Weeks 4 & 5 – How Time Flies!

So we’ve already reached the ICS halfway point…we can hardly believe how quickly the last 5 weeks have gone!  And yet we also feel like we’ve been here in Muhanga and living at Azizi Life for a long time because we’ve grown so comfortable and familiar with them – they are definitely feeling like home.

So much has happened in the previous 5 weeks, and the last 2 weeks have been no exception.  We’ve been doing our usual activities: teaching at English Club, playing games with the local children, singing in church, and helping at Compassion which on Saturday, involved getting completely covered in glitter “germs” to teach about how to cover your sneeze!

Isaie showing Debs how to drum Rwandan-style at Compassion

Beth teaching how to give directions at English Club

Playing "Isaie Says...", a variant on Simon Says!

But we’ve also been up to a lot of other things…

In these last two weeks, we’ve turned our hands to film-making!  Jean Pierre Rukundo Methode is a local pastor who, in 2012, set up Second Chance RukundoMinistries to help vulnerable people in his local area, Ruhango District.  We are making a short documentary which will be shown by Jean Pierre’s friends in the Netherlands and Germany in order to help raise awareness and funds for the organisation.

Some of the beneficiaries of Second Chance Rukundo Ministries

Jean-Pierre (in his Dutch hat!) helping in the knitting class

We were able to visit the programmes that are run (vocational skills trainings, and counselling groups) as well as attend an extremely long (!) service at Jean Pierre’s church.  The story behind why Jean Pierre set up Second Chance Rukundo Ministries is interesting – he, himself, had a difficult childhood, at one point living rough on the streets, but through the love and care of his grandmother (and the grace of God!) his life was turned around, and a few years ago he was even able to study in Amsterdam.  He has recognised that it is now within his power to help others who are socially vulnerable, such as those with HIV/Aids, single mothers, and ex-prisoners who are trying to re-integrate into society.

One of the sewing classes

Week 4 also saw us spend a lot of time doing office work, planning and preparation.  We were assisting RDIS in preparing promotional materials for their fuel-efficient stoves and ceramic water filters projects which are being implemented in various villages in the region as part of the Ending Poverty One Village at a Time programme, funded in part by Tearfund and by the Scottish Government. It’s important that the communities are informed of the value of the stoves and the water filters so that they are encouraged to benefit from them.  Both have the ability to improve living standards- the stoves, by providing a safer, cleaner, more efficient means of cooking; and the water filters, by purifying water so that it is safe and hygienic to drink.

But RDIS are also keen to receive feedback on the projects and so another of our activities was to develop a questionnaire survey suitable to ask beneficiaries of the fuel-efficient stoves, in both English and Kinyarwanda.  In Week 5 we then had the privilege of being able to conduct these surveys in three areas – Gisagara and Nyamagabe in the south of Rwanda, and Biringaga which is close to Muhanga – so we feel like we’ve seen a bit more of this beautiful country as we’ve spent a lot of time on the road in the RDIS minibus with our trusty driver, Freddie!

Claude, with one of the questionnaires he helped to write

Once we were in the communities, we split into 4 pairs (one UK volunteer, and one Rwandan volunteer, with help from our facilitator, John, and the project manager, Fulgence) and conducted a total of 42 interviews with beneficiaries in their own homes.  This was an eye-opener for all of us. Entering poor rural households, meeting and talking to people, and seeing and hearing how they live was such a personal experience.  Many of the families we met will usually only eat three foodstuffs – beans, sweet potatoes and Irish potatoes – and until they received the Canarumwe stove, they were cooking outside on a traditional 3-stone stove.  It was humbling to hear that some families cannot afford rice at 700 RWF (about 70 pence) per kilogramme.  Until that point, I don’t think we appreciated quite how much we have by comparison with much of the Rwandan population.  It really brought home the difference between what we truly need (merely the basics of shelter, food and water), and what we think we need which are actually luxuries to many people.

One of the ladies we interviewed, using her Canarumwe stove

Some of the children we met whilst interviewing!

This next week we will be analysing the data we collected from the surveys in order to write an evaluation report for RDIS.  This will hopefully assist them in improving the project as it continues to be implemented in the future.

And now, to a few personal highlights of the last 5 weeks:

Amy: I loved meeting the children at Zion Hill Nursery during our first week here.  It really gave me a boost of confidence when they were so excited to see us! But another experience that I won’t forget is conducting the stoves surveys.  It was humbling to be allowed into people’s homes, but also inspiring to hear how the stoves they had received were making such a big impact on their lives.  It really brought home how valuable the work of RDIS is, and how much of a privilege it is to have the opportunity to be involved!

Debs: Getting to know the team has been a highlight of ICS for me so far.  We are such a diverse bunch, and not just because we’re either British or Rwandan!  But we have a lot of fun and laughter together and it’s been great to share and learn from one another.

The girls enjoying some of the sunny weather

Claude: Before ICS, I completed a degree in Development Studies and so it has been great to experience first-hand how an NGO implements development programmes.  Meeting the beneficiaries’ of RDIS’ stoves project was, for me, a real highlight as it took me beyond the theory that I learnt at university to actually seeing the reality.  And the reality is good!

Meeting some of the many friendly local children whilst out on a walk

Mya: There are so many things I love in Rwanda!  The fruit is so good (especially our cooks’ special fruit salad!), and we see so many animals when we are out, my favourites being the baby goats and the big-horned cows which are really valued in the country.  I have also really loved meeting and playing with the children – they are always so friendly and happy to see us!

Delicious fruit salad, complete with banana, pineapple, mango, passion fruit and tree tomato

Isaie: Through being part of the ICS team, I have had the opportunity to improve my English speaking skills.  Amy has been teaching me a lot of English idioms including “can I give you a hand?”!  I’ve also really enjoyed using a computer as we’ve helped RDIS with various office work, so I’ve been able to improve my computing skills as well.

Beth: Like for many of the others, meeting and interviewing people in their own homes when we were conducting the stoves surveys has been a highlight, but I also want to mention how much I have enjoyed team times…ICS is all about living and working in a cross-cultural team and we’ve had a lot of fun, including playing endless rounds of Uno as we compete to be crowned Uno Champion!  The winner will be revealed in Week 10…

The team, all ready to start interviewing (from L to R: Isaie, Debs, Beth, Mya, Amy, Claude)

Thanks for reading!  We would be so grateful of your prayers in the next 5 weeks, for the health and safety of the team as we continue in our work, and that we would make the most of every opportunity to be a blessing in all that we do and to all that we meet.  We are determined to finish well!

With love to one and all at home,

Team ICS Muhanga

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