Drawstring Bags at Isha and More Mural Painting at Ngwino Nawe

A year ago when visiting Isha School a member of our group was struck by how many children walked, ran and played still holding on to their book and pen. It is one of their most prized possessions and they desperately don’t want to lose it for most of their parents can’t afford to buy a new one.

 Francine and Alex show the pupils how they can wear their bags

The pupils receiving their bags with excitement

All the children were wearing their bags proudly

Enough money was raised to provide each child (there are nearly 800 children in the school) with a drawstring bag, a book and pen.  The head teacher arranged for all the children of both morning and afternoon sessions to be at school today for us to give each of them a bag. All the children came out to the playground and patiently waited their turn to eagerly accept a bag. The children’s excitement and delight were contagious and their truthful appreciation truly humbling. We all enjoyed watching them putting their bags on and adjusting the strings to fit them, as well as putting their used books and pen in a safe place: their own new book bag.  This heartwarming experience made us all again realise how much we all have to be grateful for and humbled to see how happy these children are even if they don’t have a world filled with earthly possessions.  It will stay with us for a long time to come. 

Isha School Photo

 Love for the bags!

 Rwanda Aid teachers and Isha School teachers (with their bags!)

Thank you for all the children and parents of Normanhurst School, Chingford, North London who raised funds with a sponsored walk and many friends and family who donated funds to make this great gift possible. 

 Putting the finishing touches to the outside wall

This afternoon we went back to Ngwino Nawe to continue painting the murals we started on Monday.  As term had finished on Wednesday, only a few students were still around – those who live at the children’s village permanently because they do not have families to go home to.  There were some familiar faces from earlier in the week – and it was great to see some characters from last year too.  The outside wall has been painted completely and now brightly welcomes visitors to Ngwino Nawe with an outline of both Rwanda and Africa, on which the children enjoyed pointing out both Nyamasheke and Rwanda respectively.

David and Fidele painting the wall

Fidele and Maddie drawing shells

 A younger pupil helps an older pupil with the turtle

On the inside wall there is a beautiful seascape taking shape, which the children really enjoyed helping to paint.  There will be learning aids as part of the mural – such as numbers and the alphabet so that the teachers can use the wall in lessons.  In the process we discovered some great artistic talent in the students, as well as great initiative in creating straight lines with masking tape!  It was also brilliant to see the older children helping younger ones throughout the afternoon.

  

Rameck paints the angel fish

Mechack adds to the Rwandan patterns on the outside wall