Unwrap your 2023 GIFTS Rwanda Impact

12/30/2023

Celebrate GIFTS Rwanda's Year of Progress

As we reflect on the past year, our hearts are filled with gratitude for your support. It is because of you that our work at GIFTS Rwanda has been made possible.

Together, we have accomplished significant milestones, and we take pride in the meaningful progress that has been achieved.

We invite you to unwrap the impact you've helped create in 2023—your generosity and dedication have played a vital role in shaping our journey.

Thank you for being an essential part of GIFTS Rwanda's mission.

Here is Your 2023 Impact Unwrapped.

For the first time, two board members, Karina and Albert Alvarez, along with myself, journeyed to the village we support in Rugarika, Rwanda. I documented each day of our trip in the "Rugarika Trip 2023" category on our website. You can find it HERE. We accomplished the following on our trip:

Visited the Kigali Genocide Memorial and pay our respects.
Conducted over 100 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.
Visited and documented 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.
Per their request, Karina and I delivered 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 began brainstorming a plan for trial reusable menstrual pad program with 20 school-age girls to see if we can expand to all individuals at the school who need them.

Together we ran our Giving Tuesday 2023 Put People First campaign and you raised $36,276.02 for the following:

$5,000 to launch MoonCatcher Project in Rugarika to support our New Mom Sewing Co-op and local schoolgirls sponsored by GIFTS Rwanda. Our lead seamstress and team member, Brigitte, will travel to Uganda to collaborate with MoonCatcher project manager. She will accommodate them, provide training, assist with vendor visits, and guide them in sourcing materials. This partnership aims to establish a new line of sewing business for our New Mom Sewing Co-Op, selling MoonCatchers in markets and providing them at no cost to schoolgirls, ensuring they stay in school during their menstrual cycles. The MoonCatcher Project generously covers all efforts without charge; we only need to cover travel expenses and materials to get the project off the ground.

$2,700 to launch New Mom Sewing Coop. Initiate a second cohort of young single mothers to join our New Mom Sewing Co-op. Offer training and supplies to 20 pregnant, unwed mothers in a tailoring co-op, providing a six-month education and a pathway to sustainable livelihoods.

$6,140 of domestic animals and vegetable gardens. Create large vegetable gardens on our community center property and provide domestic animals to families, including those of new students we sponsor and survivors of the genocide who no longer receive government support.

$16,300 for home construction. Fund home construction for house to shelter homeless single mother and her children, as well as complete a partially built home currently housing a grandmother with her daughters and their four children.

$8,000 for community center construction. Construct a dedicated space on our community center property for our beaded bags and soap making group, offering a versatile area for group activities, meetings, and community talks. The space will also serve as a platform for educating the community on topics like combating malnutrition and promoting reproductive health among young girls and their mothers.

All projects done in Rugarika 2023 because of you:

Supported 112 students (40 primary, 70 secondary, and 2 university) attend school (includes tuition, food, uniform, and supplies) vs. 70 children in 2022.

Reproductive Health and Menstrual Pad launch with MoonCatchers: Provided Brigitte and head GIFTS Rwanda seamstress travel expenses to travel to Uganda in February and meet with Phoebe the Project Coordinator of MoonCatchers in Uganda who will accommodate, provide training, assist with vendor visits and guide us in sourcing materials. Also fund the materials to launch menstrual pad project for new mom sewing group to make for our school age girls (at no cost to them) and to sell in market places.

5 families will receive staple foods of rice, beans, maize flour, cooking oil and soaps for one year (distributed 3 x's within the year) vs. 53 families in 2022. Recognizing some were taking advantage of the old system, Paterne and Brigitte are reworking our approach. We're focusing on sustainable solutions, offering gardens and domestic animals to empower families to generate income for supplies. Together, we're targeting assistance to those who genuinely need it.

Gave $7,980 towards domestic animals and vegetable gardens at the community center grounds. We are doing this at our new community center vs. giving a certain amount per family in order for the community to work and share together. In 2022 we gave $4,410 towards this project.

1,237 people received health insurance for a year vs. 400 people in 2022.

Gave funding for a group of 20 single new mothers to go through the our sewing co-op vs 15 young women in 2022.

Playground Construction: After collaborating with Rugarika sector leaders, we've been able to fund a much-needed playground for the entire community. This vibrant space is under construction now and will feature basketball and volleyball courts, providing recreational opportunities for all. Additionally, it will serve as a hub for clubs to perform, host shows, and provide a dedicated area for talks and messages.
Home construction: 2 homes vs 0 in 2022. Fund home construction for house to shelter homeless single mother and her children, as well as complete a partially built home currently housing a grandmother with her daughters and their four children.

Fun Facts...

You helped bring in $110,791 so far in 2023!! Here's how that compares to past years:

2022 raised $104,478
2021 raised $55,272
2020 raised $32,810
2019 raised $27,170
2018 raised $30,289

WAY TO GO!!!!!!!

Exciting Next Steps...

We are continuing to build the Multi Activity Community Center—a project made possible by your generous support! The additions will include a dedicated space for our soap and bag making projects, eliminating the need for outdoor work and costly storage solutions at the school.

Additionally, we're creating a small stockroom, meeting room, and a space for community talks, covering vital topics such as malnutrition and reproductive health for young girls and their mothers.

Adjacent to the building, we're reserving an area for gardens and expanding the chicken farm to process meat. A small on-site store will showcase and sell the items crafted, grown, and produced on the grounds.

For a more in-depth look at our plans, check out the videos from Paterne, Brigitte, and myself below.

Testimonials...

Have you had a chance to visit our YouTube page lately? It's filled with heartfelt testimonials we've gathered from the incredible people in Rugarika this year.

Take a moment to immerse yourself in these stories—they beautifully capture the real impact of GIFTS Rwanda in the lives of those we serve. To watch these testimonials and explore our other videos, simply click here.

We believe these videos offer a genuine insight into the positive transformations happening in Rugarika, all thanks to your support and the work of GIFTS Rwanda. Below is one of my favorites from Alice.

REMINDER: Donate before the end of December to get a tax-deductible donation before the end of this financial year!

If you made it down this far THANK YOU! You are a world changer and a crucial part of making these initiatives a reality. Your ongoing support is truly transforming lives and empowering communities.

Remember, the year is not over. You can still make a difference with your tax-deductible gift for a family in Rugarika that can change everything for them.

Thank you for being a vital part of our journey, and we hope you enjoy witnessing the meaningful change you've helped make possible. Thank you for being that person.

0 Comments