Stories to Come

I am continually amazed by the connections being made with Rwanda. Children, families, teachers, local organizations, churches and the list goes on. Here are some of the upcoming stories of those making a difference. Find what you love and see how that passion can make a difference in the lives of the children of Rwanda. These will be just a few of the many stories I will be writing about over the next 6 weeks before I leave on March 10th.

I spoke to 6th graders at the State College Friends School and they wanted to help. They will be holding a bake sale to raise funds to purchase an Octoband for playtime for the Urukundo school.

Grace Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten has asked me to represent Rwanda as the country they will study for International Week at their school. The children are having a "Dimes for Desks" fundraiser to provide desks for new grade 2 classrooms.

St. Paul's United Methodist Sunday School Kids are making two "God Smiles on a Rainbow" banners for worship areas and the boys dorm.

2 Rotary clubs in State College have provided funds for water tanks for Primary Grade 1 and the library and another tank for Primary Grade 2 and the music/art room. A third Rotary is providing funds for the nutrition program.

8 retired elementary teachers are working on curriculum for our classrooms on magnets, amphibians/reptiles, spiders/insects, caterpillars/butterflies, water, time....

Twelve 3rd and 4th grade classes and their teachers are using their imagination and creativity for classroom to classroom projects. 5 preschools are also working on projects. Each will send the projects with me and I will work on reciprocal projects to bring back as gifts for these schools.

Penn State music students are writing curriculum for preschool - grade 3 for teachers to review and implement. We are still raising funds to purchase traditional Rwandan instruments for the music room.

Amy Frank's sewing class at the Sewing Studio at Contempo is planning a "Creative Kids Helping Kids Party" to sew educational teaching materials.

St. Paul's United Methodist Church is holding an "Isoko" Rwandan Market to sell Rwandan made baskets and our sewing center products - aprons and bags. The proceeds will go towards the $2,000 needed to purchase Primary grade 1 & 2 textbooks in social studies, math, English, Kinyarwanda and French.

Soroptimist, Altrusa, Kiwanis, St. Paul's Preschool, Child Care Center at Hort Woods, Mitchell Lane Publishers, Chico Bags, Penn State Art Education students, Childspace, Friends School House, and many friends and families are sharing their gifts and resources to support the work in Rwanda!!! Let me know what YOU are interested in!!!!

*God Smiles on a Rainbow banner

*Octoband

*Inanga - one of the traditional instrument for the classroom

*Dimes for Desks