Visit to Ivuka Arts Center in Kigali - Saturday, 13th of July 2013

Visit to the Ivuka Arts Center in Kigali, Rwanda. There are talented artists there and they also train budding artists. There were lots of great paintings and art work on show.

My niece also took a 3 hour class to learn from the artist.

The proprietor of the centre, Charles, was very friendly and accommodating.

Hopefully the world will soon discover the great art work coming out of Rwanda!!

Visit to Building Project for Widows at Nyamata - Thursday 11th of July 2013

We went to Ntarama in Nyamata to see the foundation that has been laid for the Malpasso Building Project which aims to build duplex homes or widows. The initiative is meant to build homes for less privileged widows chosen by the community.

Below is the proposed site for the next duplex home that will be built.

Nyamata is about 70mins drive from Kigali, the capital of Rwanda.

Video - Arriving at Kimisagara, Kigali - Wednesday, 10th of July 2012

Inema Arts Center, Kigali - Wednesday, 10th of July 2013

 We visited Inema Arts Centre which is just next to the Solace Ministries Guest House in Kigali. The centre exhibits terrific art done by local Rwandan artists. We enjoyed chatting with them and also learning a bit of art from them.

Visit to Kimisagara in Kigali on Wednesday the 10th of July 2013

 We visited KAMIKAZI Divine and KIRENGA Christian in their homes in Kimisagara which is a sector within Kigali.

Their living conditions were in a very terrible state with them sleeping on uneven concrete floors.
The sector itself is in a poor state and congested.

We spent some time with each family discussing their situation, their living conditions, the progress of the children in school and most importantly, how we could help alleviate their situation.

Video Recording of Trip to Jali, Rwanda on Tuesday the 9th of July 2013

Visit to Jali in Rwanda to see sponsored children on Tuesday the 9th of July 2013

 We travelled to the district of Jali which is about 70mins drive from the capital, Kigali. We visited IGABE Fridaus, SANO NGABO Bright and NSHIMIYIMANA Olivier who are been sponsored by the Ifeyinwa Irukwu Trust Fund via Solace Ministries UK.

Rwanda is called the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' and you certainly feel it when driving uphill along long and winding roads!!

The children are doing well in school and their mothers cope financially on a day to day basis from petty trading.

We have a good time with them in their homes and shared gifts and sweets with the children.

Arrived in Kigali, Rwanda on Sunday the 7th of July 2013

 My niece and I arrived into Kigali airport at 4:45pm local time. It was my niece first time in Rwanda!! Jean-Luc (seen in the picture) picked us up at the airport and took us to the Guest House at Solace Ministries. Solace Ministries headquarters is situated in Kacyiru in Kigali.

We were settled into our rooms and I gave my niece a grand tour of the premises.

Trip to Rwanda - Saturday 1st of Dec 2012

I had a great time fellow-shipping with quite a few of the children we sponsor in Rwanda. Due to my short stay in Rwanda, we all met at the Solace Ministries Center in Kigali and they shared testimonies of their lives and how the sponsorship and support has impacted their lives. It was really an overwhelming and emotional experience.

Trip to Rwanda - Friday 30th of Nov 2012 - Computer School

The Gwenola Comupter School was set up by the Reconnect Team from Jesus House church in UK in October 2011. The computer school has been of enormous benefit to many children and also adults in learning how to use the computer and also subjects such as using power points.

These are pictures of a class in session.

Trip to Rwanda - Friday 30th of Nov 2012 - Ildebrand

Visited Ildebrand and his family at their home in Remera which is in the Gasabo district in Rwanda.

Ildebrand is one of the children who's education is sponsored by Solace Ministries UK.

Trip to Rwanda - Friday 30th of Nov 2012 - Cynthia

Visited Cynthia and her family at their home in Kinyinya which is in the Gasabo district in Rwanda.

Cynthia is one of the children who's education is sponsored by Solace Ministries UK.

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday 29th of Nov 2012

 Solace ministries owns a farm in Runda which is on the outskirts of Kigali. Community members are taught how to grow vegetables on the farm which they sell in order to generate income.

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday 29th of Nov 2012

 Visit to the Kabagali community which is about 2hours drive from Kigali. The community consists of about 200 families. We have started income generating activities in this community. They are encouraged and assisted in starting vegetable farms and pig farms. We are also encouraging them to start growing coffee which could be a very good source of income for the community.
We had a meeting at one of the proposed sites for coffee farming with the community leaders and members of the community.

Trip To Rwanda - Wednesday 28th of Nov 2012

Arrived at Kigali airport at 3:30am in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a long delay in Lagos! Thankfully Jean Gwakandi and Jean Luc were at the airport waiting for me.

Had a couple of hours sleep and was up at 8am to plan my week with Jean Gwakandi.
During the meeting with Jean, I met with Phillipe regarding establishing a community coffee farm to empower the community of Kabagali. I also met with Nicole Umutoni who runs the computer school started by Reconnect of Jesus House in London UK.

We also discussed the planned building project in Nyamata by the Malpasso group in July 2013.

We went to visit the Solace community in Nyamata (see pictures) which is in the Bugesera district in the eastern province of Rwanda. It is about 45mins drive from Kigali. Solace ministries bought a piece of land there and are building homes for widows and their families. They have built about 20 homes so far housing 20 families with an average house hold of 4people. The Nyamata community as a whole, not Solace Ministries, chose who should benefit from moving into the new homes. This helps to prevent jealousy and envy among community members. Solace ministries also encourages and assists the occupants of the homes to engage in income producing activities.

The Malpasso group from UK are planning to assist in the building project in 2013.

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Visiting Sunny

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Visiting Claudine & Mediatrice

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Visiting Vanessa

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Visiting Justine

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Speaking With Young Girls

Trip to Rwanda - Thursday, 27 October 2011 - Computer Class For Staff