Helping Rwandan Children out of Poverty

Very soon a small group of volunteers will be heading off to Muko School in southern Rwanda to continue with the work that has made so much difference to the local children and community over the past seven years.

The volunteers will be once again be working with a local labour force continuing to improve this ever-expanding school which now has nearly 3000 students, two thirds of whom can only attend on a half day basis due to lack of classrooms. The 1000 senior students who do attend full day classes are now able to enjoy a basic daily lunch due to the completion of the kitchens we were able to build and equip with donations received two years ago.

It has taken three years to build and complete the perimeter wall which now not only protects the school from getting damaged during out of hours, but also prevents damage from flooding. No damage has been reported during this year’s heavy recent rainfall.

Priority at the school this year is to build further much-needed toilets (if finances allow, a block of 20 is intended), install water tanks and replace mud with cement in the floors of some classrooms. All this, along with general maintenance, will cost in the region of £11,000 and whilst our volunteers do their best to raise this money, extra donations are always very welcome!

Our volunteers pay all their own expenses including flights and accommodation and work with a local labour force, who may have no employment for the rest of the year - buying all materials locally is a boost for the local economy.

If you have in the past made a donation this worthy cause, I thank you, but more is always needed please.

As mentioned in my last report, in November of this year there will be a small team of volunteers leaving the UK to continue the work at Muko School in Southern Rwanda. It is possible that once again one of the group will be a TEFL teacher, who will continue with the English teaching program that has proved so valuable in the past

The volunteers will be once again be working with a local labour force continuing to improve this ever-expanding school, which now has nearly 3000 students, two thirds of which can only attend on a half day basis due to lack of classrooms. The 1000 senior students that do attend full day classes are now able to enjoy a basic daily lunch due to the completion of the kitchen we were able to build and equip with donations received last year.

It has taken three years to build and complete the perimeter wall, which not only protects the School from getting damaged during out-of-school hours, it also prevents damage from flooding during heavy rain.

The priorities of the school this year are to build further toilets, install water tanks, and cement the floors of some classrooms with mud floors. All this along with general maintenance will cost in the region of £8000 and whilst our volunteers do their best to raise this money themselves any extra donations are always very welcome!

Our volunteers pay all their own expenses and work with a local labour force who may have no employment for the rest of the year; buying all materials locally is a boost for the local village economy.

If you have, in the past, made a donation to this very well worthy cause, I thank you. Don't give up on us now please, more is always needed!