June 3
 |
| Celebrating our Ohio pride with the OSU alumna who created Hope Haven |
Muraho everyone!
We kept busy in Kigali before we started our 3-hour drive to
Butare today. Since visiting the Gisozi Genocide Memorial in downtown Kigali on
Thursday, we’ve been focusing on lecture as well as exploring the city
(including Italian restaurants). A doctor also visited us and gave us some tips
on traveling and keeping healthy while in Rwanda. On Saturday, we had the
opportunity to tour a school founded by an Ohio State alumna, which was by far
my favorite excursion so far (even though I slipped down a mountain).
The Christian school, named Hope Haven, is in Kigali – Rural
about 45 minutes from our inn. On the way there we had the chance to stop and
shop at a women’s cooperative that one of our staff members here at SIT
founded. The clothing and items were made of igitenge, a traditional African
fabric, and the proceeds go directly back to the women who make them. The women
were so welcoming, and the products were incredible. Clothing, bibs, bags,
woodcarvings, and traditional woven goods now fill our suitcases, so get ready
for some souvenirs! We spent almost an hour thumbing through patterns and
styles and then met with the seamstresses who took our measurements and are
currently making us custom fitting clothing. What’s better than perfect fitting, beautiful
clothing that also benefits women? Nothing!
The school itself was an incredibly large compound of about
4 or 5 buildings and acres of land for various agricultural sections. It has
about 600 students between its preschool and primary school, and provides
breakfast for them every day. Doctors and medical staff also provide health
care to community members about once a week and treat them in one of the
buildings. We had the opportunity to meet some of the teachers, the director,
and even some students. The school has many great initiatives – too many to
list here – but one of them is selling the food they produce on their land in
order to raise money for the school. We toured acres of banana trees, mangoes,
oranges, avocados, lettuce, beans, raspberries, and papayas. We also enjoyed
the 30-minute walk down the hill to the well (which I rolled down about 5 feet because
the dirt was so slippery). Children ran up to us the whole way, shaking our
hands, giving us hugs, and taking pictures with us. They even asked if I was
okay after I fell! Between the amazing people and the perfect weather, I will definitely
be coming back to Rwanda.
See you soon! Love you, Digs!
So glad all is going well for your trip so far. I am sure it is a life changing experience. All of us back home in the Sociology Department are learning through you as well! Take Care, Claudia Buchmann (Chair of the Sociology Department)
ReplyDeleteThe trip sounds amazing and life-changing. So glad you are able to see more of the country, people & culture. Thank you for sharing your activities with us. I am learning a lot about Rwanda.
ReplyDeleteGenna this is Doreen ;-)
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