Quick update from Ngororero

Hi all!

I hope all is well in Ireland. Things are good here. Time is flying by. I have only one month of work left.  I’m trying to finish up my projects before I leave.  I am really looking forward to moving home but I know I’ll be very sad to leave my adopted home of Ngororero.  I have made so many friends here that I am sure it won’t be long before I visit Rwanda Nziza (beautiful Rwanda) again. 

I have set up a second library with a mixture of Kinyarwandan books and English books. Thanks a million to everyone who sent me packages.  The kids love the books especially the pop-up books and dictionaries!  They are really enjoying having library time. Even the teachers are enjoying the books and are borrowing them from the library.  It is lovely to see reading time.  It is very quiet but there is a whispering sound as all the children are quietly reading to themselves.  Over time I’m sure they’ll learn to read silently.

This week, I am visiting the UNICEF schools.  UNICEF has bought some teaching materials from Uganda and I’m teaching the teachers how to use them.  It’s been so much fun.  Some have never played with dice before so they’re having a great time.  Dominoes are a big favourite.

St. Mary’s Primary School in Trim has been doing fantastic work raising money to buy solar panels for local schools.  Well done to you all. Between their contribution and other donations there is enough money to buy 4 more solar panels! I’m so excited.  It means that a total of 5 schools will have electricity thanks to contributions from Ireland.  At GS Ngurugunzu (where they received a solar panel last summer) they are using the electricity so the children can study in the evenings.  Also members of the local community can charge their mobile phones.  This facility saves them from having to walk miles to the nearest source of electricity. The neighbouring church can now have music at the Sunday service and the headmaster can charge his laptop.  It’s been fantastic.  One of the other schools has a plan to set up a barbershop when they get electricity so they can cut the kids hair!

The other big news is that one of the volunteers that I arrived with has gotten married.  I attended the wedding.  It was a beautiful day.  Many of the volunteers wore traditional dress.  I will add a photo if the internet connection is good.

Slán,

Pauline