Friends Of Rwanda Aid News No. 12. November 2009

Dear Friends, The wet season may have arrived in earnest but it hasn't dampened the spirits of the Rwanda Aid team here in Cyangugu with a number of positives being achieved in the month since we wrote to you last. Amongst the booms of thunder and torrential downpours the current crew at Munezero House of Martyn and Nicky Harris, their niece Jojo and volunteer Gifford have settled into their roles since arriving at the start of October. Another to settle in to a new "position" is our Country Manager Prince, who has established his office in a room at Munezero to allow him more privacy when conducting meetings and his day-to-day tasks. He's so delighted with his new digs he even has a mirror on the wall to check himself out before presenting to the public! Prince at home in his new office From past newsletters you will be aware of the plight of the people from Nkombo - the tiny island in Lake Kivu that was badly damaged in the February 2008 earthquake - and how Rwanda Aid built five new homes for some of the worst affected families. We are delighted to report construction has begun on six more of these "progressive houses" on Nkombo and we hope the recipient families, currently living in appalling conditions, will be moved in before Christmas. Like the Progressive Houses already built, this phase will incorporate water tanks filled by roof guttering, compost toilets, clay stoves and strong, termite resistant foundations. They will also feature a large section of land where the families can generate income through cultivation. The early stages of construction on one of the new houses on Nkombo On October 19 a tombola - or lucky dip - was conducted on the site where the new houses are being built. The six plots were marked out by Martyn and the building contractor Damascene. Each plot was given a number and picking from a pile of ripped up bits of paper on the earth floor (the tombola) each family was allocated their respective land in the local fashion of "all things fair". Construction began the following day. To encourage the recipient families to be involved in the building process, so as to learn skills that may benefit them in the future and to lend a hand in the construction of a house that they themselves will move into, Rwanda Aid requested each family donate two family members to Damascene's labour force. One of the volunteers is recompensed with a daily wage while the other family member works pro bono. Martin, the head of one of the families receiving a new home, is so keen to have his house finished he has been working alone outside normal hours. "I want my house finished in one month," Martin said recently. Little wonder. He and his nine member family have been living in a partially collapsed home since the earthquake. Martin at work on the site where his new home will be Rwanda Aid recently revisited some of the families living in the first phase of Progressive Houses on Nkombo and we were very pleased to see they were in great working order and the recipients in far better social situations. But the daily struggle for food and health continues for many. Staying with the building side of things, renovation is also underway on the farm manager's house at Murangi. The house was condemned after being damaged in the 2008 earthquake but to lose such a building seemed a waste. So a reinforced concrete ring beam has been constructed in the top courses of bricks to take the support of the roof while vertical concrete columns are being erected in the corners of the house to give further strength. A new bathroom is also on the list of improvements. Gad, our Murangi Farm Manager, will be able to move in prior to Christmas. The computer system at our office at Munezero House is now fully networked. After a lot of patience with equipment and Internet issues, Jojo has managed to get all five computers currently at the office on a semi-decent Internet connection and utilising the two printers currently here. This has made working considerably easier and altogether made the office more efficient and functional. Jojo's vast computer skills are also being used to network six PCs at Mururu Teacher Training School allowing them to have Internet in the future and to utilise their one printer on multiple machines. She has also eradicated many viruses and rebuilt the PCs so they are more functional for the students. In addition she has reorganised the lab at Mururu so it will be an easy transition when donated new computers, designated for the school, arrive via container in the coming weeks. Finally a note from Ali, our Executive Manager (Farming):- Rwanda Aid has also been supporting the Tree Nursery Project in south-west Rwanda. The project involves establishing and maintaining tree nurseries in struggling communities. The trees help provide the means for people to become more self-sufficient through sales of timber, firewood and fruit as well as improving the soil strength, yielding better crops and raising the health of the people. Rwanda Aid recently took on the coordination of the funding for this project that was set up in 2000 with two nurseries. There are now 14 covered by the project. Thank you for your ongoing support and interest From the Rwanda Aid team