Rwanda Vunga School Project May 24, 2009

Note This opportunity:

A tour, to attend the first graduation ceremony of the school in October 2010,  is in the planning stage.  For more information to participate in this tour contact tony@bouwmeester.ca

Our Motto: Hope and Understanding Through Education

Hello my name is Rev. Tony W. Bouwmeester. I serve a small Anglican Parish named, “The Parish of Long Point Bay,” in the County of Norfolk, along the beautiful North Shore of Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada.

Together with numerous donors, and in co-operation with Acts Africa , a Canadian Registered Charity, our parish has supported the building of a trade school by the Diocese of Shyogwe for male and female students in Vunga Rwanda.

The walls going up

The need for the school was identified by the Diocese of Shyogwe, and The Rev. Fred Carson of Simcoe Ontario during one of his frequent mission trips to Rwanda.

Building of the school began in late December 2006, and a functional shell of brick, mortar, and roof where completed late April 2007. The funds to build the school were raised by the combined efforts of Acts Africa, who also acted as transfer agents, our parish, many private individuals, as well as other charitable organizations.

The total cost of building the school was USD $58,000. A further USD $8,500 was raised to purchase 10 acres of land to accommodate the headmaster’s dwelling, and the teaching of agriculture. And another $6,900 USD was raised to provide furniture for the classrooms.

Overview of masonry

Vunga is a strategic but remote location serving the districts of Ruhango, Muhanga, and Nykongwe. The school is owned and operated by the Anglican Diocese of Shyogwe Rwanda.

The inauguration of the school took place on August 9, 2007, and classes commenced in September, 2007. The school has 5 classrooms and an office. Each classroom can accommodate 35 students. To date 142 students, including 72 girls and 70 boys, are enrolled in Carpentry and Tailoring classes.  A further 200+ mature students are enrolled in a weekly literacy program.  However, the school is not yet fully operational because funds still need to be raised to purchase the necessary trade school equipment.

School nearing completion. Photo Fred Carson

A parents committee has been formed and they agreed that school fees be fixed at a minimum of $25 per term to help cover costs. However many bright potential students cannot afford the tuition because they are orphans, or themselves heading households looking after younger siblings, and are in need of financial support. For the time being much of the operational cost needs to be raised through charitable organizations until the school can stand on its own.

The first group of “Tourism With a Purpose” with Rwandan dignitaries at the opening of the school . The Canadian flag was donated by Senator Romeo Dallaire.

How to Donate:
Would you be willing to help us support this school? Our current project is raising USD $25,000 to equip the carpentry class with wood working machinery such as planes, a saw, and a generator. You can help us by sending your donation to: Saint John’s Anglican Church, PO box 387 Port Rowan Ontario. Clearly mark your gift, “Rwanda Vunga School Project”

Opportunities for those who are in a position of generosity and may consider the making of large donations or initiate a project to raise funds:

Yearly operational budget $12,764.
(Thanks to our generous donors all of the operational budget for the year 2009 has been achieved).

Office equipment including laptop and solar energy $5,711.

Teaching materials $9,415.

Carpentry equipment and electric generator $25,000.

All donors will receive official income-tax receipts.

Thank you for your kind consideration.

Traditional dancers at the school opening. Photo: Rev Tony W. Bouwmeester

Possibilities for tourism and volunteering in Rwanda

A tour,to attend the first graduation ceremony of the school in October 2010,  is in the planning stage.  For more information to participate in this tour contact tony@bouwmeester.ca

For more info about the school project email: tony@bouwmeester.ca