Meet Alice. She was a young, single, pregnant girl facing the challenges that come with such circumstances. Struggling with extreme poverty and lacking the necessary education or skill set, Alice was determined to provide a better life for herself and her unborn child. Today, thanks to GIFTS Rwanda's beading and soap making group, Alice has acquired valuable skills in crafting purses and soap. In a generous gesture, Alice has shared her inspiring journey and aspirations with us. Among her dreams is the desire to join our upcoming New Mom Sewing Co-op, where she can receive training, sewing supplies, and a six-month education, paving the way for a sustainable livelihood for herself and her child. As part of our TRIPLE match Giving Tuesday 2023 campaign, we are actively raising funds to support 20 new or pregnant moms, including Alice, living in extreme poverty with dreams of a stable livelihood. Your support can make a significant impact, with this initiative costing only $135 per young mother. Thanks to Boeing and a generous donor, your contribution is currently being TRIPLE matched. Your donation today will be three times as effective in helping us reach our $40,000 Giving Tuesday goal! This is an ideal moment to contribute what you can. Your generosity plays a crucial role in providing young girls like Alice with the love and care they need, ensuring they have a promising future, regardless of their past challenges. Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a difference. P.S. Will you help us spread the word? Share this blog with your friends, family, and colleagues to let them know what GIFTS Rwanda is up to and what an enormous impact they have the opportunity to be a part of, too! Thank you so much!
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I would like to introduce you to Marie. She is a genocide survivor who has overcome numerous obstacles in her life. Listen to her story of loss and the hope GIFTS Rwanda provided, guiding her toward redemption as she rebuilt her life. We can't solve every problem, but we can make a difference in this one. As part of our TRIPLE match Giving Tuesday 2023 campaign, we are working to raise funds to support 65 Rugarika families, similar to Marie, who were affected by the Genocide. Our goal is to provide them with animals and assist in establishing vegetable gardens, enabling them to secure a livelihood, enhance nutrition, and meet the needs of their families. This endeavor costs only $123 per family. By contributing to GIFTS Rwanda now, you have the opportunity to magnify the impact of your donation 300% through our TRIPLE match Giving Tuesday 2023 campaign, We invite you to join us in changing the lives of families in Rugarika—individuals just like Marie. P.S. Will you help us spread the word? Share this blog with your friends, family, and colleagues to let them know what GIFTS Rwanda is up to and what an enormous impact they have the opportunity to be a part of, too! Thank you so much!
Did you know GIFTS Rwanda is a registered non-profit with Benevity?! Companies such as Intel, Nike, Google, Microsoft, Apple, Starbucks, and UPS are among those who participate in Benevity and will MATCH your employee donation to GIFTS Rwanda. We are also registered with Boeing and Washington State employees to ensure your donation gets matched. And here's the exciting part – this is ON TOP of our ongoing TRIPLE match Giving Tuesday 2023 campaign, meaning your donation will be multiplied by 400%! Calling all Nike employees – here's an extra incentive: Nike has temporarily doubled the matching rate to an extraordinary 200% through December, resulting in your donation being multiplied by 500% with our triple match on top of their double match! By contributing to GIFTS Rwanda, you can amplify the impact of your donation through your employer's matching gift program! This signifies that each dollar you contribute will be matched by your employer and then TRIPLE MATCHED by us, resulting in an even more significant impact on the lives of those we serve. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of this remarkable program and support our cause. Together, we have the power to instigate positive change and transform lives. If you have any questions or require assistance with the matching gift process, please feel free to reach out to me. Your support means the world to us. Thank you for considering this opportunity to make a significant impact. P.S. Will you help us spread the word? Share this blog with your friends, family, and colleagues to let them know what GIFTS Rwanda is up to and what an enormous impact they have the opportunity to be a part of, too! Thank you so much!
As we approach the most generous day of the year, the anticipation is building, and we're thrilled. This Giving Tuesday, we're rallying behind an audacious vision: Put People First. We are doing this by TRIPLING your impact. Boeing has graciously offered to MATCH your donation, up to $10,000 again this year. That's not all -- an additional generous donor will also match your kindness up to $10,000 IF WE collectively raise $20,000 by the end of Giving Tuesday, November 28th, resulting in a grand total of $40,000. Giving Tuesday is November 28th, 2023 but you can give NOW and triple your donation! Click HERE to learn more and to donate! By joining forces, you can triple the impact on educational support, housing, and community development to make lives better.
Will you stand with us for Giving Tuesday? Our Rugarika team just shared a photo of these children who are beginning primary school this week, all thanks to your generous donations. The sheer happiness and gratitude in their faces warm my heart. This photo comes at the perfect time as I'm working on a message to you about the secondary and graduate students whose education is made possible by your donations. During my conversations with these secondary and graduate students in Rugarika, a common theme emerged. These are students who were sponsored by our GIFTS Rwanda program during their early years of schooling, much like the delightful children in the photo above. We are thrilled to see their bright plans for the future. They dream of attending university or vocational school, recognizing the life-changing potential it holds for them, their families, and the entire Rugarika community. However, the cost of pursuing these dreams presents a significant challenge, and many of them are encountering difficulties in finding employment. They inquired to see if GIFTS Rwanda could provide any assistance, and I promised to seek support on their behalf. We're pleased to share that we've received donations to sponsor three out of the fourteen graduate students in their upcoming educational journey. Nevertheless, we still need 11 more sponsorships at a cost of $1,500 per year. I know these costs are difficult for many families, and sometimes in the past, when we were building a house for a Rwandan family, for example, two families would share the cost, which was a real blessing for all involved. By sponsoring a student, you'll have the opportunity to learn their name and receive information about them, allowing you to follow their progress on this transformative path. Hear more from Praci Amunamasha below. These students have the potential for exceptionally promising futures, and our commitment to empowering the next generation of Rugarika to achieve their dreams has never been stronger. Can we count on you to join us in making this shared goal a reality? P.S. Please help us spread the word about this incredible opportunity to sponsor a student with your friends and family by forwarding this blog post to those you love!
​We're back from Rugarika and incredibly grateful for the time spent with the wonderful people we are privileged to serve!
Were you able to keep up with our blog? We documented each day of our trip in the "Rugarika Trip 2023" category. You can find it HERE. Additionally, if you have donated to GIFTS Rwanda in the past 18 months I sent you a personalized video message with a link to the blog. If you haven't received it, please reply click HERE so I can update your contact information and send you your video!
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We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your crucial role in making this trip a reality, enabling us to witness your impactful efforts in combating poverty and fostering lasting change. The future appears exceptionally promising, and our enthusiasm to support the people of Rugarika in achieving their aspirations has never been greater.
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Today is the day we must say goodbye, and it's a bittersweet moment, to say the least. Our time here has introduced us to some of the most loving, giving, and joyful people, making it incredibly difficult to say goodbye. Fortunately, it's not really a farewell, but more of a "see you soon." We started the day early, meeting with Brigitte and Paterne to craft an Action Plan for presenting to the government, a vital step toward establishing a Rwandan NGO. Additionally, we mapped out a comprehensive action plan for the next five years. The people of Rugarika have truly inspired us, igniting our determination to work tirelessly to help them achieve their aspirations. Albert joined Karina and me on this journey, initially as an escort, but as the days unfolded, he found himself passionately thinking of ways he could help. With his background in automotive and construction, he envisioned numerous ways to contribute to the community's betterment and he presented them to us at the end of our meeting. Witnessing his love for the people and his commitment to utilizing his skills to assist them was truly inspiring. Our next stop took us to the market, where we picked up some gifts to take back home. Then, with heavy hearts, we headed to the airport to bid our farewells. Brigitte and Paterne are undoubtedly among the kindest individuals we've ever had the privilege to meet, and we are eternally grateful to have them as both colleagues and friends. While we may be leaving Rwanda physically, our hearts remain firmly connected to this incredible place and its wonderful people. Until we return, we'll be hard at work in the States, dedicated to helping the people of Rugarika achieve the sustainable changes they need to lift themselves out of extreme poverty. The journey continues, and we can't wait to see what the future holds.
Today marked our final full day here, and it's safe to say we made every moment count. I couldn't have been more thrilled to spend my last day in the village, sporting my brand-new skirt courtesy of a gift from our New Mom Tailoring Group. Our day began with a quick stop to purchase hundreds of shoes, a small act that would make a world of difference to the families we were about to visit. Many of them were in dire need, either lacking shoes altogether or relying on worn-out pairs. Here, simple slides, costing just under $2, were the footwear of choice due to their durability. Once we reached the village, we had the privilege of hearing from several women who had received goats from us. These women are now part of the group we've enrolled in our health insurance program, and their gratitude for the opportunity to access medical care was heartwarming. Over these past 7 days I have collected over 70 testimonials from various community members whose lives have been touched by GIFTS Rwanda, and the bonds we share with them are truly special. Our day unfolded with visits to families in the homes that GIFTS Rwanda helped build through the generous contributions of donors like you. Armed with shoes and clothing, we felt a bit like Santa Claus, spreading joy wherever we went. At one stop, we observed how a family cared for the rabbits we had provided. Then, we trekked up steep hills to visit duplexes and descended to reach single homes. Despite living in remote areas, these families welcomed us with song and dance, a testament to their happiness and gratitude for the little they have. As we approached the last two homes, a young boy rushed out of his home and up the path to meet me with a heartwarming hug, despite never having met me before. His grip on my hand was firm, and he guided me to the next house after we finished visiting his home. I held him close as we spent time with the last family, and he remained by my side as we snapped pictures throughout the homes. Saying goodbye at the end of the day was bittersweet, but I made him a promise—I would be back soon, and the prospect of seeing him on my next visit filled me with excitement. During our journey, we came across a family of six living under a makeshift shelter, a blanket propped up with a stick and a bush for shade. It was incredibly moving to convince the mother to accept our help in building a proper home for her family, and we'll be sure to keep you updated on the progress. Each family we encountered has faced unimaginable challenges and hardships, yet their unwavering positivity, appreciation, and joy never falter. Their way of life serves as a powerful lesson for all of us. In fact, I believe that we can learn just as much from them as they can from us.
I am profoundly grateful for GIFTS Rwanda's partnership with the village of Rugarika and for the incredible opportunity I've had to serve this remarkable group of people. Together, we are making a difference, one step, one smile, and one heartfelt connection at a time. I must admit, although I strive not to pick favorites among our twelve different projects, the Single Mom Tailoring Group holds a special place in my heart. Being a single mother in Rwanda is an extraordinary challenge, with limited job opportunities and persistent stigmas. I've been a part of GIFTS Rwanda for nearly two years now, and this was the very first project I had the privilege of launching from the ground up. Witnessing their progress, their genuine happiness, their overwhelming gratitude, and the love they share with one another fills me with immense joy. Take a look for yourself HERE. We talked, sewed, and I listed to their wants and needs. They made me a beautiful skirt I cannot wait to wear tomorrow and they even gave us a show of song and dance that filled the room with love and happiness. But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Our day started with a detour to the pharmacist on our way to the village. I had lost most of my voice a couple of days ago, and my throat had become raw and swollen. Despite having purchased cough drops the day before, my voice hadn't improved. I assured Brigitte that I was loading up on vitamin C and antioxidants, and that it would eventually improve, but she insisted we visit a local pharmacist. I'm genuinely grateful that she did. Experiencing a Rwandan pharmacy was a fascinating and eye-opening experience. The pharmacist carefully examined my condition and prescribed four treatments for me. He took his time, displayed a remarkable depth of knowledge, and the cost was surprisingly minimal. To top it off, he even offered me his personal phone number in case I had any questions or encountered any issues. I couldn't help but mention that our healthcare system in the US could certainly learn a thing or two from his level of care and dedication. His response was a heartwarming mix of pride and joy, and meeting him was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my day. From there we traveled to have a meeting with Fredrick, the leader of the Rugalika sector. In Rwanda, there's a hierarchy of villages, sectors, districts, provinces, and the country itself. During our visit this week, we were able to extend health insurance coverage to an additional 800 people, all thanks to your generous donations. This brings our coverage from 446 to an astounding 1246 individuals. The leaders of the village and sector were so moved by this gesture that they requested an in-person meeting to express their heartfelt thanks. It was a remarkable experience stepping inside the sector building and meeting the individuals who work diligently to run the village. They are profoundly grateful for our efforts to uplift the people of Rugalika from extreme poverty and have pledged to support our journey to become an NGO in Rwanda. While we're already a registered 501c3 non-profit in the US, obtaining the same status in Rwanda is no small feat. Once we secure this status, it will open doors for us to apply for Rwandan grants, providing the village with another avenue of funding. Fingers crossed, we can make it happen! One of GIFTS Rwanda's earliest sustainable projects involved soap and bead making. In the afternoon we were able to meet the soap makers and bead artisans at Rugarika Primary School. This dynamic group comprises strong, joyful women who welcomed us with open arms, demonstrating their soap-making and bead-crafting skills. In support of their hard work, we purchased their entire inventory as gifts to bring home. I couldn't be prouder of their accomplishments, and I'm brimming with ideas on how we can further assist them in managing their finances and business needs. I can honestly say that I've never had a day where I've smiled so much, and I will be eternally grateful for the open hearts of these remarkable women and the warm embrace of the children we met today. The love and positivity in this community are truly infectious, and it fuels our determination to continue making a meaningful impact in their lives.
What an extraordinary day it has been! Today, we had the incredible privilege of visiting the homes of our wonderful Rwandan team members, Brigitte and Paterne, along with a heartwarming reunion with Souzane Bizumutima, whom GIFTS Rwanda's founder, Shari Shelton, sponsored as a student a whole decade ago. It was a day filled with warmth, gratitude, and delightful surprises. Our first stop was Souzane's home, where we were welcomed with open arms. Souzane, now a loving mother of two adorable girls aged 2 and 4, touched our hearts with her story. We came bearing gifts, as well as a book Karina and Shari had made from their last trip to visit her 8 years ago, which her family graciously received. Her children loved pointing her out in the video which you can see below. To our amazement, they presented us with an astonishing array of EIGHT different plates of fruits. You can see them here, along with Souzane's daughters playing and coloring with the items we brought. I must say, the tree tomatoes, a local delicacy, were my personal favorite, and I nearly devoured the entire plate! Their hospitality and joy, despite having so little by American standards, served as a poignant reminder that happiness is not found in material possessions but in the boundless love, gratitude, and compassion that reside in our hearts. Africa, with its wonderful people, has certainly taught us a valuable lesson. Our journey to Souzane's home took us through three hours of breathtaking Rwandan landscapes. I could honestly drive through Rwanda all day and never tire of its beauty and charm. It truly is a place like no other, a treasure trove of natural wonders and warm-hearted hard-working people. Next, we embarked on a two-hour journey to Brigitte's home. Her husband, Jerome, has been instrumental in helping get ready to start a chicken farm in Rugarika. He currently has one at his home that he will emulate after the construction is complete. Meeting him in person was a joyous experience. Jerome is a gem of a person, and it was heartwarming to witness the love between him and Brigitte. Their sons were equally delightful, embracing the gifts and toys we brought them. We even had the chance to visit the chicken farm on their property and make the acquaintance of their cow! Our final stop took us an hour away to Paterne's home. Gisele, Paterne's wife, greeted us warmly at the door, along with their charming son, Aldo, and two of his friends who were staying with them. We shared the joy of giving toys to the children and relished in the delicious dinner of potatoes and rabbit. Surprisingly, the rabbit tasted just like buffalo wings - it was really good! Our journey back home, which took an hour and a half, allowed us to traverse three of the five Rwandan provinces. We even caught a glimpse of the US Embassy and where Kagame works (you are forbidden to take pictures and there are cameras and military surrounding it so no photos of that to share with you)!. It feels like we've explored so much of Rwanda today. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Paterne and Brigitte for spending over 9 hours driving us around and opening their homes to us. We are incredibly blessed!
In closing, today was a reminder of the immense beauty and kindness that exists in Rwanda and its people. It's a place that has left an indelible mark on our hearts, and we can't help but reflect on the valuable lessons we've learned about life, happiness, and the importance of love and compassion. Thank you, Rwanda, for this unforgettable day! |
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