A Partnership in Caring Society volunteers Maria van Vonderen and Carolyn Rideout seen here with Frani and Lillian two of the workers at Emmaus Hostel in Butare, Rwanda. The Hostel is run by the Benebikera Sisters and this is where APICS volunteers stay while in Rwanda.
Frani and Lillian see to our every need.
A Partnership in Caring Society volunteers Carolyn Rideout and Maria van Vonderen met with the Benebikera Sisters senior leadership team on March 12 to review and discuss the future of this important partnership.
Carolyn Rideout and Maria van Vonderen, A Partnership in Caring volunteers spent time viewing some of the 12 cisterns supplied through a partnership with The Wishing Wells Society of St. Andrews, Nova Scotia.
This water collection system provides much needed water for gardening, livestock, cleaning, household use etc. to a number of different communities in Rwanda.
To support our projects in Rwanda visit our website at : https://www.apartnershipincaring.ca
Soup preparation for the 390 students at Immaculate Conception School in SAVE.
The students have meat on Sundays only. They mainly eat rice , soup , brown beans and fresh fruits and vegetables.
A Partnership in Caring Society sponsors 8 vulnerable students in this boarding school. To support our continuing work in Rwanda, visit the Society’s website at https://www.apartnershipincaring.ca.
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Food preparation for the 390 students at Immaculate Conception School in SAVE.
A Partnership in Caring Society supports 8 vulnerable students at this school run by the Benebikera Sisters. To support A Partnership in Caring’s continuing work in Rwanda, visit our website, https://www.apartnershipincaring.ca.
Today A Partnership in Caring Society volunteers Maria van Vonderen and Carolyn Rideout visited the home in Kabuga where the senior Benebikera Sisters live.
The Sisters appreciated the supplies ( Tylenol for arthritis, voltaren and bed soakers) that the volunteers delivered.
APICS partnered with the Wishing Wells Society and a water collection cistern has been added to the property.
The Sisters ( 28 Sisters and 4 workers) live in a very small home. The kitchen is outside and at the back of the property. They mostly cook with wood.
A new fence has been added to the property increasing the security of the Sisters.
The Sisters were very happy to celebrate with Carolyn and Maria today.
In Rwanda, A Partnership in Caring’s Maria van Vonderen and Carolyn Rideout with sisters Thierrey and Augusta of the Benebikira Sisters doing some planning for the visit.
When our volunteers with A Partnership in Caring Society travel to Rwanda, they stay with the Benebikira Sisters. The Benebikira Sisters are one of several partners our society has in Rwanda.
“The Benebikira Sisters lit a candle for us at supper.”, writes A Partnership in Caring Society Chair Maria van Vonderen. “ A welcome light for our friends”.
To learn more about the Benebikira Sisters, follow this link:
We have an update from A Partnership in Caring Society Chair Maria van Vonderen. Maria and Carolyn Rideout arrived in Rwanda earlier today:
Here are the pictures at arrival in Kigali. We were greeted by our friends Sister Drocelle, Hilaire and Eric.
The drive to Butare was slow as there are heavy rains today. We are settled into our rooms and just now joining the Sisters for supper.
Missions accomplished!
1. Over the past few years A Partnership in Caring has had several infrastructure projects
Completed Repairs at SAVE
finished with the Benebikira sisters at Save and Kabuga, Rwanda. The first was the removal of the asbestos roofs on their convent and chapel at Save. Through the generosity of our donors we were able to amass the funds necessary to remove the asbestos roofs, repair the walls and replace with a new metal roof.
2. This past year, while visiting the residence of the nursing sisters in Kabuga, we realized that the roof of their house was in such disrepair that it was actually dangerous to be living there ( there was
Completed repairs at Kabuga.
rain water coming out of the electrical sockets). Again, our donors stepped up and the roof and walls of the building were repaired. We felt strongly that a safe and healthy house was a must for the nursing sisters dedicated to helping the poor at their nearby health center.
3. Our young boy Fabrice has continued to do well this year. The sisters have kept him with them all day while his mother works for them. Reports are that his mobility continues to improve and he is becoming much more social and animated. Upon our return in February 2019 we will see that he has a recheck by the pediatrician and ENT specialist who evaluated him last year. Photo of Fabrice.
4. While in Save we met with the students whom we sponsor at the sisters boarding school.
Fabrice
Each of the students gives a short speech in english. After our meeting with the students and our return to our accommodation, we received an email from Sr. Catherine, the headmistress, asking if we could support in full a young man named Jean d’Amour (John of love). He is the youngest of 6 boys and the father of the family is struggling to support the boys by working in the fields. Their mother suffers from a severe psychosis, likely as a result of trauma during the genocide, and is mostly not at home, likely in hospital or on the street. How could we refuse such a request?
None of these things could happen without the generosity and support of our donors. To donate, visit our web site at: www.apartnershipincaring.ca