Nursery Nyamagumba

I managed to write a successful bid to Solidarity Entraide for funding for a nursery in Musanze called Nyamagumba.  On return from home at Xmas I set about getting the items for the nursery that they needed in order to make it functional.

These pictures shows the nursery before.  In Rwanda nursery education is funded by the parents of the schools so they need all the help they can get.

The rooms as they were.

We had 65 chairs and 11 small desks made for the pupils and had new blackboards, provided equipment for the teacher to make visual aids, and another lady who visited me (Jax) came from England and bought loads of soft toys and jigsaws and games for the nursery.  We also managed to provide swings and a slide for outside the school.  We also bought two desks for the teaachers and four chairs for them and shelves for the books and a box for all the toys to be stored in.

These pictures show the 'new' nursery.

New blackboards, desks chairs and toys.

New slide

New swings

New desks, chairs and visual aids made with materials supplied.

Christmas 2012

First of all apologies to all for not having blogged for such a long time.  I was unable to upload photographs to the blog site for many months so I resorted to Dropbox to show my family and friends images I wanted to share - but now Blogspot have thankfully enabled me to upload images again so here goes.

I spent a wonderful Xmas at home with family and friends.  I visited many people and did many things and it was a cram packed two weeks.  Here are just a few of the photos of the whole family together.  It was a lovely time and one I will treasure.  Thanks to my Mum and Dad for having me for the two weeks and for putting up with an endless stream of visitor and catering for them all with such care.

On the last day at home I went for a meal with James and Emma and then on to the cinema to see Cinderella at the Alhambra.  A really nice experience.  Thanks to Emma for arranging it.

Update Term 3

It has been a long time since I have blogged and much water has gone under the bridge!  I have carried out several training sessions for staff and pupils including:-

Training teachers on how to use a reading book effectively in the classroom
Training head teachers on developing a vision for their school, Action Planning and Strategic Planning.
Training SEO’s in another District (Muhanga) on analysing annual examination data.
Training SEO’s in my District (Musanze) on analysing annual examination data.
Training head teachers on analysis of termly examination data.
Training for teachers in Busogo sector on how to make visual aids using local materials
Training for cluster schools in the UNICEF child friendly schools programme on how to use the materials they supplied for the schools in the classrooms.
Training for students on how to use the libraries that have been created in their schools.

In addition I was asked to be a judge at a competition at a school for judging the contributions of the pupils to work they had done on protection of the environment.  They had done art work, poetry, compositions, drama and handicrafts as part of the competition.  The competition was arranged for the schools who are partnered with Tanzania and Zambia in Rwanda and pre-empted a visit to Tanzania by 10 teachers, head teachers and students from Rwanda to see how schools worked in another country and to share their cultural experiences.  The project is part of the British Council Connection Classrooms project.

 

I was also invited to visit some lessons being run by another NGO called Art for Conservation who function in schools in Musanze District.  It was a lovely day when we went to Nyange I to see some of the lessons they were running for pupils.  The students benefitted from outdoor lessons which were very child centred and involved lots of teaching and learning materials.  They were run by Rwandan teachers who worked very effectively as a team.  A joy to see.

Things are now settling down due to the commencement of examinations.

Another bid to Solidarity Entraide proved successful and thanks to them I obtained 65 small wooden chairs and 11 low tables for the pupils at Nyamagumba Primary school.  The pupils were soooo excited with their new furniture.  Thanks again to Solidarity Entraide for their continued support.

 

Cyangugu and the Congo Nile Trail

The team set off from Kigali on Saturday 1st Sept and headed to Cyangugu in the South.  It took about 5 hours to drive down there and we were met by Christine at her house and shared a lovely meal.  The next day we went for a walk into Cyangugu and spent some time by the Lake - it was beautiful.  Then we set off to wend our way back up the Congo Nile Trail which winds up the side of Lake Kivu. Unfortunately we got a bit lost at one point and headed inland on some terrible roads but Dave our fearless driver kept drove on despite every setback and we eventually got back on track.  Stopped at Kibuye for an overnight after 6 hours of driving we all needed a Mutzig or a Primus to refresh ourselves!  Set off the next day to Gisenyi on the same road.  Some stunning scenery.  Called at Paradis Malahide (one of our favourite spots) before heading back to Musanze.  The crew dropped me off at Mukamira and then went down the Ngororera road back to Nyanza and finally to Kigali.  A wonderful trip with wonderful memories. 

Leaving Do’s – 1 Year in…..

Well it doesn’t seem like I have been here for a year but apparently I have! Or will have on the 2^nd September.  We have been having leaving do’s since July for volunteers who are leaving to go back to the UK who were on one year contracts. 

Went to Karens house in Kabarore for one such party a few weekends ago.  House in Downtown Kabarore!

 

Presentations

 

Full House

Had a great time.  There were about 30 people at the party – mainly Rwandans and we all played party games, drank beer, wine or Fanta depending on our preferences and had speeches and presentations etc.  It was a lovely occasion.

Then last Friday I said goodbye to Margaret – another of my good friends here – we decided to surprise her and turn up on Friday night to take her to the airport which all worked out fine.  Went for a few drinks and a nice meal at Heaven during the evening. 

 

Heaven

 

Heaven 2

 

 

Margaret and Mike

 

Lovely.  It was mostly volunteers who attended with the addition of one Rwandan tutor from Margarets TTC (Teacher Training College) who happened to be on holiday in Kigali at the time.  Another lovely evening.

Akagera 4 August

Had a phone call from Ian who was supposed to be taking us to the park the next day to say he had knocked over a 6 year old child on the road and was with the police and would not be able to come but that he would arrange for someone else to take us.  He sent Lucian.  He arrived in a Toyota Land Cruiser which could comfortably seat 7 with grey leather upholstery (very nice) at 6am to pick me up from VSO offices in Kigali.  Drove to Kabarore to pick Karen up then entered the park through the north entrance.  It was amazing.  We felt like we were in a David Attenborough film! 

Here are just a selection of the photos I took on the day.  Wow .... amazing.....



 We went from one spectacular scene to another enraptured.  We finally exited the park at about 3pm – took Karen back to Kayonza and then headed back to Kigali.  What an exciting day. 

Nyungwe Forest 1 and 2 August

Headed off to stay in Nyungwe forest.  Hired a car for 4 days and drove to Gitarama (3 hours) and spent the night with Tricia there before heading to Nyungwe the following day. (a further 3 hours) through tea plantations and beautiful scenery.

Arrived at the Uwinka visitor centre in the park at around mid day.  The road is very good to start with then deteriorates and there are enormous pot holes in the middle section before it then goes on to be a very good tarmacked road again.  Passed the point of the watershed for the Nile and the Congo.

Did not see many animals en route.  Decided to have some lunch at the centre and to do the canopy walk which was only constructed last year. 

That was brilliant.  A bit scary if you don’t like heights but it felt quite safe.  The guides were great and very knowledgeable about the trees, vegetation and the park in general.  Saw lots of monkeys in the park and loads of butterflies and birds.  Then headed off to Nyungwe Forest Lodge.  Brilliant… a little gem.

Luxury itself.  Need I say more.  Hot water, good food, nice rooms, an oasis and to top it all the monkeys could be watched from the balcony of the room (6)  All meals are included and they do a discounted rate for Rwandan residents which was good.  (175$ pp pn) 

They have a heated pool which faces into the forest and a spa and the most amazing photography books dotted around the hotel that keep you fascinated for hours.  It was a pleasure to be there.  Didn’t do any further walks as Tricia had to leave the next day at 2pm so just chilled out around the pool and the hotel which was also nice.  I stayed on my own the following day and then headed back to Kigali early in the morning.  Stayed with Gloria and Dave overnight before my next adventure to Akagera.