Who We Are
GIFTS Rwanda's mission is to follow the lead of the locals in Rugarika, Rwanda, responding only when invited, to help make real, sustainable change in the village and encourage and support abundant, joyful filled lives.
We do this through creating jobs, housing, schooling, food, and much more. This produces work and economic growth, made possible through the generous donations of our constituents.
We are on a mission to encourage generous giving to promote scalable development. GIFTS Rwanda is unique because we were invited by those we wish to serve, and the work is done by the locals - creating jobs and economic growth. The village we serve is filled with some of the most inspiring people you’d ever want to meet. Their stories of perseverance, faith, and forgiveness are examples for us all. GIFTS Rwanda is run by a team in both Rwanda and the United States.
Our Rwanda team consists of:
We are on a mission to encourage generous giving to promote scalable development. GIFTS Rwanda is unique because we were invited by those we wish to serve, and the work is done by the locals - creating jobs and economic growth. The village we serve is filled with some of the most inspiring people you’d ever want to meet. Their stories of perseverance, faith, and forgiveness are examples for us all. GIFTS Rwanda is run by a team in both Rwanda and the United States.
Our Rwanda team consists of:
- Brigitte Mukanyandwi
- Paterne Habinshuti
- Pastor Faustin Ruhirwa
Brigitte with husband Jerome
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Paterne with wife Gisele
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Our US team consists of:
- Sharon Shelton: Director
- Annie Mills: Project & Development Manager
- Karina Alvarez: IT & Digital Marketing
- Alan Shelton
- Aaron Mills
- Darla Bauer
- Laura Shelton
- Sheryl Jones
How GIFTS Rwanda began:
In August of 2014, Sharon and Karina traveled to Rwanda with several goals in mind. First, was to meet a young student, Souzane Bizumutima, who we have sponsored for two years through the Duha Peace Family organization, which a friend formed as she lived and worked with an organization called REAP, (Rwanda Education Assistance Program). We were thrilled to meet Souzane and to get to know her better. She is beautiful, a very hard worker, and is thriving in her high school, focusing on construction. We even got to meet her beautiful mother, father, brother, and sisters, and felt very blessed.
In August of 2014, Sharon and Karina traveled to Rwanda with several goals in mind. First, was to meet a young student, Souzane Bizumutima, who we have sponsored for two years through the Duha Peace Family organization, which a friend formed as she lived and worked with an organization called REAP, (Rwanda Education Assistance Program). We were thrilled to meet Souzane and to get to know her better. She is beautiful, a very hard worker, and is thriving in her high school, focusing on construction. We even got to meet her beautiful mother, father, brother, and sisters, and felt very blessed.
Sharon walking with child in the village during initial visit to Rwanda in August 2014.
We have many projects!
Sponsor a student, build a house, buy a farm animal. We have lots of options, and there's always something new!
Sponsor a student, build a house, buy a farm animal. We have lots of options, and there's always something new!
