Sponsor's update from Kigali, Rwanda

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Kigali, Rwanda from Winter 2007/2008

Dear Sponsor,

The children, the mothers as well as the staff of SOS children's Village Kigali send you their sincere greetings. We also seize this occasion to announce to you news concerning our SOS Village.

In September, the village welcomed a new baby of one year (a boy); who made the total of children to be 148 (77 boys and 71 girls). We equally proceeded to the employment of two SOS mothers in replacement to those who left during the first term.

Other events equally marked the life at SOS Children’s Village of Kigali. There was a civil marriage of a former child of our SOS Village who is currently employed at SOS Children’s Village of Byumba. There were some traditional ceremonies which took place in the Village on that day. SOS children and the entire staff participated actively to the success of the event.

On 01st June, we celebrated the SOS Mother's Day in a harmonious mood; dances and games were among the activities held on that day. SOS Mothers, SOS staff and the children shared some food and refreshments. Also SOS Children gave gifts to their mothers as a sign of gratitude for the work done for them.

Events through the year at Kigali

On 23rd June of this year, we were able to celebrate the International day of SOS - KDI in the presence of the authorities our district and those from the City of Kigali. The day was celebrated well; traditional dances, speeches and other activities were presented by SOS Children and the administration of the SOS Village and the invited guest of honour. The acrobatics attracted the full attention of the visitors and the warrior dance.

The SOS youths Community of SOS Kigali currently has 71 youths (40 boys and 31 girls). They frequent different schools: 59 attend the senior secondary schools and 12 attend the universities in the country. Two youths (a girl and a boy) were able to be awarded their bachelors degree in Management and Law and they have been able to obtain jobs; one in a teaching sector and the other in the Public Administration.

SOS Technical School of Kigali currently has a total of 106 students of which 27 come from the three SOS Children’s Villages of the country. Those coming from SOS Kigali are six (two boys and four girls). New teaching methods were introduced at this school to mention audiovisual methods and each teacher is accessed to a laptop which facilitates him in the preparations of lessons and this laptop is used to project information and data using a projector RCD which was installed in every class. Some of the SOS mothers registered themselves to the evening courses provided at this school about data processing (computer work) that the school organizes to the intention of the general public. All the teachers at this school have begun an English course at the same school which will last for 6 months. The school equally signed partnership contracts with certain businesses of the country with the intention of sending there students to carry out professional practice.

The school organised a practical competition in carpentry and electricity at the level of ten technical schools of the country in preparations of a regional competition that will take place at Nairobi in November this year; among them, we were able to register two SOS Children. In collaboration with the Ministry of Education in the country, the school organised a national workshop concerning the self employment of the youths.

Working in partnership

With the support of the parents of our pupils and Ministry of Education in our country, SOS Primary School of Kigali introduced a computer-assisted teaching program and we have the objectives to be able to arrive at a computer for two children at the end of this year. Children at the SOS Kindergarten section have begun to be initiated to the use of the computer.

SOS Medical Centre of Kigali works normally and it welcomes an average of 27 patients each day. Malaria cases noticeably diminished due to local administration country’s advice to the population of the country. Our medical Centre received free anti malaria medicines as a gift against the malaria from the Ministry of Health. We also buy anti-malaria medicine at a cheap price.

At the national level, the poverty reduction, the Aids and the unemployment preoccupy a lot the administration authorities. At the end of this year, the Rwandese will obtain electronic new identity cards. GACACA local courts will finish the judgments of the presumed genocide perpetrators by the end of this year 2007.

Dear sponsor, we again send to you once again, our best gratitude and wishing to you great happiness and prosperity during the occasions of Christmas and the New Year 2008.

Best regards,

NTABANA Louis
Village Director