Student Sponsorships

I feel like I have said this before, but it bears repeating, when the No.41 feeding program started we thought there were 250 students. That felt huge! At that time, we only sold Signature Bags (that feed one student for one year) so, once we had sold 250 we went to the school to get started on preparing for the new year. At that meeting, I was informed that the school had recently added on and there would be 650 students. The Headmaster was so happy to learn that we would follow through on our promise to feed all of the students and our faith walk began. We didn't have the money, yet, but we trusted that as the school year went on, the money would come. We moved forward on building out the kitchen and buying the necessary supplies. One month out from the first day of school, we got word that there were another 100 students enrolled, because they heard about the chance to eat lunch. At this point, I (not so graciously) informed the Headmaster that, if he wanted us to feed all of the students, we would have to cap the number. 750 had to be it. The month was gone in a flash and on the first day of school we arrived to feed 870 students!!

As January of 2014 rolled around, and our second year of feeding kicked off, we were (and still are) feeding 1,200 teachers and students. The need is so great and I never want to be that girl who limits the blessings of God because we have certainly seen them poured out around here. As long as there are mouths to feed we want to, faithfully, do what we can to provide food and, in turn, a solid education. But, can I just be honest and say that, feeding 1,200 people every day is a true test of faith. We are nothing but thankful for all of the blessing we have been given and this week YOU have a chance to be a blessing to one of our students. To change their whole world, for just $5 a month.

Every day this week, I'm going to introduce you to ten of our students who are in need of sponsorship. They aren't just numbers, they aren't just meals fed. They are people with lives, new-found hope, and aspirations for the future. Please take a minute to read through and see who's world you could change by providing them with a hot, healthy school lunch, every day, for $60/year or just $5/month. Donate here.

Name: TUYISENGE Peter

Age: 21

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: English, Swahili and Kinyarwanda

Favorite food: Kaunga (corn maize)

Peter dreams of becoming an English teacher in the future.

Name: IS-HAQ Mutabazi

Age: 19

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: English and Swahili

Favorite food: Chicken and Chips

After completing his studies, Mutabazi aspires to become a journalist.

Name: NGOGA Pascal

Age: 20

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: History

Favorite food: EVERY type of food

Pascal wants to finish school, and travel the world whilst being a member of the international police.

"Some people are poor and do not have much money, this project is very important because all rich and poor can study and perform well together."

Name: MBARUSHIMANA Jean Damascene

Age: 22

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favourite subject: English

Favourite food: Kaunga (corn maize)

Jean Damascene loves practising English and one day dreams of traveling the world as a journalist.

Name: UMUBYEYI Diana

Age: 20

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favourite subject: English

Favourite food: Kaunga (corn maize)

Diana hopes that once this school year is complete she’ll be able to move to Kigali and become a business woman.

Name: BARIKUNDA Benjamin

Age: 19

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Chemistry

Favorite food: Potatoes

Benjamin dreams of finishing school and becoming a doctor.

Name: TURATSINZE Jean d’Amour

Age: 22

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Swahili

Favorite food: Corn

Jean d’Amour’s big dream is to become a journalist.

Name: HWIMANA Jean Didiu

Age: 21

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Biology and Chemistry

Favorite food: Potatoes

Jean Didiu loves school and hopes to work in medicine one day.

Name: UWIMBABAZI Honorette

Age: 21

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: English and Swahili

Favorite food: Rice and meat

Honorette hopes that one day she will become the top journalist in Rwanda.

Name: NSENGIMANA Theogene

Age: 21

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Mathematics

Favorite food: Rice

Theogene loves football and is fiercely determined to become a solider to protect his country.

So, you ready?? Our goal is 10 sponsored students, each day. Y'all, it's less than one Starbucks drink a month, 50 students this week and 50 next, we can do this. GO! Donate here.

Meet Our Mommas 2

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:25-31

I'm so excited to introduce Xavera (X-uh-vera) to y'all! She is our boss. Truly. Xavera is a natural leader and her work ethic is something to behold. I don't know that I could describe her any more perfectly than the verses above; a wife of noble character, indeed.

Xavera is one of two married mommas at No.41. She and her husband, Leo, both grew up at the Noel Orphanage and, now, they and their 3 kiddos are our next door neighbors! Xavera had already long moved on from Noel by the time I got there, so when I was gathering lists for who would be working at No.41, her name never came up. 

As I moved into the new house and the project got underway, I started to become friends with Leo. (I think all of my neighbors had some kind of take-care-of-Tara pact.) Leo, who was unemployed, was in charge of handyman services. He would come over in the evenings and just start fixing things, any things. Changing lightbulbs, fixing a dripping faucet, hanging curtains...Leo did all. 

One day, he came to the house to ask for a job for his wife. I had never met Xavera and, at that time, things were growing at such a rapid rate. We had more than twice as many girls as we had machines and people were coming to the house every day to ask for a job. I had to say no, to so many, until we decided to start making paper bead jewelry. 

Making paper beads required no extra space and very little in the way of materials. I immediately told Leo to ask Xavera if she could show up for training on Monday morning. She showed up, introduced herself to me, hugged on the girls, and she set about the task of meticulously cutting strips paper and turning them into beads. A quick study, Xavera became a teacher and eventually a manger. Not once has she looked back. With the addition a new house and additional machines, Xavera eventually learned to sew and continues to manage with a high standard of excellence. She is not only up for any challenge, she challenges me. She is the voice of reason and everyone looks to her as an older sister; she knows the girls, knows their habits, and they respect her (even if they don't always like what she has to say).

Xavera is a hero in my book. She leads our crew with a quiet confidence; she is willing to learn and unafraid to stand up for what's right. The income Xavera makes at No.41 supports her family, but Xavera also supports countless other families in her community by providing school lunches to students who would normally go without. Momma, leader, sister, teacher, servant, friend. Xavera is world changer and an example to us all.

If you would like to honor your momma by honoring one of ours, there are a couple of ways to do that. You can shop the shop (free shipping through Saturday!!). Each woman is paid a fair wage for the work she does and you will get a card with each handmade item letting you know exactly who made it and a bit more of her story. With every purchase, the ladies donate 100% of the proceeds back into a feeding program created at a school in their community. So, like most moms, you'll be doing double duty. :)

Thank you for reading and sharing!! This isn't possible without you!

Come back Friday and meet our next momma! And if you missed Fanny, click here.

Meet Our Mommas

"To the world you are a mother, but to your family you are the world."

Mother's Day is just around the corner and I wanted to spend some time this week sharing a few stories of some mommas that are very near and dear to our hearts. Mothers who have been empowered to change the course of their lives, and to create a lasting legacy of hope for those who will certainly follow in their footsteps. Today:

Meet Fanny and Tarison.

Fanny lost both of her parents during the Genocide in 1994 and she grew up at the Noel Orphanage. Fanny attended boarding school and graduated secondary (high school) at the top of her class. Studies came easy for her and that, coupled with her fun, spunky personality, made her somewhat of a darling at school and around Noel. 

When my path crossed with Fann's and No.41 came to be, there were roughly 100 young adults over the age of 18 living in the Noel Orphanage. With no family and limited resources, the prospect of university or becoming gainfully employed was low. Along with that, confidence was low, dreams were small, and hope was almost non-existent. No.41 and learning to sew was never on any of these girls radar, but if they weren't able to attend university, most of them were happy to have a job. 

The first day the girls came to work was the first day I met Fanny. She seemed withdrawn and told me she wasn't feeling well. She was fairly inconsistent over the next three(ish) weeks. Finally, she came to me in tears to let me know that she would be quitting her job and moving to another town to live with her sister. She was pregnant and had been kicked out of the orphanage. I didn't really know Fanny, at this point. I asked her if her sister had a job. No. Was she in school? No. Would Fanny have a job? No. School was pretty much out of the question at this point and, culturally, so was marriage. I asked Fann how she planned to support her baby and she wasn't sure. She moved in with me the next day.

It has been a joy and pleasure to see Fanny come alive. It isn't always easy, but she is getting her footing and charting a new course for her life. Because of her income at No.41 Fanny is able to support herself and her son, Tarison, who is now 18 months old. She has provided 1,000s of meals for students in her community. She has been prayed over and poured into by countless visitors, and she has gained a new sister in one of our Campus Reps, Lacey. Last year, Fanny was sponsored in to university! She continues to work at 41 and has replaced fear of the unknown with dreams and a desire to achieve. Tarison will never experience the hardships his momma endured. Fanny is a world changer and the ripples will be felt in her family and her community for generations to come. 

If you would like to honor your momma by honoring one of ours, there are a couple of ways to do that. You can shop the shop (free shipping through Saturday!!). Each woman is paid a fair wage for the work she does and you will get a card with each handmade item letting you know exactly who made it and a bit more of her story. With every purchase, the ladies donate 100% of the proceeds back into a feeding program created at a school in their community. So, like most moms, you'll be doing double duty. :) 

We, currently, have 18 gals in university. The total cost, per lady, is $200/month. If you would like to donate one time or recurring, in any amount, you can do that here. 

Thank you for reading and sharing!! This isn't possible without you!

Come back Wednesday and meet our next momma!