Project Rwanda Phase 1: Pt. 1

Our apologies for the long delay between the entries and the posts: The internet is extremely poor and so we are doing what we can…

Photos will follow on an even longer delay, as well.
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July 14 to July 16

Phase 1 of OA’s project in Rwanda started on the 14th of July, in Kigali, Rwanda. The project team consists of 3 OA Directors, Gavin Hollett, Duncan Penn and Andrew Pike and 2 OA volunteers, Lindsay Henwood and Ian Mathieson.

Our objectives for this phase are 3-fold:

1. Re-construct at least 1 Eco-friendly and sustainable community soccer field

2. Run a successful weeklong soccer camp for the 88 children of the Rebero Orphan Center in Kigali

3. Provide resource support, predominantly in the form of soccer balls, to at least 5 local programs using soccer as a tool to teach higher-level messages; such as HIV-AIDS awareness, gender equality and reconciliation.

The first few days have been used, in part, as an adjustment period to our new home for the next little bit and also for Duncan and I to reconnect with our local partners.

In April, Duncan and I were here for 3 weeks on a needs assessment trip to figure out how OA should focus its energy and resources here, in Rwanda. We determined that the best option would be to cover the three areas of action listed above for our pilot project and to subsequently, (post phase 1) assess how to continue to make things happen in the future.

We have reconnected with Emmanuel and Leonce of the Rebero Orphan Center to discuss, among many things, the logistics of the upcoming weeklong camp.

We linked up with Louis Ntitsimburwa, a Rwandan who lived in Canada for over 15 years, to follow-up on the progress regarding our options for field re-construction.

And, we also met up with Donatien and Victor, of Esperance, to figure out how best to support their community outreach soccer programs that teach important messages to young people all over the country.

This is Ian, Lindsay, and Andrew’s first time in Rwanda, and they have been blown away by their experiences so far (more of this to come in future blog posts). During the first few days, they have spent their time visiting major Genocide memorial sites and learning some of the basics of the local language – Kinyarwanda. Some important sayings they have picked up are: “waramutse” = goodmorning; “na chi bazo” = no problem; and “ihene” = goat (also Ian’s local nickname).

The first few days have been well spent, and we are excited to continue to tell you all more about the happenings over here. Tomorrow’s post will introduce to you a group of people from the US who we are working together with on the week-long camp, and we will also give you a situation report (sitrep) on our activities (including a pick-up game that we were invited to join).

Until then…

Gavin and the OA Team in Rwanda