Our day with the orphans (part 2)

After my hilarious encounter with the children about my freckles (yes, this is Barton writing now), we presented an HP laptop to the Rebero Orphan Center (ROC) that SVF bought for them to jump start their computer literacy program.  Emmanuel, one of the founders, was a computer science major, so he will be able to help teach the kids how to use computers and the Internet.  Additionally, we brought over some fun educational computer games so that the kids can practice up on their Math, English, Science, and other subjects.

 

Next, everyone at the center ate lunch that was prepared by the older orphans.  We were treated to a delectable meal of rice (that was somewhat creamy), some green creamed spinach-ish veggie, boiled beef, potatoes, and orphan-baked cake.  I was somewhat adventurous and chowed down on the beef, but Brin stuck to the rice and green veggie.  Over lunch, we discussed the business of the ROC with Emmanuel and Leonce, and we were pleased to verify that they have remained close to budget and have kept all of the receipts for their expenditures of SVF funds.  At this point, the SVF funds have entirely funded many beneficial purposes, including health insurance for the children, construction of a classroom annex, hiring of a teacher, hiring of a master's-level program director to oversee and develop programs at the ROC, development of a lunch program, and successful planting and growing of a vegetable garden to provide food for the families of the orphans.  Most importantly, Emmanuel and Leonce emphasized that the SVF funds are the blessing that they have been hoping and praying for, giving them hope for the future and the ability to make a plan.

 

After lunch, Leonce said that it was time to give the children the gifts that we had brought from the U.S., that many of you had donated to SVF.  This was one of the main purposes of our trip, so we were eager to see the children's reactions to what Americans thought would make good Christmas gifts for Rwandans.  We set all of the gifts out on a table in one of the rooms at the ROC, everything from stuffed animals and dolls to arts and craft supplies to soccer balls.  The children were getting very eager and excited as they stared into the room through a window.  Once it was all setup, Leonce led the children in one at a time to pick a gift.  The children were ecstatic to get new toys -- very excited with big smiles on their faces.  We have some good pictures that we will post showing some of the children getting gifts --- so look for your toys (we will post a couple of the pictures due to limited bandwidth, but we are planning on posting many more pics once we get home and also creating a digital montage).  Apparently we have now set an expectation of giving Christmas gifts to the children, so we may need to come back next year -- not too bad of a problem to have, though.  Once each of the children had a gift, they ran around for a while and played with them.  Many of them made some lovely artistic works using their crayons and markers and other arts and crafts supplies, and others enjoyed sharing and trading their stuffed animals and dolls with each other.

 

After we thought we had seen everything, the children treated us to another traditional Rwandan dance, complete again with traditional outfits and singing and drumming.  They really know how to move, and you can see that they enjoying dancing the entire time.

 

At this point, it was getting later in the afternoon, so the children began to head to their homes.  We helped Leonce straighten up the center, and we planned to meet up with Leonce and Emmanuel on Wednesday, Dec. 30, to go shopping with them to buy with SVF funds any additional items and supplies that they may currently need.

 

Overall, I was taken aback by the full-time dedication and spirit that Emmanuel and Leonce put into the ROC, apparently day-in and day-out.  They have put their entire hearts and souls into the center since they formed it about 5 years ago, and the children are beginning to reap the rewards.  Even more, I was happy to see them smiles on the children’s faces and to see that they are enjoying their time spent at the center and are benefitting by receiving health care and education, among other things.  The center has only begun to reach its full potential.