Working again ;-)

Hello from Kigali. We’ve been here for just over two weeks and our dream of living and working in Rwanda has come true….and we’re not disappointed.

Kigali, a compact garden city where eagles soar overhead, is characterised by steep hills and red earth roads - except for the immaculately tended dual carriageways which form the main arterial routes through the city. Its hills and valleys are often shrouded in cloud and smoke from the charcoal fires – not to mention the diesel fumes pumping from the numerous NGO 4x4s. It makes trudging up those steep hills slightly unpleasant and usually completely knackering!

We have begun our work for Centre Marembo - the main Rwandan arm of rYico our chosen charity. The Centre is an information resource for the young of Kigali and 26 (ex) street children live in accommodation nearby. The Centre runs courses in English, computers, mechanics and karate amongst others. It also offers a drop-in facility for other street kids who are fed, can wash their clothes, gain information on urgent health issues such as AIDS and HIV as well as gaining companionship from all those who visit the Centre. The enthusiasm of its directors, unpaid volunteers and street kids is both amazing and infectious and they are a joy to work with.

Most of our work to date has been with the directors and volunteers. We seem very much to be working as management consultants advising on the Centre’s strategic direction and analysing their business processes as well as looking at strategies to raise much needed funds. It’s amazing how much corporate crap… I mean essential business methods learned at both BAA and IDX, has flowed back. And it’s been refreshing to work with an organisation so open to new ideas.

However we have also spent time with “our boys” as they are affectionately referred to by the Centre. It is often simply a smile or a joyful expression from these rehabilitated boys that makes this experience so rewarding. Trying to remember all their names is a nightmare!

On the last Saturday of every month in Rwanda “umaganda” happens – a practice where the “umudugudu” (local groups of about 150 families) come together for community work and a social get-together. Last Saturday, the Centre’s boys enthusiastically joined in, helping to cut communal grass areas with blunt machetes and entertaining the crowd after the manual work was complete. These ex street boys are now viewed as a real asset and part of the community, rather than a potential menace – testament to the success of Centre Marembo.

Hopefully we’re off to see the mountain gorillas in the west of the country at the end of the week. We should get some great piccies as we’re travelling with professional photographers. (Mowbray – we’re being kind!).

Bye for now,
Andy & Viv x