First Term Wrap Up

     Our inaugural first term of school has come to a close.  The 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide is April 7th, yet schools, businesses and many government agencies do not operate for the month of April, the month of mourning.  The Imana Kids took last week to reflect in bible study and in discussion/reflection groups with James and other deacons from the church.  Many of the older students attended memorial services at the National Stadium.  There are also many free events for the public throughout Kigali and on the radio.  Although most of "our kids" were not alive during the genocide, each of them will tell you how it affected their family.  Each of them carries this in their hearts.  Please know that they are getting even more ministering and love during this difficult time of remembrance.
     Here are a few highlights from our first term:

• Every one of our Imana Kids had "good" marked for behavior. Every. Single. One.  We are overjoyed at this report.  
• Teenagers will be teenagers.  Our 16 High Hill kids had lots of complaining initially (uniforms, food, freedom, a universal theme).  Yet by mid February, all of them were quick to say that they didn't want to leave High Hill for anywhere else.  Their complaints were hard for the board at first-we want them to be happy! Thankfully, our leadership team is made up of very experienced educators, parents and social workers that were quick to point out that developmentally, these were normal responses to a totally new environment, people and expectations.
• Everyone got sick.  No worries! Just average sniffles and colds.  However, poor James traveled from school to school to reassure our kids that they were just fine.  Each of us wants TLC when we don't feel good...to an orphan TLC looks different.  It may look like a panicked phone call to demand a trip to the hospital...because of runny, itchy eyes or a headache.  James has proved himself over and over again to be a man with a heart for these kids. A patient man with a big heart!
• The top three S3 students are Imana Kids.  The number one student in the S4 class in an Imana Kid!
• We have a full time volunteer that has completed secondary school and does odd jobs to save money for college.  He currently assists James as a jack-of-all-trades.  We'd like to find a sponsor for him to get a monthly salary from us that can support his dreams to continue schooling.  Let us know if you're interested in writing his story...

     We were naive to think that once the kids were in school, our work as a foundation would slow down.  It is becoming clearer to us that one of our long term goals may include a new physical space to call home.  The Imana Kids mission statement includes providing each child of Kimisagara with access to food, a safe place to live and clean water.  Long term, we envision a space for the preschoolers that has grass to lie in the sun on, space to ride a trike and rooms with a table and chair for everyone.  This is heavy on our hearts and as we pray and seek wise counsel, won't you join us?

5 Reasons Not to Sponsor a Child

5.  "There are already so many needy children here. "

       You're right.  There are indeed needy children in every corner of our country.  If you feel that way, our prayer is that you are doing something about those children in need. Mentor through a community organization or donate to the Boys and Girls Clubs.  Imana Kids is for all that but our focus is a little more specific than needy kids.  These kids also happen to be orphans.  Our goal, as a family of Christians, is to answer the mandate of James 1:27; that we are called to care for widows and orphans in their times of distress.

4.  "There are already so many sponsorship programs in 'third world' countries. Why don't you join them?"

     Again, you are right.  Many great, well known organizations have existed for a long time to provide children all over the world with education.  Those groups are in Rwanda too.  But they aren't at Kimisagara, they do not serve widows and they do not have opportunities to support orphanages.  We exist to support Kimisagara street kids and orphans as well as the young men, women and orphans that call this special place home.

3.  "Won't sponsoring a child make them dependent on Americans?"

  Children receiving sponsorship through Imana Kids are not getting a "free ride" (Although, would that be so awful?).  The children of Kimisagara have either been abandoned by their birth families, kicked out a foster home (not for behavior but for lack of resources) or moved to Kimisagara because their previous orphanage has closed.  Sponsorship provides these kids with boarding school: three meals a day, supplies, tuition, supervision, spiritual and academic guidance.  Imana Kids students have signed a contract outlining both academic and behavioral expectations.  The students know that they must work hard to achieve their academic goals and to continue their education.
  Dr. Bruce Wydick of UCSF found that sponsored children in six different countries were 50-80% more likely to attend college, stayed in school 1.5-2 yrs longer than non-sponsored kids, as adults were 35% more likely to have a white collar job and were 30-75% more likely to be in leadership roles in their communities (Wydick, Journal of Political Economy. 2013.)

4.  "I don't like not seeing where my money goes."

  With Imana Kids, you can see where your money goes.  Actually, we want you to.  Firsthand.  Our sponsored children will communicate regularly with you, you receive updates and report cards and we provide trips to Rwanda to meet and spend time with your sponsored child.  We partner with Visiting Orphans to take people to the Land of a Thousand Hills so that others may be shaped and changed to love orphans and widows well.

5. " I can't afford it."

  For some of us, this may very well be true.  However, we believe that if you truly desire to follow God's word, then tithing (10%) and giving each month is an amazing way to experience God's goodness and grace.  It does take a leap of faith!  For all of us, when we give more than we believe we can "handle," God continues to provide for our needs-and even beyond.

Pray about it....and don't be afraid.  Please email us if, tweet us or reach out to someone else that sponsors a child.  It will change your world as much as it will change theirs.

 

Tough Choices.

     Imana Kids board members had some big decisions to make this week.  Gracious donors have raised over $4000 to assist us in our start up costs.  How big is that?!  We feel so humbled and thankful; not to mention a little intimidated to be moving forward...

     Moving forward means spending some of this donation money.  It means deciding when and whom should be traveling to Rwanda.  Truthfully, most of the board would love to be the ones to head to Africa and attend the meetings that need to occur so that we can continue to work toward our goal of a January start date in the boarding schools.  However, we know that what we want and what we need are usually very different things.  As a group, it was decided that Ryan and Kara Higgins should be the first two board members to return to Kigali.  We want our donors to be aware of the "whys" behind each of our decisions.  Ryan and Kara adopted two children from Rwanda in late 2009; the director of Hope for Homes (the governing agency for vulnerable children) was a part of their adoption and there is established rapport between her staff and the Higginses.  They also have several friends, both Rwandan and American, that live in Kigali and will provide assistance with meals, lodging and travel.  The board also felt that Ryan was the most business-minded of the group.  

     It was also decided that board members will continue to contribute as much of their own personal money as they can during trips regarding Imana Kids business.  

     Additionally, responsibilities were delegated among members and a monthly meeting schedule was established.  This weekend some of the board will be traveling to Urbandale, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines, to give two presentations at Gloria Dei, a Lutheran church interested in sponsoring children as well as sending a Visiting Orphans team to Kigali in the future.  And on August 15 we will attend the Omaha Kiwanis Chapter meeting to present our nonprofit opportunities.

     We also wanted to share some "updates" on the kids of Kimisagara.  They have been on holiday over the last few weeks after taking national exams in the public schools.  Their holiday is spent in the orphanage, helping Papa Antoine with chores and watching over the little ones.  The older boys have been unable to sleep more than a few hours a night because of bug problems.  We have been trying to decipher the situation: bed bugs vs bat bugs vs fleas vs mosquitoes.  Our hope is that in the near future, when the first board members return, we will have the necessities needed to rid the sleeping area of the pests so that for the time being, these kids can rest well at night.  

    In addition, we are excited to be invited to send some of the young men and women to Esperance Institute's first English certification program in Kigali.  Check out their website to learn how they are empowering young adults through education. 

     We are at approximately 30 families/individuals that have expressed a desire to sponsor a child for the 2014 school year.  Thank you and expect to hear from us after the have more specific monthly costs outlined.