Emmanuel Uwamahoro and some of his childen
A few months ago, right before Christmas, I was contacted by a young man who runs an orphanage in Kigali, Rwanda,
saying that he had no funds left and was looking anywhere he could think of for help.
For the past 17 years Emmanuel Uwamahoro has been providing services and guidance for 1,500 children, 240 young adults and 50 elders annually in the form of daycare, food, medical care, clothing and vocational skills.
In 2000 with limited government funds he built a simple orphanage outside of Kigali. In 2011 it was destroyed in a flood and in the ensuing years only half completed. The government funding has dried up, and donors hard to find. By Christmas things were tough.
Enter Grace Burton-Sundman, the daughter of a friend where I live in Massachusetts. Her mother told me that Grace was In Kigali, Rwanda, looking for ways to be of service there.
Would she be willing to visit Emmanuel and his large family? She was more than willing. Her plans to work with people suffering from genocide trauma got put on hold when she realized the serious and complicated issues involved, that she might need time to learn more before diving in.
Half-way there.
Meanwhile here is an orphanage that desperately needs her skills as a web-savvy grant writer. And her name is Grace. How perfect.
So Grace Burton-Sundman has found a online fundraising and a PayPal account and, boom, hope is a donate button.
Please help Emmanuel finish the new buildings- built out of real brick to last this time and on higher ground out of the water’s reach. Give what you can afford and know your goodwill is their well-being.
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