Student Sponsorships. Round 2.

Here we go with round two of student sponsorships! 

All of the interviews are being done by our intern extraordinaire, Megan. Megs is from the UK, in case you couldn't tell, yesterday, from some of my missed spelling changes: programme. whilst, favourite... :) Anyway, this was such a fun day! During lunchtime, the kids wandered in slowly, at first, not sure what was going to be asked of them. I took their photos and they giggled as I tried to make them smile. (Smiling for photos or even looking at the camera it not really a thing here.) After photos, they lined up with Megan. She keeps pretty much everything light and fun and it was so cool to see the students open up and relax. It appeared that they had never been asked such simple questions before, they laughed as they thought carefully about each one. 

Maybe I'm one to make things flowery, or imagine a moment in my own head, but I will remember this day forever. I will remember that it's in the tiniest of gestures that we have the ability to make another person feel known. Appreciated. Seen. We talk a ton about the students in our feeding program, but it's rare to get the opportunity to really talk to them. 

Starting the feeding program was really birthed as a way for the women at No.41 to give back to their community; to know that their life had worth, meaning, and purpose, but I had no idea the blessings that would come as a result of a $0.25 meal received by the students. I wish there was some other way to say it, that wasn't so cliche, but their. world. is. changing. And the joy and hope is contagious.

It's just $5/MONTH to sponsor one student for a hot, healthy meal every day! Just $5! And you can do that quickly and painlessly here. Let us know who you would like to sponsor, we have a handwritten thank you from the student to send you.

Thank you for changing our world!

Name: MANIRITO Jeanne

Age: 21

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Mathematics

Favorite food: Chapatti

Jeanne wants to work in medicine and find cured for bad diseases.

Name: HAKIZIMANA Patrick

Age: 22

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Biology

Favorite food: Rice

Patrick loves biology and hopes to inspire others, through teaching, so that they love biology as much as he does.

Name: NZABONIMANA Jean Pierre

Age: 20

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Geography

Favorite food: Potatoes

Jean Pierre is the youngest of 9 siblings and hopes to become a professional solider.

"I want to thank the program as it helps us to increase our standard of living and learning."

Name: MUSHIMIYIMANA Christian

Age: 17

Grade: Senior 6 (12th grade)

Favorite subject: Biology

Favorite food: Rice

Christian is serious and determined and dreams of becoming a doctor so that he can save others.

Name: TUYIZERE Amani

Age: 18

Grade: Senior 5 (11th grade)

Favorite subject: Geography

Favorite food: Kaunga (corn maize)

Amani lives over 50km from school, but during term time he rents a floor space near by so he can eat a hot lunch, enabling him to study successfully.

Name: BIZIMANA Osward

Age: 19

Grade: Senior 5 (11th grade)

Favorite subject: English, Swahili and Kinyarwanda

Favorite food: Meat

Osward’s favorite sport is football, he plays as often as he can. Not only does he love English football teams but he also dreams of visiting England one day as a tour guide!


There are still several students from yesterday's post available for sponsorship, as well. Don't forget to leave a note with the students name that you would like to sponsor, they have a little something to send you. Donate here. 

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.