Day two

Children  eagerly  listening

This  was  another  new  day  dedicated  to  the  pre-school  and  primary  activities  in  Muse  parish,  Mugombwa  parish and  Musebeya  parish.  While  at  the  first  stop our  team  Rosemary  was welcomed  by  the  senior  pastor at  Muse parish  whom  also  introduced  to  full  class  of  lovely  children  who  were  waiting  for  us  eagerly.  A  brief  introduction  was  made  to  us  about  the  school,  the  challenges  they  face  since  the  building  they  are  working  in  is  incomplete  making  it  difficult  for  the  children  to  study  in  extreme  weather.  

Rosemary  demonstrating

Despite  the  challenges  faced  by  the  school,  Rosemary  and  Yakira  had  a  delightful  moment  to  share  with  the  children  some  songs . It  even  got  better  when  their  parents  came  in  to  look  on  their  children  sing  just  to  share  the  excitement. Apart  from  singing Yakira  also  shared  with  her  fellow  children  drawings  from  her  fellow  classmates  back  in  Canada  and  the  children  repeated  the  name  of  the  animals  after  Yakira  and Rosemary. Then  finally  they  received  gifts  as  a  sign  of  appreciation. 

Yakira and Rosemary receiving  gifts  from  kids as Jane assists.

Sharing some light  moment with the kids

The  second  stop  was  at  Mugombwa  parish,  in  this  area  we  managed  to visit  the  pre-school  and  primary  school classrooms  only a  few. A  school  that  has  a  level  of  P1-P6  accommodating  1107  pupils. 
While  the  pre-school  section  is  composed  with  3  classes. It  was  sensational  moment  because  I  still  remember  sang  by   the  pre-school  pupils  known  as  “Ayi   pepeta” .  

Later  on  a  service  memorial  was  held  in  tribute  to  Sean  Mazimpaka  at  the  parish  chapel, bringing  along  all  the  pupils  and  their  teachers. The  service a  bit  sad moment  when  the  with  speeches  from  the parish  pastor , a  school teacher and  a  friend who  meet with  Sean during his one week  in Kigeme. They  all  shared  their  testimonies on  how  they  knew  sean  and  the  unforgettable  moment  they  had  together. After  the  moment  of  paying  tribute  to  the  late  Sean  now  a  beloved  brother  in Kigeme  the  school  administration  couldn’t  let  us  go  yet  because  they  gave  us  gifts  and  souvenirs  to  wrap  up  the  visit.

By  Runanira  Richmond

EMBRACE RWANDA

Arrival 

                                                   
 Eight  months after  the  passing of “Sean“Jean Claude Mazimpaka a committed fellow of  embrace Rwanda project. His mother  Rosemary  pais  continues  his  legacy. In a team of  three Rosemary  pais, Yakira  pais  and  Richmond  we  were accompanied  by  Francis the  coordinator at the diocese level  we  took a 3 hour ride trip to  meet  and  connect with the community beneficiaries of  the  Embrace  Rwanda  project.



Arriving  at Gikongoro town we  were welcomed by a group of  warm men and women at  the  hotel  to where we had a minute of silence  to pay tribute to Sean, later on we shared  some light moments  reflecting  on the  short  lived time with sean.

Day  one

 On this day,  the weather seemed to be a bit unpredictable but we went  to Kigeme. Just  another warm  afternoon we arrived  at  the  diocese  we got  welcomed  in room  filled with women  coincidentally  it  was on  women’s day. We  took one minute in remembrance of  Sean the women who knew him insisted to  hear  the  story  of  his  last  moments  on  before  he  passed. A moment that  wasn’t  so  easy  for  Rosemary  but  with  God’s  strength she  managed.

Among the issues  discussed on  a  round  table  include  the ongoing activities  of  the  healthy mums  project  and  the challenges  met  by the diocese  leaders, which included  some of their  members having  premature birth, plus  infant mortality. Without  forgetting  the  vocational  training  for women and  young  girls  who  failed  to  continue  their  studies or  idle  women. The  women were very  to  embrace  the tailoring  and sewing  school  that is soon to be opened at  Kigeme  Diocese bringing  students  from  all  other  parishes. As  explained  by the  Diocese  coordinator  Mr  Francis  this  project  is  expected  to impart skills  to the women  of  Gikongoro and  a  result  it  will raise  their  standards  of  living.