  Just days after we celebrated Shari's legacy together, we have the joy of sharing another beautiful reminder of what your generosity makes possible. Recently, Eric and Jacques received the keys to their new home. For these two remarkable young men, this moment represents so much more than a roof over their heads. It is the beginning of a future filled with safety, stability, and hope.   You may remember their story. Jacques endured the unimaginable after losing his mother to violence. His father is now serving a life sentence, and Jacques was separated from his siblings. For years, he has walked hours each day just to attend school. Eric recently lost his mother to cancer and has been living with his siblings and grandparents in extremely difficult conditions. Because of the incredible generosity of our supporters, a duplex home was built specifically for Eric and Jacques—a safe place where they can focus on their education, heal from their past, and begin building brighter futures. But today's celebration revealed something even more beautiful. As Eric, his siblings, and Jacques arrived at their new home, neighbors came to welcome them carrying baskets filled with freshly harvested produce. It was a simple yet powerful expression of love, compassion, and community. They weren't just receiving a house. They were being welcomed home.     That moment perfectly reflected the legacy Shari left behind. She believed every person deserves to be seen, loved, and surrounded by community. Today, that legacy was alive in every smile, every embrace, and every basket shared by neighbors eager to support these young men as they begin this new chapter. The impact of this home will extend far beyond Eric and Jacques. As they grow older and are able to establish homes of their own, this duplex will continue serving vulnerable children and mothers in the community for years to come, providing safety and hope for many more families. Your generosity didn't simply build walls and a roof. You built a place where healing can begin. You gave two young men the opportunity to dream again. And because of you, Shari's legacy of love continues to change lives.  Thank you for making stories like this possible. 
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 Together, We Did It! Because of you... We REACHED OUR GOAL!!! Campaign Goal: $18,000 Funding Need Already Committed: $10,000 Community Goal: Raise the remaining $8,000 And thanks to your incredible generosity... Together, we raised $8,000!  When we launched this campaign ten days ago, we did so in honor of our founder, Shari Shelton, and in response to a growing challenge. The mission hadn't changed. The cost had. What happened next was nothing short of inspiring. Because of you...
It is a reminder that Shari's vision continues to live through a community of people who believe every child deserves opportunity and every family deserves hope.  This Is Your Impact Over the past week, you've met mothers, grandmothers, and students whose lives have been transformed through GIFTS Rwanda. Their stories are different. But together they tell one powerful story: Hope continues because compassionate people choose to care. Every child sitting in a classroom... Every parent able to seek medical care... Every family looking toward the future with hope... is part of the legacy you are helping build. Thank You Whether you gave... Shared our campaign... Prayed for our ministry... Or encouraged others to get involved... Thank you. Every act of generosity made a difference. Because of you, Shari's mission continues. Because of you, lives will continue to be changed. Because of you, hope lives on.   One year ago, we honored the life of our founder, Shari Shelton. Today, we celebrate something just as important: Her mission is still changing lives. Because of compassionate supporters like you... Children are still attending school. Families still have access to healthcare. Hope continues to grow throughout the Rugarika community. That is Shari's legacy.  Look What We've Accomplished Together Because of a generous donor who committed $10,000 toward our funding need—and because of so many caring supporters—we are incredibly close to reaching our goal. Campaign Progress Raised so far: $7,044 Still needed: $956 Every gift today brings us one step closer to ensuring these life-changing programs continue for another year.  The Mission Hasn't Changed. The Cost Has. The children still need an education. Families still need healthcare. Hope still needs people willing to invest in it. Today is your opportunity to help ensure that Shari's vision continues changing lives long into the future. Whether your gift is large or small, every act of generosity helps build another chapter of her legacy. Together, we can ensure children continue learning, families continue receiving healthcare, and communities continue growing stronger. Thank you for believing in this mission. Thank you for remembering Shari. Most of all... Thank you for helping her legacy live on.  P.S. Today is the final day of our campaign. If you've been considering making a gift, there has never been a more meaningful time. Together, we can close the remaining gap and ensure children and families continue receiving the education and healthcare they depend on. Every gift makes a difference.
 Tomorrow marks the final day of our campaign to help close the remaining funding gap for school tuition and community health insurance in Rugarika, Rwanda. Over the past week, you've met students and families whose lives have been transformed through your generosity. Today, we'd like you to meet Gisele.  Gisele is 16 years old and in Primary 6. She lives with her mother, who has a disability and is unable to work. Without the support of GIFTS Rwanda, Gisele would not have been able to continue her education. Today, she's still in school because compassionate supporters chose to invest in her future. Gisele shared: "Today, with the support of GIFTS Rwanda, I have hope for a brighter future and am determined to succeed so I can one day support my family." Her words remind us why this campaign matters. Every child deserves the opportunity to dream. Every child deserves the chance to learn. Every child deserves someone who believes in them. The Mission Hasn’t Changed. The Cost Has. Tomorrow is the final day of our campaign. We're not raising money for a new project. We're making sure the children and families Shari Shelton cared so deeply about continue receiving the same education and healthcare that have transformed lives for years. Because rising costs have increased the cost of providing that support, we're working together to close one final funding gap. We're so close. If you've been considering making a gift, now is the perfect time. One year after Shari's passing, her vision continues to change lives—not because she is here, but because people like you continue the work she began. Thank you for believing in the children and families of Rugarika. Thank you for believing in hope. Her legacy lives on because of you.  P.S. Tomorrow is the final day of our campaign. Every gift made before the campaign ends will help ensure vulnerable children remain in school and families continue receiving community health insurance for the coming year. If you've been waiting for the right moment to give, this is it.
Healthcare Changes Everything: How Health Insurance Is Bringing Hope to Families in Rugarika7/14/2026  For families in Rugarika, Rwanda, health insurance means more than access to medical care. It means peace of mind, security, and the ability for children to stay healthy and continue their education. Thanks to the generosity of GIFTS Rwanda supporters, hundreds of families in our community have received health insurance — giving them access to care when they need it most. But health insurance is about more than a doctor’s visit. It gives children the chance to stay healthy. It helps them stay in school. It gives parents peace of mind.  Meet Jacqueline Jacqueline is one of the mothers whose family receives community health insurance through GIFTS Rwanda. Before her family had health insurance, she faced an impossible situation: “Whenever one of my two children became sick, we had to stay home because I couldn't afford medical care. It was heartbreaking to watch them suffer, knowing I couldn't get them the treatment they needed.” Today, because of GIFTS Rwanda, Jacqueline’s children can receive medical care when they are sick. She shared: “A child who is too sick to receive treatment cannot go to school. By helping families access healthcare, GIFTS Rwanda is also helping children stay in the classroom and build a brighter future.” This is why healthcare and education go hand in hand. A healthy child can learn. A child who can learn has more opportunities for the future.  Jacqueline’s story is one of many. Meet Lenia, a mother of eight children who also cares for her three grandchildren. Every day, Lenia works hard to provide for her family — paying rent, finding food, and caring for those who depend on her. But even with all of her efforts, some things are simply beyond her reach. Health insurance was one of those things. Because of GIFTS Rwanda supporters, Lenia’s family now has access to healthcare when they need it most. For families like Jacqueline’s and Lenia’s, health insurance provides something priceless: peace of mind. The peace of knowing that when a child gets sick, they can seek help. The peace of knowing that illness does not have to become a crisis. The Mission Hasn’t Changed. The Cost Has. As we continue honoring the legacy of our founder, Shari Shelton, we are asking our community to help ensure these essential programs continue. Because of a generous $10,000 gift already committed toward this need, we have made incredible progress toward closing the funding gap created by rising costs. Now, we are working together to raise the remaining funds needed to fully support education and healthcare for the children and families we serve.  Together, we have raised: $5,208 Remaining to reach our goal: $2,792 Days Remaining: 2 Your gift today will help ensure children can continue learning, families can access healthcare when they need it most, and Shari’s mission continues to grow. Together, we can continue creating opportunity, hope, and a brighter future for families in Rugarika. Her legacy lives on because of you.  P.S. The reason GIFTS Rwanda continues to make an impact is because people like you choose to stand with these families. Thank you for believing that every child deserves opportunity and every family deserves hope.
 Over the past week, you've met Aline, who almost had to leave school. You've seen families receiving community health insurance in Rwanda. You've helped honor the legacy of our founder, Shari Shelton, by continuing the work she devoted her life to. Thank you. Because of your generosity, we're making wonderful progress toward our goal. But we still have work to do. One question some of you may be asking is: "If I helped support these programs before, why is GIFTS Rwanda raising additional funds this year?" It's a fair question. The answer is actually very simple. The mission hasn't changed. The children we're serving haven't changed. The families needing health insurance haven't changed. Our commitment to Rugarika hasn't changed. What has changed is the cost. Over the past year, rising inflation and increased costs for goods and services throughout Rwanda have significantly increased what it costs to provide the same education and healthcare our supporters have faithfully made possible for years. This campaign isn't funding a new project. It isn't expanding our programs. It's helping us preserve the life-changing work that's already happening. Because of these increased costs, we're facing an unexpected $18,000 funding gap. Thanks to one generous donor, $10,000 has already been committed. Together, we're working to raise the remaining $8,000 so children can remain in school and families can continue receiving community health insurance.  "Without GIFTS Rwanda, I truly believe I would no longer be in school." — Aline, age 14 Stories like Aline's remind us that this campaign isn't about numbers. It's about children whose education depends on the generosity of people like you. It's about mothers who no longer have to choose between seeking medical care and meeting their family's basic needs. It's about preserving hope. What Your Gift Protects
One year ago, so many of you honored the life and legacy of our founder, Shari Shelton, by investing in the future of this community. This year, we're inviting you to do the same. Not because our mission has changed. Because it is too important to let rising costs stand in the way. Thank you for walking alongside the people of Rugarika and continuing the work that Shari began. Her legacy lives on because of you.  P.S. Every day we move closer to our goal means more children can remain in school and more families can keep the health insurance they depend on. If you've been waiting for the right time to give, we'd be honored to have you join us today.
 Meet Aline.  Before GIFTS Rwanda came into her life, Aline wasn't sure she would be able to continue her education. When her father developed a severe spinal disability, he could no longer work to support their family. Overnight, Aline's mother became responsible for paying rent, putting food on the table, and trying to keep six children in school. Their family’s future looked uncertain. But even in the midst of these challenges, Aline continued to work hard. She is a bright, dedicated student who consistently performs well in school. She is known for her humility, kindness, and respectful character—qualities that shine just as much as her academic achievements. Then everything changed. Through the generosity of GIFTS Rwanda supporters, Aline’s school fees are paid, she has the supplies she needs to learn, and she receives encouragement from our staff. Instead of worrying whether she’ll be able to stay in school, she can focus on what every child deserves—the opportunity to learn, grow, and dream. One sentence from her testimony especially stayed with me: "Without GIFTS Rwanda, I truly believe I would no longer be in school." Today, Aline is thriving academically and achieving excellent results because people like you believed her future was worth investing in. This is exactly what your generosity makes possible. It's also exactly what we're working to protect through this campaign. The mission hasn't changed. Children like Aline still need an education. The cost of providing that opportunity has simply increased. Your gift today helps ensure more students like Aline can remain in school this coming year. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn. Every child deserves someone who believes in them. Thank you for helping make stories like Aline's possible. Her legacy lives on because of you.  P.S. When Shari started GIFTS Rwanda, she believed education was one of the greatest gifts we could give a child. Aline’s story is a reminder that behind every student is a family, a dream, and a future worth protecting. Thank you for helping carry that mission forward.
 Yesterday, as we marked the one-year anniversary of our founder, Shari Shelton's passing, something beautiful was happening thousands of miles away in Rugarika. Our team didn't gather simply to remember Shari. They gathered to continue the work she dedicated her life to.  The first act of remembrance wasn't a ceremony. It was ensuring that vulnerable families received community health insurance. As our staff worked alongside local leaders to process medical insurance contributions, they were reminded of what Shari believed so deeply: "True love is expressed through action." That belief continues to guide everything GIFTS Rwanda does today.  Brigitte, our Country Director, shared these words with us from Rwanda: "Although she is no longer with us, her vision, compassion, and dedication continue to inspire everything we do. As the GIFTS Rwanda team, we remain committed to keeping her dream alive by serving our community with the same kindness, hope, and generosity she shared with so many." Reading those words reminded me that Shari's legacy isn't found in a building or a program. It's found in people. It's found in every child who remains in school. Every family who can visit a doctor because they have health insurance. Every mother who has hope for tomorrow.  This is exactly what our current campaign is making possible. Yesterday, we shared that rising costs in Rwanda have created an unexpected funding gap for school tuition and community health insurance. Because of a generous donor, we've already secured the first $10,000. Now we're working together to raise the remaining $8,000 so every child can remain in school and every family can retain access to healthcare this coming year.  As we remember Shari, I'm reminded that the greatest tribute we can give isn't simply remembering her. It's continuing what she started. Thank you for walking alongside us. Thank you for believing in this community. Thank you for helping ensure that Shari's vision continues changing lives every single day. Her legacy lives on because of you.  P.S. Every gift made during this campaign goes directly toward providing school tuition and community health insurance for vulnerable children and families in Rugarika. If you've been considering giving, we'd be so grateful for your support as we work to close the remaining $8,000 by July 17.
 The Mission Hasn’t Changed. The Cost Has. One year ago, our GIFTS Rwanda community came together to honor the life and legacy of our founder, Shari Shelton. In the days that followed, something extraordinary happened. More than 90 donors joined together to celebrate Shari’s life by investing in the children and families she loved so deeply. Because of your generosity, over $44,000 was given in her honor, helping ensure that children remained in school, families received essential healthcare, and vital community programs continued to move forward. Those gifts were never just donations. They became opportunity, stability, and hope for families in Rugarika. Today, as we mark the one-year anniversary of Shari’s passing, we are reminded that her mission is still very much alive.  The mission hasn’t changed. The cost has. This year, rising inflation and increased costs for goods and services throughout Rwanda have created an unexpected $18,000 increase in the cost of providing school tuition and community health insurance for the children and families we serve. This is not the result of expanding programs or new initiatives. It is simply the additional cost required to continue providing the same life-changing support that donor generosity has made possible for years. A generous donor has already committed $10,000 toward this need, leaving just $8,000 remaining to fully fund education and health insurance for the coming year. Our goal is to raise that final $8,000 by July 17.  As we remember Shari and the legacy she built, we can think of no more meaningful way to honor her than by continuing the work she started—ensuring that children stay in school and families continue to receive essential healthcare. If you are able to give, your support will go directly toward tuition and community health insurance for the coming year. Every gift brings us one step closer to closing this gap. Thank you for helping continue Shari’s mission.  Her legacy lives on because of you.  P.S. We've already secured $10,000 toward this need. Help us raise the final $8,000 by July 17 so every child can remain in school and every family can retain access to healthcare.
 We are excited to share some wonderful news from Rwanda! Recently, GIFTS Rwanda participated in the Kamonyi District Open Day and Exhibition, an event that brought together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and community leaders from across the district. The exhibition provided an opportunity for GIFTS Rwanda to showcase our programs, services, and the incredible work being accomplished through your support.    One of the highlights of the event was displaying the beautiful handcrafted products created by women in our programs. These talented artisans had the opportunity to introduce their work to new audiences, connect with potential customers, and generate income to support their families.  We are especially excited to share a short video from Anitha Uwimpuhwe, one of the women whose handmade beadwork was featured at the exhibition. In her own words, Anitha shares how the training, skills, and opportunities provided through GIFTS Rwanda have helped her grow her business, reach larger markets, and build a brighter future.  The exhibition was more than a chance to sell products—it was an opportunity to raise awareness about our work, build new partnerships, learn from other organizations, and demonstrate the impact that community-based programs can have on families throughout Kamonyi District. We are also honored to share that GIFTS Rwanda received a Certificate of Recognition from Kamonyi District leaders, including the Vice Mayor in Charge of Social Affairs, Madame Uwiringira Marie Jose, and the President of the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF). In addition, the organization was awarded a medal recognizing its exceptional contribution to community development and its commitment to empowering rural women.    These recognitions belong not only to GIFTS Rwanda but also to each of you. Your generosity makes it possible for women to gain skills, build businesses, support their families, and become leaders within their communities. Thank you for partnering with us to create opportunities, strengthen families, and empower women throughout Rwanda.  P.S. Be sure to watch Anitha's short video above. Hearing directly from the women whose businesses are growing through GIFTS Rwanda's programs is one of the most powerful reminders of what your support makes possible.
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