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SEPTEMBER 2011

NTUNGA HEALTH CENTRE

Wonderful things have happened since the last Newsletter in March when the plan to build this centre and the reasons for doing so were outlined.

We now have some £8,500 in place with a pledge from one of our local Rotary Clubs of £6000.00 over two years. There is also some interest from two European Clubs, which could result in a further £2500 or so, again via the first club mentioned. At this point I do not feel at liberty to mention the club by name, but I can express my immense gratitude for the work which has been undertaken on behalf of the orphans and sick people of Ntunga.

Fundraising presses on apace with a supper and slide show of the work being done in Rwanda on 15^th October at Wivenhoe Congregational Church. The cost is £5.00 and tickets are available if you call 01206 393022. This promises to be a really good evening.

In addition to the funding of the project, some marvelous practical aid has been offered via an international company of structural engineers, consultants, planners and designers who have done several projects in Africa. They have offered to give us some advice on this Health Centre building, which has been enthusiastically received. Again, I am reluctant to mention their name until this has been cleared by them but I have received great encouragement from them. Meetings and discussions are still ongoing and I hope to move this forward in the near future.

This is a wonderful project and the largest Engalynx has ever undertaken.

Additionally in July I visited the Wivenhoe Scout & Cubs group who have funded the school fees for a poor student at the Ecole de Science for the 2011/12 year. Once again, this is such a generous thing and makes a great difference to the person involved. Next time I visit I shall make sure that I meet the young boy and talk with him.

A Vote Of Thanks To All The Wonderful Friends And

Supporters Of Engalynx.

Please remember that I can turn ANY, even tiny amounts of, foreign cash into Sterling for our funds. Please check any old wallets, bags or the back of drawers – I am amazed at what I manage to find in the oddest places! Also, if you have any odd broken pieces of gold or silver, may be the odd earring or bit of chain, these too can be turned into funds. On its own, it may be too small to be bothered with but many bits make a good lot.

ENGALYNX

CHANGING LIVES OF RWANDAN ORPHANS

Newsletter

NUMBER: 20 DATE: March 2011

This year more Newsletters/Bulletins have come from my “pen”. I am including in this Newsletter copy from the February Bulletin – I am not certain this made it to everyone on the circulation list.

Unexpectedly I needed to return to Rwanda at very short notice - I did not book my ticket until 22nd February and left on 2nd March. I dare not go now without letting my friend and Trustee, Ruth, know - she also loves the country and the people! She had 24 hours notice to arrange leave and confirm with me. When I originally enquired, there were only 9 seats left on the flight so she had to make a quick decision. Anyway she decided to go. We were only there for 8 nights, arriving back in Norwich on the morning of the 11th - literally a flying trip but what a good one! No wasted time on this trip and it certainly made up for the problems met with in October. The wonderful news is that we visited with the Secretaire Executive of Mwulire District in the Eastern Sector regarding a possible Health Centre and this is where we shall start.

HEALTH CENTRE

Meeting with the Executive Secretary, Sebatware Olivier, (in Rwanda the Christian name is always given second – at my hotel I am always called “Bambridge”!) in Ntgunda, Mwulire was a real pleasure. We were introduced by Francois Gishoma, our contact though the Diabetes Centre (who seems to know everyone), our questions were answered quickly and efficiently and we were taken to see two possible sites for building. I preferred the site which faces onto the tarmac road; the site has a water and electric supply already available to it.

The plans are supplied according to the Ministry of Health requirements, a copy of which is now in our possession. It was agreed with the Local Authority that we are able to proceed on a staged basis and we shall begin with building one block. The funds needed for the one block are in the region of £26,000 so we have a great challenge ahead. My main concern was that of staffing but the Ministry of Health will undertake this once the block is built. If we can build the first block, I am hopeful of involving other NGOs to continue with building others. For this we need your prayers and fundraising.

The following facts are significant in this project: The population of Mwulire is 18,939 with 4434 in Ntunga. There is not a health centre in the district. Villagers from Ntunga have to walk 10kms.,withpeople from many other places,walking up to 15kms, to a clinic in another district. I am now working on a proposal to submit to various trusts but we need to show that we are raising money ourselves.

COPY FROM FEBRUARY BULLETIN

Since my return from Rwanda in October, I do not seem to have stopped. The Charity seems to have taken on a mind of its own! Ruth and I arrived back on the 16^th October with many things to tidy up and I left again on 7^th November to Ravenscar.

I was attending a Celebration of the Faith at the Raven Hall Hotel combined with doing a fund-raiser for Engalynx. We had planned a mid-week lunch and sale of Rwandan crafts and, as always, this was very well supported. In addition, I was presented with a cheque from the R.A.O.B. for £100.00. I am so grateful for the support the members of this cluster of Churches, and the visitors to the Celebration of the Faith, give to the charity on a regular basis. This was a wonderful week, the highlight being the evening spent with Don MacLean as our after-dinner speaker.

The introduction of Lawford Primary School with Mwulire Primary School in the Eastern Region of Rwanda, has produced funding for some fifteen goats for the poorest, most vulnerable children in the village. This money has been sent, goats purchased and pictures sent to us.

I have been introduced to King Edward IV School in Bury St. Edmunds, where the students are very interested in Rwanda. The Rwandan Olympics Team for 2012 are staying and undertaking pre-games training in Bury St. Edmunds, so interest by the Local Authority and Businesses is keen. I shall shortly be visiting a primary school near Haverhill, again with the intention of linking them with a school in Rwanda.

I have met with Scouts leaders in Wivenhoe and hope to link groups in Rwanda with those in Wivenhoe.

Experience does teach one! The prospect of building a school in Ntgunda will not now go ahead – checks revealed that I had not been given the correct information. However, the Local Authority has indicated that a Health Centre would be a great help to the poorer and more vulnerable members of the community. Like everywhere, if you have the money you can soon visit a Health Centre but the widows and orphans do not come into that category. I am waiting costs and plans, and then I will visit to inspect what is required. The Health Centre will be our big challenge for 2011.

I have also done several talks and sales of Rwandan Crafts and this next week (w.c. Feb. 7^th) I will be at King Edward IV School where they are running a Rwanda week. All of this is so encouraging.

MWUlIRE SCHOOL. - This school has been linked with Highfields Primary School in Lawford , and I hope that this linking will be a happy one for some time ahead. A donation of £500.00 was given to me to be used in educational purposes. This money is being spent on uniforms, books, pens, shoes and school bags for children who do not have these things at the school. There are 142 such children at the school and this will provide these goods for 33 pupils. An additional £502.00 has been raised by Little Thurlow Primary School, which will also be given to these children. Both these schools are Church of England schools with highly enthusiastic pupils.

I look forward to a long term relationship with this school which will be of benefit to both Mwulire and Lawford/Little Thurlow.

DIABETIC ORPHANS TRAINING - On our first day, we visited the hairdressing salon where we have 10 girls training. We paid £120.00 each for the girls to be given a future – what wonderful value!

We learned how the girls manage to dress that beautifully braided hair – I was very tempted to purchase the lengths and have mine done but fair and jet black would not be a good look! In any case, I really did not want to give Mike a heart attack at the airport. The course is over

We saw how the girls manage to dress that beautifully braided hair – I was very tempted to purchase the lengths and have mine done but fair and jet black would not be a good look! In any case, I really did not want to give Mike a heart attack at the airport. The course is over six months and teaches all aspects of hairdressing.

On my October visit I saw the young people training in the art of making “banana” cards. I ordered 200 Easter cards but they had only managed 140 with the balance made of Christmas and blank cards (probably stock!). The Easter cards sold out immediately in the Cluster churches in North Yorkshire – I shall need to make my own this year!! Thank you again to our Scarborough friends and I shall order many more for next year! I have already warned them for Christmas but we need to check the cost of postage, normally I visit and am able to collect.

RUGAGI CELL - It is some years now since I met Pastor Norman. He has been working in the above village where Engalynx has, in the past, supplied school fees and health insurance for orphan children. Also a donation toward a water tap for the village. This trip Ruth and I visited the village and saw for ourselves the poverty which, when linked with the remote, mountain location, is desperate. After discussion with the cell leader, I left money for the purchase of six goats for the widows and agreed to rent a house in the process of being built to use as a small training centre. Here we shall train in tailoring to begin with and then review the situation.

GIKONDO - At long last we have sorted out the final task in this area – the erection of the water tank holder. This has been welded by “our” trained boys and means that the cell (area) now has a continuous supply of water and the widow we set up with the water business has a more secure future. Ten of the Engalynx tailoring trainees have now set up a co-operative and have obtained at least one contract for school uniforms. We are helping them to obtain some more funding and trust that the whole of this project should now run autonomously.

FUNDRAISING - Unfortunately, due to a lack of support I had to cancel this function. Whilst this is very disappointing, I do realise that “times are hard” so maybe we shall look at more modest

Fundraisers. Any ideas would be most welcome as well as the offers to undertake any such “do”. I do carry a stock of artefacts from Rwanda and am very happy to visit and set up stall at any venue.

THANKS - My sincere thanks go to all those people who have supported and helped me over the years the charity has been operating – thirteen years this coming May. This includes congregations of the Cloughton Cluster of Churches , Scarborough, the Congregational Church, Wivenhoe, the Congregational Church, Colchester, St. Lawrence’s Church, Bradfield, Mistley Parish Church, members of the Harwich and Manningtree Methodist Circuit (I know this is not strictly correct terminology any more!), Rotary Clubs, especially Manningtree Stour Valley, Highfields Primary School and Little Thurlow Primary School, King Edwards VI School, Bury St. Edmunds, the Trustees of the charity for their unstinting personal support, and all the individuals who faithfully support the work in all ways.

THANK YOU.

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:

Maralyn Bambridge on 01206 393022.

ADDRESS: 35 BIRCH DRIVE, BRANTHAM, SUFFOLK. CO11 1TG

e-mail: maralyn.bambridge@yahoo.com

ENGALYNX

CHANGING LIVES OF RWANDAN ORPHANS

NUMBER: 19 Newsletter DATE: OCTOBER 2010

Welcome to this newsletter which follows our latest visit to Rwanda. Unfortunately, due to personal circumstances, I have been unable to arrange any fundraisers this year. I have been able to speak at various venues about the work being done in Rwanda, thus raising some much needed money. Our friends in Scarborough have continued their good work for Engalynx, for which I am extremely grateful. Rwanda is such a beautiful country and the people are so courteous and friendly – when I arrive at the Beausejour, where I stay in Kigali, I am greeted like family and indeed this year Ruth Gurney and I were invited to a wedding party representing the family of the husband, who is from Germany. What a wonderful time we had – I have video of traditional dancers!

Where do I start this time? How about Addis Ababa airport? Wow! What a difference a few years make. The last time I flew via Addis Ababa was 2003 and the airport was small with nothing to do whilst waiting connections. A drink was about all that could be managed. Now the airport has everything you might need and is very light, airy and spacious. Congratulations to Ethiopia.

Our itinerary was sent into freefall on the afternoon we arrived. I telephoned to confirm a planned meeting for 09.30 on the Monday to discover that Norman was away until Friday – he had a family bereavement. We decided to spend the day in Kigali City. We went to one of our favourite cafes for coffee. Called Amy’s it is situated right in the centre of the city and has a raised terrace. Our coffee eventually arrived and it was delicious. Two mouthfuls in, a young man came up to me, showed me his bank book or passport, I’m not sure which, and then picked up my cup of coffee. He slowly raised it to his lips and took a sip after which he handed it back to me! Obviously I gave him the coffee and started to pour another one into the flask cup. The locals soon sorted this out for me and the waitress brought me a clean cup and saucer. The next thing we saw the man taking the cup away and trying to hitch a ride on a motorcycle taxi. Makes life interesting.

Walking along one of the Boulevards in the City I heard a terrible noise of what I thought was birds crowing in the trees. We were amazed to see hundreds of bats, quite large ones, roosting in the trees and then flying around. What a sight! We were let down again the following morning when our appointment did not arrive – well, things could only get better!!

DIABETIC TRAINING CENTRE

Last year I met with Francois Gishoma who founded and runs the Rwandan Diabetic Association for Children. Diabetes is second only to Malaria as the largest killer of children in Rwanda. This is due to malnutrition and the fact that the diabetes is not diagnosed. The Association cares for children from birth to 25 years and has trained nurses specifically to work with diabetic children.

This year they have opened a training centre for the children who have not been able to attend classes. We were invited to visit and the following morning we set off with Francois and his son, Crispin, to visit the training centre in Murire. This is about 25 miles from Kigali. The centre trains children with diabetes in tailoring skills and handicrafts. These trainees are either from very poor homes or are orphans and very vulnerable. Without this Association they would not have access to the treatment and medicine that they need. The training courses run for six months and take the form of tailoring and, from October, some craft training. Next March it is hoped that Engalynx will be able to purchase some treadle sewing machines for the centre. When the young people are trained, they are given the machine they have trained on to take home in order to obtain paid work. My cousin, who has a great interest in sewing, among many other things, gave me some 90 varied needles for sewing machines which have been passed onto the Association. This is a new project for Engalynx which will be followed with interest.

GIKONDO

The project with the small businesses is still progressing. At the meeting held with the participants it was good to hear of their success, although, as ever, there is always more to be done. The main project now is to erect a stand for a large water tank which will enable the water business to prosper and bring aid to the whole community. Pending confirmation, this will cost about £300.

Some of our tailoring trainees have now formed a co-operative. They now need a particular type of sewing machine, costing about £125.00, together with an injection of capital to enable them to compete for contracts. This will be in the form of a loan, the arrangements for which I have yet to sort. Certainly the traditional banks will not help!

The football team are playing well and were delighted with the medals which we were able to present to them. They do now need football boots as they play barefoot whilst their opponents are shod! If anyone has boots and junior strips to spare, please do let me know.

The welders are now fully trained; one is working with the trainer whilst the others have found work elsewhere. We are now looking for some welding equipment to ship out!

ECOLE DE SCIENCE, GISENYI

Our work with this wonderful school continues. On my first visit to the school in 2003, they did not have any modern text books, only one monocular microscope between 800 pupils, the most appalling kitchen and dining room, dormitories and toilets unimaginable to Western minds, no computers, and my office in our smallest bedroom was absolutely luxurious compared to that of the Headmaster’s!

Engalynx, with the help of Rotary, provided three ex NHS binocular microscopes and, once the school had been recognised by one registered charity, others begin to respond! As a direct result of the microscopes, another NGO set up a computer room. This was followed by a gift from yet a different NGO of a new dining hall and kitchen. The Government has built a new dormitory for the girls and is just completing the boy’s dormitory. There is a library, many more microscopes and generally much better equipment. However, some of the equipment is still somewhat Heath-Robinson! How that school has come on – it is now a “reference school” in Rwanda offering training courses for other teachers.

Following the visit of a friend who volunteered to work for three weeks at the school, she has obtained some much needed consumables for them. Both she and I spent time with the pupils and found them to be extremely interested in the world beyond Rwanda, especially England. They find it very difficult to understand the concept of a Royal family but not a President, especially the fact that our Queen does not have any political power.

This school is a fee-paying school but there are fifty-eight orphans who have great difficulty in obtaining their fees, stationery etc. In addition there are children with parents who struggle to pay for their children’s education and again there are uniforms, stationery etc. We are trying to supply pens, pencils, rulers, protractors etc. for these children together with vegetable seeds to grow their own produce. The school now has a few cows to provide milk. We have now provided a total of 40 tubular steel bunk beds for the boy’s dormitory and are still raising funds for a further 30! The photo shows the state of the existing beds:

GIFT IDEAS