Eight years walking

From the humble beginnings of 2004 these kids are now the teens below

Welcome back to school Kids!!

When asked why in a hurry, one of the students responded, "We are going back to our books".

In less than a month at home, these kids have been pestering their parents to go back to school. They  know and love the school that cares and in return make surprises to everyone. They simply love to go and their movement fills the air with their awesome smiles.

With the discovery of how many kids in the households do not eat adequate  food or sleep on empty stomachs, Rubanda Solidarity school is making an incredible difference.

Eight years later 2011  these teens are able to sit for their National examination in 2012

We struggle to provide three meals a day, something that has created a big smile on our children's faces and hearts.
Its just a dream for many kids who were never sure whether the next meal would be possible or when it would be served back in their family.

This could be one of the many reasons why these kids enjoy beginning their busy day with a thanksgiving and praising prayer to God each morning they rise up. They know quite well that all they have is from God's providence. He therefore deserves recognition.

In the 2011 picture above, these children are celebrating their "Thanksgiving Mass". They are thanking God for ending and returning well from their vacation. 

In those big baskets that you see on their heads are some of their scholastic assorted items  and hand written small letters expressing each ones special intention to God for the new academic term. They thank, praise and invoke God's blessing.  "Oh God thank you for enabling us to be in a good school which many kids like us are unable to have...", once one of the kids was heard praying. They are cute.

Just as kids know that eating is essential to life, students at Rubanda Solidarity have discovered how God is another essential  ingredient to quality education and successful future. With this discovery, they do amazing things.

They wake up early in the morning to praise God just like morning birds do. They thank God for accompanying them through the tense darkness of the night with no candle nor burning charcoal  for light but with God as their only hope, and guide and light. Lastly then, they also pray to God for their new long day's blessing.

As they clean up their faces they greet each other with that gentle and soft Rukiga word , "Oreiregye" which is synonymous to saying, "Did you sleep well" in English. They have made it one of their new morning culture.

When the day scholars arrive, together they join for breakfast, always with God. At that moment, they always remember that there are other thousands of kids in the community  and around the world who are less fortunate and unable to have even a mug of porridge each morning. And when all is done, they move to their shades put up for their classrooms and open their books.  They are normally well composed and attentive listeners because their stomachs are warm and they are cute. 

However, once in a while there are some abstractions as there are some fall offs from congested benches due to limited furniture. Most kids sit shoulder to shoulder squeezed on small benches a struggle that may also serve as a solution for the  scramble over the few text books available, if any.

Its incredible to see these kids go through this limitless list of poverty and yet still have the stamina to make it to the end. And Rubanda Solidarity has discovered their real needs of which we are committed with a slow but sure  process due to limited resources.

Its therefore not surprising to see kids falling in love with Rubanda Solidarity School  when its mission is all to the kids interests providing child healthy development  and quality education care. This is all what kids need. They just need someone to lean  to and provide for security. And with combined efforts Rubanda community through Rubanda Solidarity initiatives is creating a new culture for child care, protection and provision for  quality education and better life.

We have many positive signs already: increasing community participation, expanding school enrollment, reduced school resentment and dropouts, increasing community volunteers, better security for kids and increased community financial contribution and sustainability of the project by the community..

Lastly, Children are a gift from God to a family and community. They have a right to healthy and good life that requires collective responsibility. And this is why Rubanda Solidarity is doing all it can afford, in its meager resources, to attain its goal. All in the interest of children.

Please, if you feel moved to join us on our journey to our mission just post to us your desire and request in the comment box provided below this article and we will reach you soon.

.