One year ago today I took this video of Chantel and her children living in dirt. This past Sunday, I had the privilege of sharing Chantel's remarkable story with the congregation at West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (begins at 23:25). That morning, I received a photo of Chantel at a sewing machine, her face radiating pride as she looked at her daughter wearing a dress she had sewn. The joy and pride in both their faces are beyond words. This is the work of GIFTS Rwanda. This is the work of YOU.

I am thrilled to update you on Chantel's incredible progress. Thanks to the funds raised by your support, Chantel and her children now have a safe and comfortable home. Chantel is now employed by GIFTS Rwanda, working as our cleaner. She helps maintain our chicken farm, which provides her family with fresh chickens and eggs. Additionally, she cleans our Multi-Purpose Center and has learned the valuable skill of sewing through our programs.

Seeing Chantel transform her life and that of her children through the opportunities you helped create and you fund is profoundly moving. Please take a moment to view the photos below that capture the positive changes in Chantel's life.

​Your generosity made this transformation possible, and we are deeply grateful for your continued support.

Thank you for being the reason this beautiful success story is able to be told.

I recently had the privilege of speaking with the West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, where I shared our mission and the latest updates about our mission, along with the exciting updates I shared with you a couple weeks ago about our new team in Rwanda. I’m excited to announce that I presented at their service again yesterday and will do so next month. Additionally, they are generously donating the contributions from their giving basket during each of the three services to GIFTS Rwanda!

The chance to present our mission is incredibly meaningful to me, and we are deeply grateful for this opportunity.

We would be honored to speak with your friends and family in person as well. Whether in a community room, church, or the comfort of your home, we can offer a presentation about our recent trip last summer and the impactful work being done since. I'll bring along soap, lotion, beaded bags, and tailoring items from our various GIFTS Rwandan projects, so you can see and feel the beautiful creations made by the people we serve.

Thank you for your continued support and belief in our mission.

As Isabel Allende once said,
“We only have what we give."

We have recently hired the GIFTS Rwanda Board and Support Staff, who are diligently working to ensure the safety and security of our chicken farm, the new mom sewing building, community center grounds, and our office for the staff. Thanks to our newly hired Rwandan team, I'm excited to share that our chicken farm is thriving!
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It is crucial to guard our resources. Protecting our assets not only ensures the sustainability of our projects but also provides a stable foundation for the community’s growth and development. This vigilance helps us maximize the impact of our efforts and secure a better future for everyone involved.

Please meet our new dedicated Rwandan team below!