Turiga Icyongereza! (We are learning English)

It seems that everywhere you go in Rwanda these days, people are eager to learn English. Not only has the country recently changed its official language from French to English, but with the steady growth of the tourism industry there has also been an influx of English-speaking tourists from countries like America and England. While students now learn English in class every day, it can be more difficult for other segments of the population to find opportunities to study their new official language: adult learners, those who have already completed their studies, those who never went to school, those who work full-time, etc. That’s why, in an effort to address this, we recently launched adult English lessons for the staff here at Imbabazi. Each week, our gardeners, orphanage mamas, guards, and cooks enter the Imbabazi classroom with their notebooks and pencils in hand (made possible thanks to donations of from visitors) along with an enthusiastic “good afternoon teacher!” 


 For 2 hours each week, we go over material such as the alphabet, greetings, numbers, and vocabulary related to work at the orphanage. Although 2 hours a week is not a lot of time when it comes to learning a new language, students are often spotted around the orphanage studying together during their breaks and even practicing their English with visitors! Thanks to their enthusiasm and hard work, they can now introduce themselves, count to 100, and describe daily activities in English after just one month of class. We hope to build on this success by working on a community outreach initiative, including activities such as English teacher workshops at the local primary school and English/literacy classes for adults in the community. Stay tuned!

The Refectoire Gets a Facelift

Life is never dull at the Imbabazi, thanks in part to the steady stream of visitors we receive each week. People from all over the world brave the 7 km. of rocky terrain to tour our gorgeous gardens, chat with the kids, and learn more about the amazing life and legacy of Roz Carr. Many times, these visitors also come with a desire to lend a helping hand. This help comes in a variety of forms, from making a donation to playing a game of soccer with the kids to teaching a photography workshop to doing a small volunteer project.

We recently welcomed a group of high school students who wanted to lend a BIG helping hand from Benilde – St. Margaret’s School in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. These students came to Rwanda for 2 weeks this summer in connection with their school’s course on Genocide & Social Justice, 1 week of which was dedicated to volunteering with people directly affected by the events of 1994. The Imbabazi was one such project, and for a few hours a day for one week, they came to help us give the refectoire (dining & multi-purpose room) and boys’ bedroom a much-needed new coat of paint. 6 jerry cans of paint, 8 walls, 2 ceilings, and countless paintbrushes later, the two rooms look better than ever! The collaboration between the kids of Imbabazi and the students from Minnesota not only resulted in a more beautiful orphanage, but was also a lot of fun! Thanks again to the students and chaperones of Benilde – St. Margaret’s School!