Rwanda is a country that has been devasted for decades by poverty, war and genocide. After the 1994 genocide suffered in Rwanda when over 800,000 people were killed in less than 3 months, the country and the people of Rwand are rebuilding. The country is focused on unity and rebuilding relationships between the previously segregated peoples, the Hutu and Tutsi.

With the country focused on reconciliation, rebuilding, unity and hope it is incredible to see the progress that has occured. Volunteers On Call is committed to being a part of the continued hope and reconciliation in Rwanda and reaching out to those in need with love.

Our partnerships in Rwanda are currently focused on effort to education, train, encourage and provide hope for orphans, vulnerable children and widows. We will continue to work in Rwanda to bring hope to these people and provide teams and volunteers to aid in the following:

Education - Teaching english to those in need to improve their ability to communicate in society and break out of the confines of lesser education.

HIV/AIDS Education & Prevention - Provide educational programs and medical support to help children and women understand how to protect themselves against HIV/AIDS.

Food & Housing - Provide housing for those in need of shelter and provide skills and resources for sustinance.

Skills Training - Provide skills training in regional and cultural skills such as farming, sewing, crocheting, etc. to allow individuals to earn a living to feed their family.

The approximate cost of our trips to Rwanda is $3500. To learn more about the cost of this trip, fundraising and other information contact us.

OUR RWANDA FIELD PARTNERS

Christ for the Nations Ministries

• President/Director - Pastor Norman Desire, Communications – Philip, Finance – John Nganimana, PWLA Counseler – Mutesi Desire, Dir of Street Children Program – Ezra
• Pastor Norman on how he began his ministry. “When you are in ministry, you see things.  The Lord speaks to your heart and shows His vision.”
• Project 1: Agape PWLA Community
• Leaders – Livingston John Bosco & Nadia Bababenshi
• Group has been in existence for 5 years
• Group includes 492 members, 90% are HIV+, 105 are orphans (34 HIV+)
• 54 members are very sick with AIDs symptoms
• No medicines are available to them for managing the disease or comfort with symptoms
• The group follows the government suggested HIV education program to inform and educate the community, their group members and others
• On average 30% of the country’s population have been open to/willing to be tested for HIV
• Agape holds weekly group meeting for education, skills training, counseling, visits to the sick, prayer and support.  On average 80 members attend and are hosted in their 2 room facility
• Provides opportunities for training by the National Health Commission
• The group helps to support themselves financially through basket weaving, raising & selling rabbits, sewing
• Needs:
• Raise awareness about the Agape group
• Education for the children in the Agape group (sponsorship)
• Healthcare/Medicine
• Health education on how to care for the sick members, provide training for other members
• Donations to buy 10 sewing machines to increase microfinance capabilities (currently have 1)
• Agricultural education, tools & land to grow food
• Project 2: Imitavu Kindergarten/Nursery School
• Teacher – Arphansine Dndikubwimana (arphansine@yahoo.fr), has a husband, 3 children of her own, 3 orphans she has taken in. She is the only teacher and has 1 assistant/nurse
• School currently has 40 children attending during 8-11:30 AM
• Alphoncine started the school to offer children the opportunity to begin growing up “in the right way”, she says
• There is no cost to families who’s children attend and it is open to anyone who needs/wants nursery school for their children
• Ages range from 3-6 yrs, most are orphans
• Teaches French, English, Kinyarwanda, alphabet, biblical stories, morals
• School has a small chalkboard only.  No books, no materials, etc.
• Currently rent the one room to run the nursery school
• Needs:
• Chalk, notebooks, crayons, pencils, art supplies
• Food for snack for the children
• Larger blackboard
• Tables, chairs (1500 RF / $3.50 per chair)
• Bigger space and/or financial support for rent
• Overall financial support so they will not have to ask families to provide school fees
• Project 3: Gasabo/Rusororo Community of Orphans & Widows
• Ministry help community by providing church, spiritual help, support, counseling and financial assistance when possible
• Community is largely a group of people who share the same life situations and live together to help one another
• Project 4: Street Boys Center/Home
• Run by Ezra and Jacqueline
• 15 boys all were living on the street, met Ezra when he was preaching and came to faith – and then to live at the home
• Center provides shelter, chores/responsibility, vocational training in mechanics and driving

Seed of Hope Association

• Founder - Pastor Hope Mutesi Gakwaya
• Created after the genocide as a ministry to help reconcile people to God and among themselves – and the care for the hurt, burdened and victimized.
• Focused efforts include HIV/AIDs victim support, economic development efforts, orphans & widows education & support, microfinance development
• Teach sewing (6 month training course), practice sewing on pototoe bags, die and pattern fabrics by hand
• Provide a nursery school for children in the association where learning colors, the alphabet, languages, etc.
• When different groups within the association (ie. HIV group, widows group, etc.) they study the Bible together, sing, dance and work together / or get skills training
• Groups include: Youth Committee, HIV Committee, Senior Group, Sewing Group, HIV Education, School Committee
• Groups average approx. 200 members each
• Since 2002 they have slowly purchased a total of 4 acres of land for Seed of Hope to hopefully build a center
• There are several project in and around Kigali hosted by Seed of Hope and a computer training center in Gitarama