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.
Please donate $50 to Global Relief and Development Partners' Social Entrepreneurship Program and Faith Victory's Orphanage in Kigali, Rwanda. Every dollar makes a difference.
- About Me
- An avid volunteer, Melanie Woodward has built a life based on passion…passion for learning and for discovering and travelling the world. Melanie had an incredible, life-altering volunteer experience with Global Relief and Development Partners in Kigali, Rwanda in December, 2009. Her self-funded trip to Rwanda is one of several initiatives Melanie has undertaken for the betterment of the Rwandan people. She is also working with Gisimba Orphanage, Faith Victory Association, she is funding the education of a 15 year old orphan she met in Kigali, and plans an annual art fundraiser (www.artforafrica.info). Melanie is thrilled to be working with Global Relief and Development Partners, where their level of passion matches her own. Melanie’s formal education and experiences volunteering have prepared her for this life-changing journey. She has traveled to over 26 countries, working and volunteering in many of them. A former event planner for events like the Juno and Grey Cup festivals, Melanie has combined her organizational spirit with her humanitarian heart for the greatest experience of her life.
Map of Rwanda
