It's been a long time since I've posted a blog - my apologies.
In a month I'll be leaving for Rwanda for two weeks of a combined vacation/work adventure. If you've been following my blog for the last year then you'll remember that when I was there in December, 2009, Elizabeth (my co-worker) and I presented Global Relief and Development Partner's business development tools and concepts to nearly 80 entrepreneurs. 45 of which registered for four workshops that have been spread out over the course of 2010.
This time, there are about a dozen of us going to Kigali to work with GRDP and we'll have the honour and privilege of attending the fourth workshop (of four) in the first year. I'm extremely excited to see the progress the entrepreneurs have made individually and collectively as a community. It'll be a thrill to see how our time and effort has contributed to positive change and I have no doubt that our work with GRDP is empowering people in a way they didn't realize was possible.
Two weeks may seem like a lot of time but every minute of each day is booked. Here are some of the scheduled events:
1. We're going to have another presentation for a new group of entrepreneurs so they can take action and register for the 2011 workshops
2. Meet and Greet with the current entrepreneurs in the GRDP workshops
3. Attend the last workshop of 2010 with the current group of entrepreneurs
4. Evening at the US Ambassadors home
5. Continue our work with Faith Victory Association and Gisimba Orphanage
6. Visit Bella at Gisimba Orphanage. Bella is the 15yr old girl that I "sponsored" immediately after meeting her last December
31 days and counting...Stay posted for more on our adventures!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Team Rwanda - or part if it!
I spent this past weekend in Chicago and had the opportunity to (finally!) meet Dave Ormesher, CEO of Global Relief and Development Partners (www.grdpartners.org).L-R Elizabeth Cox, Dave Ormesher, and me.
We will be travelling to Rwanda in November to complete the last of 4 (for yr 1) entrepreneurial workshops, continue to work with orphans at Gisimba Orphanage and Faith Victory Association, and we'll have a presentation for local entrepreneurs to register for the 2011 GRDP workshops series.
President Kagame wins election
I'm a little behind on my Rwanda updates but here's some recent news on the elections from Rwanda earlier this month.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/201081011220514123.html
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2010/08/201081011220514123.html
Thursday, August 12, 2010
3rd 2010 workshop complete
In 78 days I will return to Rwanda to continue working with entrepreneurs in Kigali and continue supporting a couple of orphanages - however we can!
Dave Ormesher, CEO of Global Relief and Development Partners, is currently in Rwanda and here are pieces from an email he sent me this morning.
Finished another great workshop, our third in the 2010 series. I also did a module on Building a World Class Brand to Compete in the new East African Community. Big hit...
Then after lunch...Everyone got the positive impact of Free Days on relationships... But when I quoted the statistic that Coach clients who double their free days (aka holidays) double their income, the crowd let out a collective gasp.
We had an informal coffee reception the night before the workshop, and then tomorrow morning I and two other American entrepreneurs are holding back-to-back 45 min 1:1s with entrepreneurs out on the patio at the Serena Hotel. Then a swing by Gisimba and then a dash for the airport to go to Nairobi.
The election here was amazing. Very peaceful and orderly. I went to a couple of polling stations. And then I went to the national stadium at 8pm for the celebration. You may have seen a few of my Facebook pics. It was amazing. I went down onto the field which was packed with thousands of people all dancing to the live music of a series of pop Rwandan acts on stage. I got myself a bright red RPF campaign shirt the day before and wore it as I danced my way through the crowd right up to the stage. I became quite the celebrity. Or oddity. Then at midnight I went over to a private big-donor party at one of the new hotels and hung out with the celebs until about 4am. It was around that time that the gov’t declared the next day a national holiday... Good thing.
There is so much optimism and excitement here. Everyone feels like the last seven years were focused on building infrastructure, and now they feel they are ready to rock.
Thank you to the Toronto team for supporting me with the customized presentations and the detailed coach guides! You guys are the best. People love the fact that the content is in their context, and it makes it so easy to present.
Cheers!
-do
Dave Ormesher, CEO of Global Relief and Development Partners, is currently in Rwanda and here are pieces from an email he sent me this morning.
Finished another great workshop, our third in the 2010 series. I also did a module on Building a World Class Brand to Compete in the new East African Community. Big hit...
Then after lunch...Everyone got the positive impact of Free Days on relationships... But when I quoted the statistic that Coach clients who double their free days (aka holidays) double their income, the crowd let out a collective gasp.
We had an informal coffee reception the night before the workshop, and then tomorrow morning I and two other American entrepreneurs are holding back-to-back 45 min 1:1s with entrepreneurs out on the patio at the Serena Hotel. Then a swing by Gisimba and then a dash for the airport to go to Nairobi.
The election here was amazing. Very peaceful and orderly. I went to a couple of polling stations. And then I went to the national stadium at 8pm for the celebration. You may have seen a few of my Facebook pics. It was amazing. I went down onto the field which was packed with thousands of people all dancing to the live music of a series of pop Rwandan acts on stage. I got myself a bright red RPF campaign shirt the day before and wore it as I danced my way through the crowd right up to the stage. I became quite the celebrity. Or oddity. Then at midnight I went over to a private big-donor party at one of the new hotels and hung out with the celebs until about 4am. It was around that time that the gov’t declared the next day a national holiday... Good thing.
There is so much optimism and excitement here. Everyone feels like the last seven years were focused on building infrastructure, and now they feel they are ready to rock.
Thank you to the Toronto team for supporting me with the customized presentations and the detailed coach guides! You guys are the best. People love the fact that the content is in their context, and it makes it so easy to present.
Cheers!
-do
Monday, June 28, 2010
So many clothes to take!
I mentioned my cousin Zoey in my earlier post, and thanks to her I now have seven HUGE garbage bags full of clothes to take to Kigali with me in November. Thanks ZoZo!
Zoey (14) put a call out to all her friends and we had tremendous response. To all the teens and parents that donated, thank you very much for your support. I am taking the clothes to Faith Victory Association (in Kigali, Rwanda) and they're very excited because it's perfect timing for Christmas presents for the kids/babies.
Now I just need bags big enough to get them there. Ah it's a good problem to have. :)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Bella is mentioned in Valedictorian Speech
My cousin (Zoey) is graduating from grade 8 today and is the valedictorian of her class. She volunteers for Free the Children and is raising money so she can go to Africa next year and work with kids in Kenya.
Zoey and her family are helping me sponsor Bella's education, and Bella made it into Zoey's speech.
"...we are taught about the bigger picture, and reality is, we are extremely lucky. There are children around the world, who are our age, who can only dream of going to school and having an education as broad as ours. In the past year, I learned about a girl, who lives in Rwanda and has no family due to the genocide. Bella, who is our age, is just beginning school. She is 14 years old and has never stepped into a school in her life. She has never had the chance to play on the school yard or go on a school trip. She hasn't even had the chance to read a book. We all sometimes think of school as a burden, somewhere we have to go 5 times a week, but we should really be thankful for being able to attend school every day. These values of community and looking out for each other are something we have learned here..."
I'm really proud of you Zoey - have fun tonight!
Zoey and her family are helping me sponsor Bella's education, and Bella made it into Zoey's speech.
"...we are taught about the bigger picture, and reality is, we are extremely lucky. There are children around the world, who are our age, who can only dream of going to school and having an education as broad as ours. In the past year, I learned about a girl, who lives in Rwanda and has no family due to the genocide. Bella, who is our age, is just beginning school. She is 14 years old and has never stepped into a school in her life. She has never had the chance to play on the school yard or go on a school trip. She hasn't even had the chance to read a book. We all sometimes think of school as a burden, somewhere we have to go 5 times a week, but we should really be thankful for being able to attend school every day. These values of community and looking out for each other are something we have learned here..."
I'm really proud of you Zoey - have fun tonight!
Faith Victory Association's New Orphanage is underway...
Earlier this week I received a wonderful email from Dr. Immaccullee. She became a fast friend and is one of the most incredible women I have met. She definitely made our experience in Rwanda very special.
Immaccullee is the mother to six gorgeous children and is the Executive Director and Madam Chair for the Secretariat of National Steering Committee for social science research in the field of HIV/AIDS-MCP-Rwanda. This woman has a heart of gold and it was an absolute pleasure to spend two weeks with her and to meet many of the woman and children she helps at Faith Victory Association (FVA) in Kigali.
FVA has a mission to help eradicate poverty, reduce HIV infections and help communities in capacity building programs aimed at the transformation of society.
Here is the email she sent me:
Dear Melanie
hope you and your family are doing well.
we are thankful to God that we now have the relevant documentation and authorization to begin construction of the Faith Victory Association – Village of Hope, starting with the Orphanage - Phase I of the project.
It is with great joy that we inform you that we will be celebrating the launching of the construction of the village on Tuesday 22 June 2010 in Rusororo, Gasabo District, Kigali on the Village of Hope site. The launching will begin with a word of thanks & prayer, and then we will dedicate and anoint the site, thereafter the builders will proceed with their work and begin to lay the foundations.
We will begin with the construction of one of the Apartment blocks which will have four (4) homes.
We are truly thankful for the support given; and your participation in the realization of this dream. And as we continue to work together we shall see many vulnerable children’s lives being changed to the glory of God.
Once the launch is over and construction begins we will send you update and photos of our progress at the Village of Hope.
please convey our greetings to your family.
we miss you and we can't wait to see you again in Rwanda.
God bless you,
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