Today was an incredibly productive day! I arrived in Rwanda feeling like I was unprepared for one of the main reasons for coming on my trip, which was to submit the application for Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) status. The status allows Global Capacity to act as an organization and distribute money. Without the status we cannot promote our services publicly. There is a pretty detailed application process, which I had hoped to complete weeks leading to my trip but the busyness of life didn't allow me to do so.
This morning we traveled to Kanombe to meet with A Voice For Rwanda at its office. It felt like coming home. A Voice For Rwanda is an organization started by Les and Yvonne Parr, two Americans. I had met them two years ago in Rwanda. They have a burden and calling to bring God's love to villages in Rwanda, by working with whole families. Global Capacity is partnering with them and providing scholarships to children of the village they are currently working in (called Akindege). It was such a blessing to see them in their element, at the office they are renting. They are a wonderful couple and are doing real work here in Rwanda. They shared with Ndash and me about Akindege and specifically about the children who need sponsored. There are a bit more than I was originally told about, around 50. They also offered for their staff member Martin to help with the NGO registration, so Martin will be coming with us to the Immigration Office to help us file the documents. I am so blessed to have this partnership with them!
Being back in Rwanda is overwhelming because there is such need. Speaking with Yvonne I am reminded of the desperation that extreme poverty causes. She would tell me story after story of the situations people in the village are in. I know I can play a very small part, and it feels very minute.
Part of the NGO application process is writing about how Global Capacity coincides with Rwanda's strategic development plans. It lists goals the government want to reach by 2020, as well as statistics about the population. Today I learned a lot by reading through these plans, such as that only 10% of children ages 13-18 are enrolled in secondary school. And of the students who are enrolled, five times as many of them are from wealthy families than from poor families. The cost of secondary education is a problem and hopefully Global Capacity can help increase the stats of the latter.
Les and Yvonne gave us a private office to work at. Ndash and I spent about three hours working on the application forms.
We are about to meet our good friend Gatera for dinner.
Life is good in Rwanda! Despite the two grenades that were thrown on Saturday night and the slight differences of life in America, I am so happy to be here! It's gonna be a great two weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment