staying at a local guest house that is owned by a friend. It's perfect for us because we'll each have our own room with bathroom, breakfast and internet.

5. Am I getting excited for my trip?
Huh, NO! Of course I am!! ;-)

What will I be doing?

I leave for Rwanda in two days and I am so excited - and still shocked that I'm going back again so soon!

I'll be gone for two weeks and the entire two weeks are chock-full of activities. I guess there's no rest for the wicked.

After 26 hours of transit, I arrive at midnight Sunday night (local time/6pm EST)) and will be leaving for Lake Kivu the next morning. Lake Kivu is along the Rwandan/Congolese border and we'll be spending 3 days there before heading back to Kigali to "work."
Once we're back in Kigali we'll be working with entrepreneurs again - having one-on-one coaching sessions, completing their last business development workshop of the 2010 series, and we'll have another introductory presentation to register new business owners in the 2011 workshop series. We will also be attending a local art show, working with Faith Victory Association's orphanage, visiting Gisimba Orphanage to see Bella and the other kids we met last year, and possibly attending a bike race with the Rwandan cycling team. I didn't even know they had a cycling team!

Follow my blog each day for a full report/details and pictures and videos. :)

2010 Theme song yet TBD

Last year while driving along the Masai Mara looking for wild animals, TOTO's song called "Africa" became out theme song. I wonder what the 2011 song will be - stayed tuned!

Aside from packing, I have everything I need and am ready to go...3 more days.

8 days until I leave for Rwanda

Many people have been asking me about vaccinations for my trip, but since I had them all last year I won't need more. Thankfully. I do, however, need to take anti-malaria pills and must find my yellow fever card. Yellow fever vaccination is required in order to get into Rwanda and I seem to have misplaced mine...yes, I am a little panicked about it but hope I can get a replacement card from my doctor if necessary. I guess I should call them right now to find out... :)

Introducing: Project Bella

After hearing endless, heartbreaking stories of kids not being able to attend school because they are orphaned or their families couldn't afford it, I decided to take action.

My first step was to raise money for Bella (pictured to the right), a 15yr old I met at Gisimba Orphanage in December/09. Bella, a beautiful young woman who lost her entire family to war found herself travelling across dangerous borders to get back to, what she's been told is her homeland, Rwanda. Bella likes to dance and play soccer and she wants to be a doctor. She's a gentle girl with a huge smile that will melt your heart. But, she wasn't able to get an education because there wasn't enough money at the orphanage to send her (or most of the 130 children there).

Here's a video of our first meeting just after she told me she wasn't going to school.
http://www.youtube.com/mdwpx#p/u/5/JldbLd0Ss3Q

Two weeks after returning to Canada, I had friends and family commit to supporting Bella through her secondary (high school) education. She started school in February, 2010.

Now, in honour of Bella and what (and who) she represents, I have a team of dedicated professionals who are helping me create Project Bella. An organization dedicated to providing educational funding to kids in developing countries. We named it after Bella - in French, bella means beautiful.
Project Bella is a work in progress but during my next trip to Rwanda in a few weeks I want to work with Faith Victory Association and Gisimba Orphanage to see how Project Bella can help provide more children under their care with an education.

Thank you Kathleen (aka Mom), Carmen, Jen, Zoey, Tanya, and Akash for your belief in Project Bella, your time, and all your hard work.

I look forward to sharing many more success stories with you and to sharing the ongoing progress of Project Bella.

If you're interested in supporting a child, please email me at mdwpx@yahoo.ca and I'd be happy to send you more information.

Generous Donations

Thanks to Dana, Alex, Tanja, and all Zoey's friends in Peterborough who have donated books, clothes, pen and pencils, and toys. I will be taking the items to Faith Victory Association in Kigali - they'll be Christmas gifts for the kids!

T-18 days until I leave!

with anticipation and excitement

In three weeks I'll be leaving for Rwanda and it's with great excitement and anticipation that we'll be seeing incredible friends in Kigali again.

Our trip this year will be a little different because Dave Ormesher, President of Global Relief and Development Partners, will be there along with his team. Also joining us are co-workers Catherine and James, and Elizabeth's friend, AJ. The buzz has started!

I will have regular Internet access and will be posting (what I hope to be) daily blogs of our experience in early November.