a bit of backtracking

I wanted to do some backtracking a bit; tell you how far No.41 has come and then what's next for us. I'm realizing now, that I sometimes assume that everyone knows our story, so just in case you don't, I'm going to start from the beginning. Kinda.

This time last year, after living at the orphanage for six months, I had a pretty lengthy list of annoyances. Things that would never fly at home and areas that I felt maybe I could make some small difference. After a lot of prayer and seeking wise counsel, I decided that my heart was with the, often forgotten, oldest girls at the orphanage (ages 18-24). Most of these girls had finished secondary school, but didn't have the money for university, and had no real life or jobs skills to get them out of the orphanage, so they sat in their rooms all day. Every day. It was important to me not just to be able to teach these girls a culturally relevant trade, but to show them that their life has value, that they were created for a purpose. We all have God-given gifts and talents and with that, we are all called to give back. And that's how the feeding program was born.

In our village, we have 4 main public schools. The primary (elementary) students all go half-day, so most will either eat lunch before or after school. The secondary students (Jr. High and High school) go all day, 7a-3p, and most don't eat lunch. The schools can't afford to provide food, but they do offer a 20-minute break, so any students that live close enough can go home to eat. Most do not. The effects of not eating a healthy lunch are far-reaching, not just on the body, but on the developing mind. How different would the education system here be if these kids could focus on their studies and not their growling bellies?

Soooo, there you go. So much of what we do now has developed over time. Had I known all of this would be on, what feels like, my shoulders, I would have run the other way. Even the small amount I did know felt like too much, which is why the business is called No.41, meaning FOR ONE. We are doing this thing one at time. That's what I tell myself, anyway. But ONE has become 32 young women with sustainable jobs. ONE has become 17 girls enrolled in university. ONE has become 650 students eating a hot, healthy lunch starting in January.

When this business began, we had very little money, a small dream, and a whole lot of faith. Today, nine months later, we have very little money, a large and growing dream, and even more faith. We have seen God move mountains for the girls and these children, but there is still a long way to go. And we need your help. Here's where we are heading over the next few months: A $41,000 campaign to continue changing lives! (Yes, $41,000 was a happy accident.) The breakdown looks like this:

Living expenses $4000 (through July)

University fees and boarding (4 girls/one year)$6,000

Sewing school

Rent 2 houses (one year) $6,000

Machines and chairs (13) $1,700

Furniture (workspace/storage) $1500

Burlap $2000 (1month)

Screen-printing supplies $500

Hire sewing instructor (1month) $500

Shipping (bags from Rwanda to US) $2000

Marketing

Website $500

Tags for bags $900

Feed Program

12 Ovens $1000

Cooking staff (one year) $6000

Pots and pans/dishes (for 750) $1500

Cafeteria furniture $2000

I know many of your are preparing for the holidays and a campaign like this seems daunting, but every little bit helps. Every single dollar goes so far. Maybe you could get together with a few friends and buy a sewing machine ($116) or two, or maybe your lifegroup could team up to raise funds and pay university fees for one girl for one year ($1500). Maybe a group of your coworkers could contribute to the website. Maybe your family is crazy (in the very best way) and you would like to set up a monthly donation to pay the salaries of the entire cook staff ($6000) for a year. I don't know what it looks like, but I believe it's possible.

I am so inspired by these girls, every day. By their passion and their, new found, hope for the future. This thing has only just begun!! You guys have been my backbone through this whole thing, whether you knew it or not. Your prayers, your encouraging words, your support, mean so much. Please keep them coming. I love you and I am so thankful for you! To make a donation click on 'donate' at the top of this page.

and so it begins...

Are y'all ready for this?! 

Maybe you should sit down. 

THIS IS HUGE!!

We've been saying it for a while,

No.41 is growing. Big and fast.

We've been telling you there are a ton of ways you can get involved.

THERE ARE!

And not just you, 

your family, 

your church, 

your small group, 

your 5th grade class, 

your mom...

Well anyway, HERE IT IS!!

Do you wanna give life with your holiday funds this year?

Let me give you a quick rundown on where your money will go:

Living expenses

Somebody's gotta run this show

$4000 (through July)

University fees and boarding 

$6,000 (4 girls/one year)

Sewing school

Rent $6,000 (2 houses/one year)

Machines and chairs (13) $1,700

Furniture (workspace/storage) $1500

Burlap $2000 (1month)

Screen-printing supplies $500

Hire sewing instructor $500 (one month)

Shipping (to US) $2000

Marketing

Website $500

Tags for bags $900

Feed Program

12 Ovens $1000

Cooking staff (one year) $6000

Pots and pans/dishes (for 750) $1500

Cafeteria furniture $2000

Yes, a few of the needs listed have been met, but we have had to 'borrow' money that is set aside for feeding to keep up with the growth.

And, maybe now would be a good time to tell y'all that there was a little miscalculation when it came to how many children we would be feeding, starting in January.

We were originally told 250.
There are 650!! 

We are moving forward in faith. We know God has plans to bless so many!

We would love for y'all to partner with us.

We need your partnership.

You are providing:
food, jobs, education, homes, and most of all HOPE.

Jump in! Anywhere! 

There is no gift too large or too small!!

Click on that donate link at the top of this page.

And don't hesitate to share with your friends.

We looooove you!

 

here we grow

Oh my word. 

We have been believing God for some pretty big things around here and, y'all, we are so excited to share what He's been up to.

First of all, if you haven't already heard, No.41 has funded our first full year of meals for our first local school!! Meaning, the girls have sold 250+ bags and, in turn, provided a hot, healthy school lunch to an entire secondary school, everyday, for an entire year! We will begin providing meals when the new school year starts in January. Holla!

Second, last week, we enrolled sixteen girls in university! That is half of our little muffin heads!

Holy moly.

The average total cost of university is $1,500/yr, per girl and His Chase is so graciously helping with the funding. We could not be more thankful. Six of our girls are at universities out of town, all over Rwanda, and ten are studying here in Gisenyi. Although school is now their number one priority, we are excited that these (10) girls will continue working, limited hours, at No.41 and will be able to contribute to their education. That's huge!

Third... we are expanding! As in, we got a specifically designated workspace for No.41!

A few months ago, our landlord decided to build a house in our backyard. Typically, that might be weird, but we snagged that puppy up and we should be able to move in on Friday! Space has become a major issue for us, which is crazy when I think back a few months, to just me wondering what in the world I was going to do with this huge 5 bedroom house. Six months, 32 employees, 10 sewing machines, and nearly 20 house guests later, we are out of space.

Which brings us to, number four, we are letting go of the bead making, buying 22 new sewing machines, bringing back our favorite teacher, Medi, and every girl will now be sewing!

With the new house, solely dedicated to working, we will have space for 32 machines! Everyone is stoked about this. This means more bags for y'all and more money for the chickadees. (The girls make a commission on what they sell and we have always sold more bags than beads.) Glo.ry!

Now, here's where you come in. We will be launching a major fundraising campaign later this month, where we are going to break down all of the ways you can be involved, but in true No.41 fashion, we have gotten way ahead of ourselves (or way behind, if you're not into looking on the bright side).

Soooo, if you would like to contribute to the university fund, or help cover house expenses (rent is $140/month), or purchase a sewing machine ($150) please follow the link on the top right hand side of the blog (second photo down, 'donate here'). There is a drop down menu with my name (tara clapper, nice to meet you). His Chase has recently updated their giving provider, so if you have donated before it doesn't look familiar, don't worry.

Y'all there aren't words for what is happening here. And none of this is possible without you. Thank you so much for your prayers, your love, and your support. We truly are changing our small little corner of the world.

Stay tuned for much more, coming very soon!

PS all of the photos are taken by, the very talented, Alison Holcomb. A couple of them are outtakes from a recent photo shoot for the website. We can't wait to show you more! To check out Alison's view of our little world, you can visit her here.

Round 2

Happy Tuesday!

And a very happy Tuesday it is!

We got the call yesterday that 3 of our little bugs have been selected to go for English testing and interviews at The Akilah Women's Institute on Friday!

Passy, Amelie and Diane

I mean, I suppose we're not surprised, they are pretty stinking amazing.

But, if you're the praying type, we would love for you to join us in prayer for our sweet loves.

The interview is Friday morning at 9am (that's probably Thursday evening for most of you).

Here's a little blurb about Akilah:

Akilah empowers young women in East Africa to transform their lives by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to find meaningful employment and launch ventures in the fastest growing sectors of the economy.

  Go babies, Go!

boss.

Happy Wednesday!

or is it Thursday?

Either way, we're talking bucket list today.

44. Be the boss.

Technically, around these parts, I'm the boss.

I'm the boss who can't sew.

I'm the boss that sets her alarm for 7:30, when work starts at 8.

I'm the boss whose eyes shoot open at 7:15, thinking I overslept, but realizing that my living room is full of beautifully overachieving worker bees and humming sewing machines.

I'm the boss. Lord, help us.

44. Be the boss.

Meet the Newbies

You've gotta move quick around here!
These two girls just started the school on Monday and it looks like they may already have sponsors. Holla!

Angel

I mean, beautiful inside and out is the best way to describe Angel. She was attending school with a couple of our girls and they asked if she could join. I am so excited to have her.

Angel is 24 years old and is the youngest of four children; she has three older brothers. When their mother died in childbirth, their father was raising all four children on his own until 1998 when he suddenly died of an unknown illness. Angel was 10 years when she and her brothers went to live with their aunt.

Angel has finished secondary school and hopes to continue her studies at a university in America. She would like to study journalism or tourism, but in the meantime, she would also like to work at the airport. Stamping passports. :)

Angel is happy to be learning at the sewing school. If she makes so much money, she is going to buy a house for her aunt. She would like to increase her sewing business to earn even more money and solve many of her problems.

She is so so happy to have a sponsor. She knows you will be very nice to her. She wants to call you her family, because she has no one in her life and she wishes to be a good child for you. She thanks God and she loves you so much.

Sandrine

Oh, I am so excited to have Sandrine in the sewing school. Her dad is the gatekeeper at the orphanage and he is one of my favs. (I think because he plays hard to get.) He is one of those strong, silent types. Until one day, he came and asked me if his daughter could come learn to sew. He lit up and he has been glowing ever since.

Sandrine is one of seven children. At 23 years old, she is the oldest, followed by an 18 year old, 16, 15, 14, 13, and a 12 year old. Whew. Sandrine was the only child her parents could afford to put through school and she graduated in 2009. She would like to continue her studies at university and hopes to earn and accounting degree. Sandrine would like to find a job working in a bank.

The sewing school is very nice for her, because learning to sew, she will be able to help her family by making and repairing clothes. Sandrine's family of nine is currently renting the house where they live for 10,000 rwf/month ($15). She hopes that with the money she earns, she will be able to help her parents buy their own home.

Sandrine is so excited to get a sponsor. First, she would like to say thank you for your good deeds of loving her. She hopes to have a very good relationship with you.

So,there you go. The count sits a 24; quite a jump from the original 6. We will still have two more chances to sponsor, once our two sickes get back. More soon.

Thanks, yo!

More Lovely Ladies

Oh my lordy. Y'all, I am so behind.

Listen, I've been very busy being a terrible hostess to my two lovely house guests.

Sorry, Charlies.

OK, so here's the skinny,

these little ladybugs ALL have sponsors (thank you!!!), but I am so excited for you to get to meet them and love them as much as I do.

Sandrine

I don't know what else to say about Sandrine but, she has swagger. And crazy cool style with a tom-boyish edge. I keep trying to trade clothes with her; she hasn't taken me up on it. Yet.

Born in 1992, Sandrine is 20 years old and has lived at Noel her whole life. When she was 2 months old, she was found in a box, outside the hospital in town. Her parents were never found.Sandrine says she is happy at the orphanage and thankful that God gave her the chance to live there.

Though Sandrine never made it past the 8th grade, she would like to go to America and study to be a chef.

She loves the sewing school and she says she is going save her money to help her solve many of her problems; such as, lack of accessories, shoes, and jackets.

Sandrine is VERY happy for her new sponsor family, Blake and Chelsea. She is thankful that you both are "fresh" like her. She can't wait to meet you one day.

Clarisse 

Clarisse is quiet and hardworking. I think she is still coming out of her shell.

Born in 1990, Clarisse came to Noel, at four years old, when both parents were killed in the genocide. Clarisse is an only child. She is thankful that the orphanage has taken care of her and paid her school fees all these years.

Clarisse would like to study graphic design at a university in America. She hopes to find a good job in advertising.

She is thankful for the sewing school, but she would prefer to be using her special art skills, such as drawing. She gains much happiness by using her hands.

Clarisse says thank you to Merrill and David for choosing her. She promises to be a very kind child for you. She can't wait to meet you one day and she knows y'all will have many good conversations.

Vestine

 

Oh, I just love Vestine. She is happy and helpful and a dang hard worker. I also think she plays sick because she likes cough drops....but that's beside the point.

Vestine is 23 years and has been at Noel since she was 4, when both of her parents passed away of unknown illnesses. She thinks that she remembers having sisters, but she hasn't seen them since coming to the orphanage. She is thankful that the orphanage took her in as a young child and raised her to be a young woman without any problems. She is happy that they were able to pay her school fees so that she could study very well.

Vestine would like to study Social Psychology in America, so that one day she can become a teacher. She would like to be able to provide trauma counseling to people in need.

She is thinks the sewing school is verrry nice. She is happy to gain skills that she was not able to gain in the orphanage. She plans to use her money to solve many of the problems she meets in her life and she would like to be able to give back to other orphans.

To the Kru family, she is very happy for you and can't wait to know you. She loves you so much and she is excited to work together with you.

 Patrice

 I lovingly call Patrice, Aunt Patty. She has been sponsored by my Gran. And I dare you to try and tell me she is not one of the cutest things you've ever seen.

Patrice is 20 years and has been at Noel since 1994 when both of her parents were killed in the genocide. She has one sister, 16, who is also living at the orphanage. She is so thankful that she has been able to study and has been given good care. She is happy to live with others who understand her problems.

Patrice would like to study business management at university and hope to become a successful business woman running an enterprise.

She thinks the sewing school is very nice and will help her in her life long process, by teaching her many skills and how to manage her money.

Gran, she is very happy to have you as a sponsor. And she is very happy to have a family together with you. She plans to work very hard and make you very happy to have her.

Therese

Every day she's hustlin'. Therese doesn't love to have her picture taken, but I'll tell you this, girlfriend can sew. And her skills are such a blessing to all of us.

Therese is 23 years old and has been at Noel for as long as she can remember. She doesn't know when she came. She doesn't know anything about her parents. And has no siblings or other family that she knows of. She is happy to be at the orphanage because she gets good care and she is thankful that they were able to pay her school fees.

Therese was in public school until the 7th grade when she decided she wanted to attend a vo-tech to learn sewing. She would like to continue on with her vocational training and learn about customer care, possibly in a restaurant or hotel. Her big dream is to work in a hotel one day.

She is very happy for the sewing schools because she is able to continue learning and she is able to work together with her friends. She is glad to have her own money without having to beg mother (Madame) for it.

King Family, she is happy because you have selected her. She loves you very much and she knows you will be very helpful in teaching her many things. Kelly, Haley and Lauren, she is ready to sew you some skirts. ;)

Clementine

 Clementine is our only mama. She is living in Mahoko, a nearby town, and walks about 30 minutes to work every day.

Clementine came to the orphanage in 1997, when she was 10 years old. She had been living with her mother, brother and two sisters. Her mother was very poor and she felt it best for Clementine to enter the orphanage so that she could get a good education. After finishing secondary school in 2003, Clementine returned back home to be with her family. She has a four year old son, Clement.

Clementine is thankful to the orphanage for caring for her and helping her to study very well. She would like to continue her studies in human sciences and one day go into management.

She loves the sewing school because it is so nice. The money she makes is going to help her buy many things she needs for her family and she hopes it will help her achieve her big dream of going into management.

Taylor, Clementine thanks God so much for allowing you to be her sponsor. She can't wait to be your friend and hopes to see you face to face one day.


Agnes

 

Sweet Agnes just started the sewing school last week. She has jumped in head first and in just four days, she has started her first feed bag.

Agnes is 22 years old and came to Noel in 1994 when her mother was killed in the genocide and her father wasn't able to care for the children. Agnes has two brothers and one sister, all living together in the orphanage.

Agnes is thankful to the orphanage for keeping her family together and for caring for them all these years. She is thankful she has been able to get a good education and study very well. She would like to continue her studies in university. She is interested in computer science and would like to go into management one day. Possibly in a bank.

She is happy to be in the sewing school and she plans to use her money to help buy the materials she needs to study and to help her achieve her good future.

Agnes is very, very, very happy for her sponsor and new family. She can't wait to build a friendship with you and hopes to meet you face to face one day.


Thank y'all for loving these girls. You are blessing their lives more than you know. They have seen your pictures and their pure joy and immediate love brought me to tears. I wouldn't be surprised if you felt it all the way over there. As I have said, all of this, YOU, are beyond their wildest dreams. I can't wait for you to know them more.
Thaaaaaank yoooou!!