Helping Rwandan Children out of Poverty

Our annual trip to Muko School this October/November was once again a great success!

The replacement of the windows and doors in the “old” classroom block went ahead as planned, allowing a lot more light and ventilation into these otherwise hot and dimly lit rooms; although the floors are still mud and the walls are unplastered, they are a great improvement. Further outside concrete footpaths have been laid, meaning that nearly all classrooms are linked and the children no longer need to walk in mud to get from class to class. Fourteen classrooms where cleaned and repainted, windows and doors repaired.

All of the above work was carried out with up to 28 local men and women employed for about three weeks.

Unfortunately, on this visit, there was insufficient money to purchase further water tanks; it was also disappointing to see that through lack of funds the tanks purchased last year have not been piped in, still allowing that daily rainwater to go to waste. The long-drop toilets are still a major problem with one of the soak away pits being full, rendering six toilets out of action as the School does not have either the amenities or the money to have it emptied. Work has started on a new ten cubicle block, which (funds permitting) might be completed early next year.

The new nursery has had a few teething problems, but with the determination of Izzy and the committee it should be running smoothly for 2014 with 30 infants attending each receiving daily porridge and lunch. Funding the nursery is still an ongoing issue.

Maintenance work continues on the school - it might be hot and slow and often frustrating, but the improvements can be seen to making a difference, and are appreciated by the local people and children.

Volunteers continue pay their own expenses but money is always needed to employ local labour and buy materials.

If you have in the past made a donation to this very worthy project, I thank you. Your continued support is always needed! But a little goes a long way in Africa...      

Another year has passed and it is time for a small team to return to Muko School to continue with some maintenance work. Through negations with Immaculee the Headmistress, the main project this visit is to place some windows and doors in the “holes” of the oldest classrooms to allow some light and ventilation in, and maybe make them a little cooler for the children to work in. Other painting and general repairing will also take place in as many rooms as we have the time for; most of this work will be carried out by local men and women from the village who would otherwise be unemployed.

Storing the rainwater that falls daily at this time of the year is an on-going problem, there are intentions of installing at least two further large water tanks on this visit.

The new nursery that has been set up, with the help of Izzy and Immaculee, is continuing to be a great success with over 40 infants now attending daily, with porridge and lunch supplied by local women. The long-term ideal is to get the nursery self-funding by the local parents with, maybe some help from the government.

We have achieved a lot and seen much success in the last four years at this School. Sometimes the work is hot it and can at times be frustrating, but it can be only continued by the dedication of all involved. Volunteers pay their own expenses but money is always needed for local labour, materials, and the running/upkeep of the nursery.

If you have already donated to this project in the past we thank you; if you can continue to do so it will be very much appreciated, so that we may help these very under privileged children out of their present poverty.