Introductions

Last week was a big week of introductions.  On Tuesday, I went to FCYF's site at Nyange, about 5km from Wisdom Primary School, where two programmes are based - the Child Headed Household programme (CHH) and the Deaf Children's Centre.  The deaf children were not back from their school holidays but I met the CHH.  The CHH are a group of around 85 teenagers, who are orphans and raising their younger siblings, acting as parents while they are still children themselves.  FCYF, sponsored by a UK charity, Jubilee Action, supports them by providing vocational training in basket weaving, sewing, wood carving and electrics/plumbing each morning and by providing food to their families (otherwise they would not attend training as they would need to work to provide food) and health insurance.   They also get the support of a social worker, Jacqueline, and very importantly, a mentor, who is an adult in their community who visits their home and supports and advises them.  Over 40 mentors support the CHH, and each has received training in children's rights and skills training such as how to listen actively and provide support to a household suffering from grief from the loss of parents and often suffering post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from difficult events in their lives.  This programme of community volunteer mentors (called "Nkundabana" meaning "I love children" in Kinyarwanda) was pioneered by Elie, with Care International.  Elie was invited to visit the EU in Brussels in 2007 to speak about the programme and subsequently advised them on issues impacting Rwandan orphans. 

                                                                

Each day the CHH start their day at 7.30am with prayers and songs together.   I set off early from home (it takes about 1 1/4 hours to walk from home to the centre, and although it is possible to get a bus,  I decided to walk as the route there is so stunningly beautiful).  Hearing the children sing completely choked me up.  They were singing in Kinyarwanda so I didn't know what they were saying, but their voices were just amazing - like a professional gospel choir.   I didn't expect it at all.  After prayers, it was time to get down to work.  The children were happy to show me their work (and even to try and show me how to weave baskets but I was completely useless and a little worried about the extra work I would create for them as they had to unravel and redo - the work has to be professional enough for them to sell).   Despite the communication difficulties with my limited Kinyarwanda and their limited English), there were lots of laughs and smiles - it was hard to believe what difficult lives they've had.   After my unsuccessful attempts to basket weave, I was given the baby of one of the girls to cuddle instead - at least I could do that!

In the afternoon, I went to Wisdom Primary.  It was the first day of lessons for the new term and the deputy-head, Vian, took me round to the classes to introduce me.   It was so sweet - each class would stand up and say in a sing-song "You are most welcome Teacher Rachael".  Most volunteers actually teach and altho I am at FCYF to help with the finance and accounting, there is a good chance that I will get roped into teaching an English lesson, which is pretty scary!   P2 (who are mostly around 5/6 years old) sang me a couple of songs which was sooo sweet!   They decided to sing me "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine", which a recent Canadian volunteer had taught them, then they cracked me up by singing a song called Calypso.  Three children volunteered to come to the front and stuffed jumpers up their jumpers and then pranced round the room like chickens while singing (and while the rest of the class laughed).   It was hilarious.   I walked down the hill into town with a couple of children later and they asked me what song I would teach them.  Hmmm - any ideas will be greatly received as I'm feeling under a bit of pressure to find a good one!

On Friday, I went back to Nyange to meet the deaf children who were now back at school.   There are nearly 70 children at the school, which is residential and one of only six deaf schools in Rwanda, not nearly enough.   The headmaster, Louis, who clearly loves working with deaf children, took me around to meet the children and I now have a sign name that the the children gave me.   Lots of hugs and smiles from the children and I am now able to sign a few phrases (good morning, how are you..).   The school also had a visitor that day, Dr Morag Clark MBE, from the UK who is a world renowned audiologist specialising in teaching deaf children to speak.   It was interesting to see her work.  Her methods have been very successful worldwide, including in developing countries.   All teaching at the deaf school is done with sign language, but under Dr Clark's methods, there is no signing.   It takes time to implement her methods, which involve spending time one-on-one every day with children practising their speech.  It will be interesting to hear from Louis, whether he thinks this method can be implemented successfully with the limited teaching resources he has (4 teachers for 67 children).

And for anyone who is wondering, yes, I did agree my work objectives with Elie this week and have started work!  More to follow...

Muraho! (Hello!) - My first weekend in the Land of a Thousand Hills

So after a couple of months of planning, I finally arrived in Rwanda last Friday!   I think most of you are aware that I've decided to take a break from corporate life and spend a couple of months working in Rwanda with an amazing organisation called Fair Children / Youth Foundation (FCYF).  FCYF is based in Musanze, a beautiful area in northern Rwanda, and works alongside the local community to restore human rights and rebuild lives and community in an area that suffered greatly from civil war, the genocide and disease.  My assignment was arranged through Accounting for International Development (AfID), who place qualified accountant volunteers with community based organisations in Africa and Asia to help them build their financial capacity.  I stumbled across AfID by chance and immediately knew I wanted to return to Rwanda, which I had visited in 2003 when I went to see the mountain gorillas.  I had been struck by how beautiful and lush the country was and how friendly the people were - we celebrated New Year's Eve 2003 in a party in Musanze (then called Ruhengeri) with some local people and I have never forgotten it.   (I also remember that the folks at the 2003 party had been very impressed with England's recent rugby world cup win and am hoping that there might be somewhere in town to watch the upcoming 2011 NZ competition!)

It was great to be met at Kigali airport by Elie, the director of FCYF, and Becky, another volunteer, and whisked straight away to Muzanze.  It was dark when I arrived (it gets dark around 6pm all year round) so it was even better to wake in the morning (to the sound of singing and a cockerel in the garden which made a nice change from planes on the Heathrow flight path!) and take in the stunning surrounds - jagged volcanoes and lush, rolling green hills!!   Becky had very kindly offered to be my tour guide for the weekend.   First stop was the town - it has a really nice feel to it, with 2 markets, some small shops and bars.   Even tho Musanze is one of the major tourist areas of Rwanda,because of its proximity to the Volcanoes NP where the gorillas are, there are not many "muzungus" (white people) in town, which means we got a lot of attention (in a nice way).  Children appear for a hug and to hold hands and lots of "mwaramutse" (good morning) greetings from the adults!  

On Sunday,  I had the most scenic walk to work I've ever had as we headed to Wisdom School, which is part of FCYF, so I could have a tour before term started.  I got chance to practice my already expanded Kinyarwandan on the way (now at mwaramutse (good morning), amakuru? (how are you?), nemeza! (I am well) - after that I get stuck tho!).  I also realised that altho school is 15 mins walk from the home of Elie and his wife Bernadette, where I am staying, that you need to allow double the time so you can greet the children along the way!

In the afternoon, I had my first out of town trip with Becky and Elie's eldest 2 sons, their cousin and their friend to Lake Burera, which was absolutely stunning.   First we got a bus to Kidaho, which was an experience in itself - it was cosy to say the least and every stop involved a lot of re-organisation to fit everyone in, including one small girl (no older than 5 years old) who got passed around continually and must have sat on the knees of about 10 different people during the trip! She took it in her stride most of the time but was close to tears at one point.   Then after the bus, we caught a "taxi-moto" (motor-bike taxi) to the lake, which I loved!  It was so exhilarating going down this dirt track on the back of a motor bike, with the volcanoes in one direction and Lake Burera ahead.  I think 2 muzungus wearing skirts on taxi-motos might have created a bit of a show for the local people along the way!  The lake itself was very serene - I will definitely be back another day...

Monday morning was registration day for the first day of the new term at Wisdom School.  All the children were arriving with their homework folders, and stationery for the new term, dressed smartly in their school uniforms.   No work for me yet, as the registration process needed the full attention of Elie and all the staff, but tomorrow I have my first meeting to discuss my objectives for the next 8 weeks.  Am looking forward to it....