We are thrilled to announce that I will be going to Rugarika, Rwanda with Karina Alvarez, a member of the GIFTS Rwanda team, and her husband Albert from August 14th to 24th!

We are eagerly looking forward to connecting with the villagers in Rugarika to witness their progress in taking collective ownership and responsibility for the projects we have started together. The purpose of this trip is to achieve the following goals:

• Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and pay our respects.
• To conduct video interviews with the villagers about their experiences with GIFTS Rwanda and the different projects they are involved in, which we will share with you once we are home.

Visit and document all of GIFTS Rwanda's projects including:

• Animals received by the villagers (goats, chickens, and cows)
• Gardens built by the villagers
• Homes constructed by the villagers
• Students attending the primary and secondary school
• Medical center, which serves as the facility for those with medical insurance provided by GIFTS Rwanda.
• Water tanks 
• Progress made on the chicken project
• Progress made on Community Center 
• New Mom Sewing Group: meeting the participants, observing their current meeting space, assessing the progress of their sewing business, and discussing the continuation of the program with a new group of moms.
• Beading Group: meeting the participants, observing their current meeting place, assessing the progress of their beading business, and delivering additional beads to them.
• Soap Making Group: meeting the participants, observing their current meeting place, assessing the progress of their soap making business, and exploring ways to further assist them.

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Per their request, Karina and I will be delivering a talk on reproductive health, hygiene, and body changes during the teenage years to female students aged 7 to 20 at the school. Additionally, we will begin a trial reusable menstrual pad program with 20 school-age girls, which we will evaluate during our visit to see if we can expand to all individuals at the school who need them.

We are thrilled to share this exciting news with you! We would also love to hear your suggestions on what you would like us to see and do while we are in Rugarika, documenting the progress and impact of your generous donations. Your input is invaluable in ensuring that we make the most of our time there and serve you in the best possible way.​

Additionally, we would greatly appreciate any tips and advice you have for our safe travels. It is important to us to take all necessary precautions and ensure a smooth and secure trip. Your guidance will be highly valued in making our journey a successful one.

Please know that this trip is being fully funded by Shari and Al Shelton, and no portion of your donations will be used to cover the expenses.​

We cannot wait to be in the village and to get the opportunity to finally meet the individuals we have the privilege of serving. 

Rwanda's national mourning period began on April 7th, with Kwibuka (Remembrance), the national commemoration ceremony. Brigitte and Paterne went to talk to the students of Rugarika to see how they are doing during this period set aside to remember the genocide victims. They had a beautiful visit and took a few pictures and videos to help us feel like we were there too.

Brigitte took time to look at the students reports and encourage them to work hard for a bright future as you can see in the photos above. They had a wonderful conversation and some girls even stood up and shared the strategies they have used to get top marks.

Paterne had a lovely talk with Jean who lives in Rugarika and is raising his siblings. They talked about what GIFTS Rwanda has done for him and his brothers and sisters. You can watch what Jean had to say in the video below. Jean's smile at the end of the video never fails to brighten my mood.

Brigitte had the opportunity to talk to a woman named Cecile who is part of the beadwork group in which GIFTS Rwanda sponsored the fees for the materials and training in 2021. Cecile is speaking to us as a representative of the beading group and she let Brigitte know they need more beads due to not being able to get the beads at the market. They have made many requests to no avail and are hoping we can help in getting these for them which we are able to do because of funds already raised by YOU! Listen to what she has to say below.

Stay tuned for more updates, new project announcements, and to hear even more stories that we continue to share from the people of Rugarika impacted by your generosity.

P.S. Want to add impact to your Inbox?! Enter your information below to receive email updates, inspiring stories, special announcements, exciting initiatives and more from GIFTS Rwanda! You can manage preferences an d unsubscribe anytime.

In honor of International Women's Day, let's salute the impact women have made all across the world and celebrate the progress of all women.

​Let's also join in the mission to fuel more progress for women and girls everywhere. One way to do this is to give a pregnant, single mother an opportunity to join a tailoring co-op to receive education and a means to make a living. This includes a sewing machine, training, and supplies. Simply click HERE and select "Sponsor New Mother Tailoring Education" from the drop down.

Bringing sustainable change to Rugarika will never be easy, but you make it possible. Thank you for your support of our mission. ​

P.S. Inspire more giving by sharing GIFTS Rwanda website and social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) with your friends and family! 

P.S.S. Looking for more ways to make an impact? Become a Monthly Giver! Simply click Recurring under Frequency on our Giving Page located here. Monthly Giving is the most effective way to continue the work serving this vulnerable community and creating sustainable change to raise the village of Rugarika out of poverty. No amount is too small!! 

Together we ran our 2nd campaign (Boeing Triple Match Campaign) June 2022 and raised $32,088 for the following:

• 50 Secondary Students will get to go to school for the year with their tuition, uniform, shoes, and supplies paid for. Cost per student is $285. Total cost for 50 students is $14,250.

 

• 20 Primary Students will get to go to school for the year with their tuition uniform, shoes, and supplies paid for. Cost per student is $80. Total cost for 20 students is $1,600.

 

• 53 families will receive staple foods of rice, beans, maize flour, cooking oil and soaps for one year (distributed 3 x's within the year). Cost per family is $252. Total cost for 53 families is $13,356.

 

• 35 new families will receive one goat, three rabbits, three chickens, and one rabbit hutch (the other 18 families have already received these animals). Cost per family is $126. Total cost for 35 families is $4,410.

 

• 400 people will receive health insurance for a year. Cost per person is $3. Total cost for 400 people is $1,200.

Five months later our 3rd campaign (Giving Tuesday New Moms and Farmers Campaign) launched and you raised $20,804 for the following:

• $10,400 secured the plot of land for the new safe and secure building.

 

• $6,400 will be building a one room structure for training and to run their sewing business.

 

• $2,520 is providing 15 new sewing machines to be used by the moms who have graduated the sewing program. The sewing machines will be stored and used in the one room structure.

 

• $240 is providing thread, scissors, tape measure & sewing needles for the newly graduated moms starting their sewing business as well as for the new group of moms beginning the sewing co-op training program.

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• $500 is providing cloth to help the newly graduated moms begin their sewing business as well as for the new group of moms beginning the sewing co-op training program.

• Supported 70 students attend school (includes tuition, food, uniform, and supplies) vs. 32 children in 2021.

 

• 53 families have received staple foods of rice, beans, maize flour, cooking oil and soaps for one year (distributed 3 x's within the year) vs. 32 families in 2021.

 

• 35 new families received one goat, three rabbits, three chickens, and one rabbit hutch vs. 32 in 2021.

 

• 400 people received health insurance for a year vs. 180 people in 2021.

 

• 15 single new mothers went through the launch of our sewing co-op. They are currently working on making uniforms for the students we support.

 

• Added 3 large community gardens with plans to add two more by end of 2022 vs. none in 2021. Unfortunately, they had a bad season with no rain so they are currently waiting for rain to be able to prepare the gardens with seeds. The seeds have been purchased.

 

• Launched Chicken Project (set up by Brigitte and her husband Jerome, who will train, and will donate the first 100 baby chickens once off the ground. This includes the land, building, special lights, cages, and food. Will support 5 families with expansion to more families soon.). A plot has been purchased where they will build the house for the chickens, but before they can build, they have to get permission from the government. As soon as they receive that they will let us know and get started.

 

• Provided Rugarika team a camera ($800), computer ($650), printer ($360), and motorcycle ($2760- includes helmet and insurance) to better serve the community of Rugarika and document the work being done by GIFTS Rwanda’s team in Rugarika.

 

• Launched our new coffee Rwanda Nyakarenzo with Top of the Lake Coffee.

 

• Started receiving video testimonials from Rugarika for our constituents.

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• Launched Donor Engagement Surveys to assist in diagnosing areas where we can improve as well as identify what you are doing right, so we can serve you, our constituents, and the people of Rugarika to the best of our abilities.

Because of YOU, we reached our goal! Thank you for giving and supporting the New Moms and Farmers campaign this Giving Tuesday! You raised $10,804, and with our $10,000 match, you helped make the massive impact of $20,804!!!

This money is going to equip single mothers in Rwanda with a sustainable career in sewing through our GIFTS Rwanda's Sewing Project. Being a single mother in Rwanda is especially difficult as job opportunities are few and many stigmas remain. But with your help, we will be offering them a safe and secure building as well as sewing machines, supplies, and training. The ripple effects of this moment will be generational and were made possible by YOU.  ​

Exciting Next Steps...
We are not stopping with a one room building for the sewing co-op... Our long term goal for this building is to work up to having four rooms! There will be a room for the sewing co-op business and sewing trainings (that we now have the money to build!!), a room for our soap making project, a room for making bags using beads, a small room for stock, and a room for meetings as well as for giving talks to the community teaching them various things such as how to fight malnutrition and reproductive health with young girls and their mothers. Near this building will be a place reserved for farming activities as well as the chicken house we raised money for last Giving Tuesday!

Partner with us as we equip single mothers in Rwanda for a sustainable career in sewing!

Being a single mother in Rwanda is especially difficult as job opportunities are few and many stigmas remain. But with your help, we can offer the education, supplies, and location needed for the village of Rugarika. Our goal is to build a safe and secure building as well as provide sewing machines, supplies, and training. The ripple effects of this moment will be generational.

To help meet this goal, we are kicking off the launch of our coffee, Rwanda Nyakarenzo, in partnership with Top of the Lake Coffee. Everyone who donates $100 or more HERE will get a FREE bag of our new coffee! Proceeds of the coffee purchases go toward GIFTS Rwanda’s sewing project, as well as directly to the employees in Rwanda working on the farms, harvesting and washing the coffee beans. We are partnering with Nyakarenzo Coffee Washing Station/Rwacof (approximately 70% of their employees are women), whose focus is on improving the financial situation of the local farmers.

Oh, and did I mention we have a goal of raising $30k AND we have a $10k MATCH to help us get there?!?! 

Starting NOW through Giving Tuesday (November 29th) get your donation MATCHED up to $10k! Give $100 or more and you will be one of the first to receive our brand new coffee, Rwanda Nyakarenzo. Keep it for yourself or use as a beautiful holiday gift for the coffee lover in your life. This is ONLY for this campaign so donate now to take part.

The women and girls of Rwanda are brilliant, compassionate, resilient, and brave. This Giving Tuesday, join GIFTS Rwanda in helping create gender-equitable job and leadership opportunities. Your donation dollars have never reached so far.

This opportunity will change the lives of these young mothers and only lasts until November 29th.
Are you in?

More details are coming soon!
Make sure to stay tuned for the exciting news and how you can join in! Add us to your email contacts and follow us on FB, IG and Twitter so you don't miss a thing!

​As part of their graduation the ladies requested uniforms with GIFTS Rwanda across them. The uniforms create a sense of belonging and teamwork for those who have gone through so much. They are single moms who have very little options open to them in the culture they are in and they have bonded and encouraged each other greatly. Your vote of confidence in this project is something they are very grateful for, and they are proud to show everyone in their community the new skills they have acquired. You can see in these pictures the joy and confidence gained by these beautiful women. We are so happy for each of them and the bright futures they hold!

Every dollar you give is a vote for the women of Rugarika, Rwanda.

STAY TUNED...
Coming soon we will have an incredible opportunity to help these and many more new moms in Rugarika.
I am so excited to share how you will have a chance to make an enormous impact!!
Don't miss the exciting news by signing up for our emails below and follow us on FB, IG and Twitter so you don't miss a thing!

Better days are ahead because of you. We can all use some extra positivity in our inbox these days and I have a feeling this testimonial will do just the trick.
Click the video below to hear from Bernard!* 
​*We apologize for the music making it hard to hear. The interview is taking place in their church and the church choir is practicing in the next room. I personally find the music and his voice quite lovely. Enjoy!

​I hope Bernard's story inspires you. When you invest in GIFTS Rwanda, you are investing in the development of the community of Rugarika, you are empowering the real stories of people like Bernard, and you are proving that better days are ahead for the people of Rugarika.

​Bringing sustainable change to Rugarika will never be easy, but you make it possible. Thank you for your support of our mission. 

P.S. Want to see more video testimonials and add impact to your Inbox?! Enter your information below to receive email updates, inspiring stories, special announcements, exciting initiatives and more from GIFTS Rwanda! You can manage preferences an d unsubscribe anytime.