Archive for 2010
Murabeho Rwanda!!
Tweet I am re-posting because I was reminded of something as I was walking home, my apologies for the re-post. So, today is November 30, 2010. I have been here for 5 months and today is my last day in Rwanda. Rwanda has treated me quite well, I don’t think I could have asked for [...]
Murabeho Rwanda!!
Tweet So, today is November 30, 2010. I have been here for 5 months and today is my last day in Rwanda. Rwanda has treated me quite well, I don’t think I could have asked for better (well maybe if that thief did not steal my phone out of my hand). I am writing this [...]
CSC “Road Show” – Working to establish In-country partnerships
Tweet Another week, another challenge, right? Well, for CSC this is most definitely the case. Right now the children are out of school on their holiday break, and much of my focus has been working to secure in-country funding to sustain CSC’s future as an established center. I’ve become a little worried with CSC’s financial [...]
Where did the vegetables go to get a few drinks? The salad bar.
Tweet For the last two weeks the children are in the final weeks of school. They have their national exams in 5 subjects: English, Math, Science, Social Studies and Kiyarwanda. It has been a little bit of a stressful week because these marks could determine if these students pass onto the next grade. Because some [...]
Celebrate our Successful Summer in Rwanda!
Tweet Come celebrate with us this Wednesday, September 29 at the Pourhouse in Midtown New York from 6-10pm!
Volunteer Amy B. shares her experience in Rwanda
Tweet Special Blog-guest Amy B. shares her experience about traveling to Africa and volunteering at Hope Shines’ camp at Pamasor. Thanks for sharing Amy! She says… I have to admit I was a little scared. I pride myself on being adventurous and somewhat fearless, but these kids had me just a little nervous…….. I first started [...]
In Twenty Years…
Tweet Last week we had an entire week of math lessons. I have observed that the children have been a little restless lately so I tried to infuse a little competition and creativity into the lessons. Although I have limited formal teaching experience, and as stated on my Hope Shines biography, I do find myself [...]
Donate Continental Frequent Flyer Miles to Hope Shines & Help Us Save Money!
Tweet We are launching a campaign to receive Continental Airlines OnePass Miles! Our airline tickets to Rwanda usually cost over $2,000 each – that's SO MUCH MONEY! Just imagine what Hope Shines can do with the money saved when booking tickets using your donated airline miles . . . we can do A LOT for our [...]
“Step by Step”
Tweet Greetings from Kigali, all! I have just hit the 2 month anniversary from my arrival, and there has been a lot of progress with the center and the children of CSC. Firstly, the children have fairly recently returned from their holiday and it has been a tad confusing figuring out each individual child’s school [...]
Kathleen Flying Solo
Tweet It has been a week since April has left me, Kathleen, flying solo in Kigali. It’s been quite a ride this last week, settling into my new house and neighborhood, tirelessly learning Kinyarwanda in order to get around, working hard to kick-off Hope Shines’ after-school English language curriculum, and a little time for leisure. [...]
Football & Demonstrating Leadership
Tweet (Preface: I will be using the term “football” as I refer to “soccer”. Since my stay here I’ve become very angry at the American who decided to use “football” for “American football” when in fact you use your hands. As I speak further “football” = “soccer”.) Last week we met with the manager of Esperance, an organization [...]
Megan’s Journey to the Land of a 1000 Hills.
Tweet Guest blogger Megan, who volunteered at the Pamasor Camp, writes: It is hard to believe that a mere two weeks ago I was still sitting on a hotel patio in Kigali, Rwanda. Less than a month ago I embarked on one of the biggest journeys of my life, leaving my life in the Big [...]
The String Game Revelation.
Tweet As an update on the result of our AIDS/HIV discussion (see prior blog post, “Day 2: Afternoon Session: Health and Heroes”) we are jumping ahead to share some of the comments the girls made about it on the last day of camp, Friday, July 30th. Hope Shines CSC Camp 2010 AIDS/HIV Discussion had a [...]
Day 2: Afternoon Session: Heroes and Health
Tweet Guest blogger Dr. Stephanie Chu… Our Second Annual AIDS/HIV Discussion with the orphans of CSC began this year by having the children identify their heroes. The girls were at Activities where they were asked to draw pictures of their heroes today and then draw pictures of themselves 10-years from now and how their heroes [...]
“This is My Flag, This is My Country”
Tweet Day 2 at CSC was a very action packed day! But for now, let’s just talk about what we did in the AM. We will post another blog about the afternoon session bc that deserves to stand on its own! We started out w the boys at Activities and the girls at Sports. In [...]
Glasses needed ASAP
Tweet After completing the medical physicals we became aware that TWO children are almost blind in one eye and are in desperate need of glasses ASAP. How can they do well in school if they can’t see the blackboard? If anyone can get a hold of these two or one of the prescriptions pls notify [...]
Great start to the week! Camp #2 at CSC!
Tweet Today we launched our third annual camp with CSC. It was a little crazy in the AM handing out t’s, water bottles and getting all of the supplies ready for the first activities….but all that we can handle. What made it so much more chaotic was that we were dealing with a final desperate attempt to get some of the [...]
Reading Telescope and Bingo at Pamasor
Tweet One of our favorite educational activities to do with the children is one we developed called “Reading Telescope and Bingo”. It involves creativity when they make and decorate a paper telescope and speaking, reading, spelling and identifying everyday objects in English. With this one activity we try to tap into every possible way a child can learn. Everyone [...]
First Camp – First Update!
Tweet It is always a little bit confusing to the kids when they first attend one of our camps b/c what we do is so radically different from what they are used to. At Pamasor, the site of our first camp, the kids were a little reserved at first but it took them no time [...]
Keeping Our Word
Tweet The cornerstone of Hope Shines is keeping our promise to the children we work with. When we say, “see you next summer”, we do everything to make it happen. Recently, the center which we’ve worked with since 2008 under went a very trying time and had to dissolve; start anew. Financially, CSC has been [...]
Supplemental Education – Why it is so Important
Tweet I have officially completed my first week of observing and teaching English at CSC (“Children’s Support Center”) in Nyamirambo. Although I am still learning, this week has been monumental in establishing a comprehensive Hope Shines program with these children. I’ve started to see first-hand the need we are trying to address. Firstly, I’d like [...]
The End of Week One!
Tweet Today marks the last day of week one! We have made a lot of progress since we have landed! I have been spending most of my time at CSC teaching the children English lessons and April has been working very hard arranging all of the logistics for the first camp at PAMASOR (which begins [...]
First Week on the Ground for 2010 Hope Shines Camps
Tweet Hello all Hope Shines followers! April and I (Kathleen) have arrived in Kigali and have been working hard on the ground to prepare all the logistics involved with making our 2010 camps a success! We have met with the administration of both PAMASOR (“peace village”) and CSC (“children’s support center”). They fully support our [...]
