NEWS LETTERS

ENGALYNX 

 News Letter October 2009

Welcome to the latest issue of our occasional newsletter.  Since January we have continued to move forward with our various projects, which are reported below.  Our main fundraiser this year was the HMS Victor trip, which was great success raising over £700 for our funds.  This money went directly to supplying beds for Gisenyi School whilst a donation of £770 in August is purchasing beds for the girl’s school in Gikondo.  We also enjoyed an open day held Birch Drive

showing the work being done on a power point presentation on my laptop and selling goods from Rwanda.  This raised over £100.00.  We are also fortunate to have some regular contributors who donate between £5.00 and £10.00 each month, for which I do thank them.

In September Mike and I went to Ravenscar again, where I was able to speak at the Celebration of the Faith service and also have a sale on Bank Holiday Monday.  This event raised just over £300.00.  Fundraising is an ongoing battle, especially in this recession but I am so very grateful to all who support the charity – every pound counts!

PROJECT UPDATES

1.     Science School, Gisenyi.

We have supported this school since my first visit in 2003.  The school has a total of 713 pupils, 567 of whom are boarders; this splits into 388 boys and 179 girls who stay during term time.  With help from our local Rotary club our first major donation was three microscopes, which are still cherished by staff and pupils alike.  Our latest donation is of eight bunk beds, making a total of 31 beds and 40 mattresses donated.  Whilst the girl’s dormitory has been completely renovated, the boy’s are still waiting completion of a new building.  This should be finished by Christmas and will take seventy two beds.  Currently, many of the boys are sleeping four to a double bunk!  Having the new building under construction, it would be wonderful if we could raise the funds for the remaining 41 bunk beds needed.

For their Harvest offering the Over Sixties Club from Colchester Salvation Army collected a huge amount of new pencils, pens, erasers etc. which were received by the Director with much enthusiasm. 

The school has progressed wonderfully, becoming recognised by the Education Ministry as a “reference school”.  On a visit to the Mont Joli Rotary Club in Kigali I was asked to give a presentation regarding the work done by Engalynx.  I mentioned that my guest that evening, Ruth Gurney, a trustee of Engalynx, and I had visited the school and that the charity enjoyed a good relationship with the School Director, Damian Sebugawanda.  The Club Secretary, who works in the Ministry of Education, immediately confirmed that the school had achieved special status and that the School Director has an excellent reputation.

This project falls into the Engalynx Mission Statement because, whilst they take in many pupils who pay for the accommodation, the director funds many poor pupils’ accommodation from his budget.  Our efforts in this school are greatly appreciated by all involved.  The school also runs a Pupils Association whereby the wealthier pupils help the poorer ones with various things they may need in school, such as toiletries as well as pens and pencils. The teachers would like to introduce their school to a “twin” in England, preferably one specialising in the sciences. They would like to be able to correspond and share experiences.  If you can help, please let me know.  

2.      Gikondo.

(a)  Small Businesses

In November/December 2008, twenty six widows with young children, one or more of whom is a street orphan, and no means of support, were set up in small businesses in the local market.  They sell a variety of goods including vegetables, cassava flour, beans, bananas, dried goods etc.  Out of the twenty six, only three have failed, one due to pregnancy and the others illnesses.  Six of the ladies have now teamed up in pairs and each pair has rented a small shop.  This has proved very successful and I am hoping that more will follow their example, as the competition in the market is very severe.

It is hoped to extend this scheme as finances allow.

(b)  Training.

(i)      Tailoring

Eighteen widows/orphans have completed a training course in tailoring and were presented with Engalynx certificates graded according to the trainer’s marking.  The event was made a special day for them as these people, because of the genocide and poverty, had not achieved anything in their lives.  The Sector Executive Secretary, Emmanuel Ruziga, Christine Mukamuhutu, Representative for Women’s Affairs,  the Cell (Parish Council) leader, Robert Kamuratsi from the British Embassy, Ruth Gurney and I, were all present.

The afternoon was quite formal with a Mistress of Ceremonies, who opened the proceedings by welcoming everyone and thanking them for sparing the time to be there.  She introduced each of us and then asked Christine to say a few words; following this the Executive Secretary spoke, and then I was asked to speak.  Looking round the room it was evident just how important the event was to them – everyone was turned out in the smartest clothes they possessed.  The certificates were presented by either Ruth Gurney or me together with Emmanuel Ruziga.  This was such an enjoyable morning both for the recipients and us.

Before we can put any more people through the course, we do need to find work for those who are already trained.  Normally, they would expect to have a machine each and work at their own homes taking in repairs, orders etc. But as we have only been able to purchase three machines, this is not possible.  We have requested the Local Authority to look for some premises where we can keep the girls together and if this becomes available, then we will purchase at least a further three machines.

(ii)  Welding

We took five street boys and persuaded a local welding business to train them.  Out of the five, only one dropped out, which is a great shame but, on the positive side, the other four have succeeded well. Three of the four boys have now found accommodation, one with a widow; the fourth prefers as yet to sleep where he can on the streets, probably due to a lack of trust. Meeting with the business owner who is training them, we are pleased to learn that he is prepared to keep the boys with him and take them beyond the basic training onto more complex work.  For this to happen, we do need to be able to place some work for beds with the firm.  We hope to be able to do this as part of our support for the Kimisange School in Gikondo District of Kigali.

(c)  Kimisange School

This was my second visit to the school, which is a newly built school.  The following extract from the last Newsletter explains our involvement:

The school in Gikondo is a new one, built by the Government so fees do not have to be paid.  However, the children must have uniforms, shoes, bags and exercise books.  Additionally, another Charity has built a dormitory for the girls.  The reason for this is that the pupils have to walk many miles to the school and the girls are particularly vulnerable on the journey.  The building therefore is to sleep girls only at this stage.  They need beds and these are what we shall try to raise funds for.

Children come to the school from the Gikondo District, which is one of the poorest suburbs of Kigali.  Pupils are keen to be at school and, once there, work hard and perform well.  If the pupils can be boarded, not only do they not have the long and risky walk to school but will also have the advantage of some time to use the library etc.  So far we have supplied four beds, eight mattresses, some blankets and are waiting to place an order for a further nine beds with the welder. (This is dependent on some facts needed from the Local Authority).  The urgent need for this school is for a total of 60 double bunk beds.

(d)   Football

The boys we kitted out football are still enjoying their game and they now do not have to pay for the use of the pitch.  In fact, our senior team won the district tournament.  They would like a trophy for this and, whilst in Ravenscar, I had two offers to supply one.  The Rev. Liz Kitching has kindly donated a trophy in memory of her friend, Jan. This will be kept by the winning team for 12 months but each member of the team will receive a certificate to keep for good.  I have discussed organising a girls' team to play volley ball but on a visit to Mont Joli Rotary Club I discovered that there are female football teams in Rwanda so will suggest this to the girls.  Strips may be a difficulty but I am sure we can resolve this.

3.      General

We met up with Dr. Zac Nsenga who was the Rwandan Ambassador in London when I started the charity in 1998.  The meeting was partly social, but also factual as there were some things I needed to check with him.  He now works in the Ministry of Defence in Kigali, having previously been the Rwandan Ambassador in Washington.  He was most helpful giving us several pointers with regard to some projects being looked at.  He assured me that I can e-mail him with any queries in the future.

We also met up with a member of the Ministry of Health team and with the head of the Diabetic Association and Clinics in Rwanda, Fishoma Francois.  Francois is also a member of the International Diabetic Association.  The Rwandan Association was started with a small amount of funding from CARATAS, a Catholic Church association in Rwanda.  Diabetes is one of the major health problems in Rwanda (malaria, of course, being the major problem, followed by HIV/AIDS), especially in poor children where the parents cannot afford either the medicine or the testing equipment needed to monitor blood sugar levels.  The clinic in Kigali serves the whole of Rwanda, keeping stocks of insulin etc.; it also works on a local basis serving 420 diabetics.  There are two other small clinics in the rest of the country.  Since being founded, the Association has initiated a training programme so that many hospitals have at least one nurse trained in diabetic care, some with a specialist doctor as well.  

The Clinics treat patients across the whole social structure, charging those who are “wealthy” the full cost, the less well off 50% and the poor receive the treatment, insulin etc. free of charge. There is, therefore, a need at the clinic for insulin, other diabetic medicines, glycometers, strips, education leaflets.  If anyone can help, I should be most grateful.

“FEEDING US TO FEED THEM”

I have compiled the above named book of African recipes, which is on sale at £5.75 plus P+P £1.00.  These recipes are tasty, different and are not over spicy.  I also have available Rwandan gifts and Christmas cards decorated with nativity scenes created from the “bark” of the banana tree.  All are made by widows/orphans with all profits being used for further projects.

PLEASE, PLEASE, ask ALL your friends, relatives, contacts for ANY foreign cash they may have left in their wallets, bags or at the back of drawers and to save their used stamps for me.  

I would ask you to remember that I am happy to speak to any group – please call me on 01206 393022.

If you would like any further information, please contact:

Registered Charity No 10099700