Posts from October, 2009
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Free Time at ASYV
From Tina Wyatt, Project Coordinator
Saturday at the village is farm and free time day. The day starts out with the kids working in the farm. The rest of the day is free time. They hang out, study, play sports, visit the learning, arts, and music center.
Anne (Founder) and I were hanging out at our house when we heard guitar playing. Shortly after, we heard “let It Be” along with the guitar playing. We were being serenaded. I looked out our window and there were two boys sitting outside, teaching each other how to play the guitar and singing. It was a wonderful sound. They played for about two hours. This is not unusual in the village. Singing is a big part of life in the village.
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House Naming – Socrates
By Anne Heyman, Founder
On Thursday afternoon the Village hung the brand new signs with the newly chosen names of the houses I went to Socrates House where I was asked to hang up the sign on the front door. Hammering nails into cement is not an easy task, but fortunately they (the kids and staff) just wanted to make sure I had done SOMETHING so they urged me to get down after a few hammer hits – they were clearly very concerned I would hurt myself. The men took over, (although it was a girls house); the Deputy Dir. Of Informal education and the Grade coordinator as well as a counselor had come to help so they actually hung the sign after my few little hammer taps. The girls then sang their house song, with Liliane belting out the main part and the others signing along beautifully. Their talent is amazing….the words….well – you will see for yourselves below. This one was written and sung in English, but there are so many songs written in the village in both English and Kinyarwanda which just tug at every heart string – .and they are sung so beautifully. What is really amazing is that you can go into any house and ask them to sing a song and not only will it be written by one of the kids in the house, but all the brothers (or sisters) in the house will know all the words, and often in both languages. I wish I could convey to all what has happened in this village, what miracles take place on a daily basis, and I do not use that word lightly. I have learned that you have to be here to appreciate the magic of the place, but I hope these words will help convey some of the magic of our children.
SOCRATES FAMILY SONG
Chorus: Agahozo shalom (3 times), You are wonderful forever and you are our special home.
1. In Agahozo we have found a good family and our tears have been dried, for sure in Agahozo our dreams will be realized.
2. Our goal is to see far, and for sure we will reach far. To heal the world to heal ourselves with peace and love.
3. Let’s stand up as kids of Agahozo work together and love each other let’s show the world by example all the possibilities when we come together.
Socrates Family
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Success at ASYV
From Anne Heyman, Founder
There are many lessons I learned this week at Agahozo-Shalom, but perhaps one of the most important is how critical it is to take the time to appreciate what we – the Agahozo-Shalom Family, have accomplished. While this family includes many supporters of all types from around the world, I want to take a moment to focus on the staff who spend their lives creating the reality on the ground in Rwanda. Last Tuesday in a village wide staff meeting (the only ones missing were the teachers who were administering the end of year examinations) we did an exercise where we listed all the successes achieved in the short time that Agahozo-Shalom has been in operation. I thought I would share some of those with you. Please keep in mind the extraordinary challenges these people faced this year: moving to live in a village (the vast majority live at Agahozo-Shalom) that operates on a different plane than the world that they are used to; being exposed to foreigners, for many for the first time, living “communally” – the communal dining was difficult for many, having to do a job that you didn’t really understand but had to figure out along the way, with no reference points and which in many ways seem to go against what you had learned previously. I could go on and on. Please read the list below and as you do so think about what these things mean. For example the first one, created a system for the village/procedures that work – I am not sure you can even imagine what it means to come to a place that is barely functioning – no running water, no operating kitchen – nor a completed dining room for that matter – and welcome 125 petrified children to their new homes 10 days later. And yet today the children wake up, go to the dining hall for breakfast, go to school where they are making wonderful progress in learning, they are served a delicious lunch, an enrichment program is in full force after school, they get another nutritious and delicious meal (3 meals a day is something new for most of those who live at Agahozo-Shalom), they have family time every day, and an incredible staff who nurture and watch over them with a passion that I can’t even explain. Please think about each of the successes listed below, and enjoy:
SUCCESSES
ASYV Success
• Created a system for village/ procedures make it work
• Village is real/tangible
• Kids are speaking English
• Security/safety/wellness (fantastic!)
• Kids have become comfortable here
• Kids and staff have understanding and are doing
• Time management with kids being achieved
• Eating together in dining hall
• Kids: this is home & family (not boarding school)
• No labels/ all equal/ respect
• Girls are motivated in sports/ confident
• ASYV is better than other families (THE BEST!!!)
• Kids are healthy & we have a doctor to help them
• What was a job has turned into a mission!
• Kids are open to sharing
• Relationships have improved greatly (internal/external)
• Kids help out when they go home
• Personal growth
• Village is always open
• Teenagers that are well behaved
• ASYV culture
• Professionalism
• Live with all cultures
• Growth opportunity
• Kids motivated- enrichment
• Internet
• village looks beautiful
• Learning complimentary life skills
• Life in village is dynamic- see good in future
• Commitment of all
• 3 meals/day for all- healthy/ no hunger SUCCESS
• Togetherness & respect
• Farming at ASYV
• Water! Kitchen is working
• Implemented philosophy & unity
• Staff are treating equally
• Kids are discovering hidden talents
• Leadership & responsibility
• Adapting & changing
• Ability to manage kids from different backgrounds
• Kids feel like part of a family
• Finished catch up program with no problemsWe took a moment to end our session by indulging in some of the things we are excited about for next year: eating fruit from our farm, the amphitheatre, new kids/new staff, the knowledge that with experience we will all do better, we will communicate better, tikkun olam, our community service program, will go into full effect. Looking at where they started this year and where they wound up all are excited and energized by the possibilities for the new year. (In case the reader isn’t aware school in Rwanda finishes for the year at the end of October and resumes in January. While kids will still be in the village during this time, many will use the time to visit their friends and family members and even while in the village life will have a more relaxed rhythm as the kids are on “vacation”.
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ASYV Founder Diary
ASYV’s founder, Anne Heyman, is at the village to prepare for the next class of kids coming to the village and to attend ASYV’s first Leadership Training Seminar (facilitated by the Liquidnet Family).
The first few days have been quite wonderful and enlightening. Anne would like to share her thoughts and insights with us all.
Please view Day 1 of Anne’s Diary:
RWANDA DIARY – Saturday October 17 2009
Today was the last day of the Leadership Training Seminar led by a team from the Liquidnet Family, our amazing amazing cadre volunteers from Liquidnet Holdings, Inc. It is hard to express in words what an incredible impact these 3 days have had on the Village management team. I think it is fair to say we are all “floating” from the experience. It was evident to me that we could all benefit from some concrete management skills; the reality of what this has meant is beyond my wildest imagination. The first, biggest and most amazing achievement was that through engaging in various exercises it became clear that above everything else we are truly a team. We believe in Agahozo-Shalom, we have the same CORE VALUES, and we care about each other and how we go about achieving our mission. While we recognize that we don’t always see things the same, we understand that if we live according to these principles, which are ours, utilizing the tools we have learned in the past few days we can act in a way that will always create the best possible outcome for the Village, its children, and for the people who have the privilege – and huge responsibility – of taking care of it and them. WOW. I am sitting in my house in the Village overlooking the beautiful green hills surrounding me – it is the raining season – and looking at the walls which are plastered with “action items” and decision making strategies from the seminar, and I feel inspired.
After 3 days of intensive work – I don’t believe anyone on the training team has gone to bed before 2 am, and the seminar started at 8:00 am – team Liquidnet headed out this morning at 6:00 am to Akagera Park to see some spectacular scenery and enjoy some African Wildlife. It is a well deserved break, although I can’t wait for them to come back and to talk to them about all the ideas I have been discussing with village staff based on what they have learned in the seminar! I think it is fair to say that the team has had an amazing experience here. They have been privileged to see and participate insome very special events at the village, including the Official Naming of the Childrens houses. After a lengthy process in which each house was asked to research recommend and choose a name for their family’s house the process was completed and the milestone celebrated in the Village’s Community Center. The process by which the names were selected is worth mentioning, as I think it tells so much about what this village is about. The children were given a list of 35 names to choose from, and asked to present on why they chose this person, how they do/can/will influence the children’s life – what qualities does this person embody that they want to “represent” their house. Every child did research and presented to their families, who then chose the names in a democratic way. The names chosen by the children were: Prince Louis Rwagasore (Prince and former Prime Minister of Burundi), Anne Frank; Alexis Kagame (Rwanda Clergyman and Philosopher, considered the first historian of Rwanda); Benazir Bhutto (former Prime Minister of Pakistan); George Washington (first President of the United States) and George Washington Carver (African American Scientist). With respect to the last 2 houses, one of boys and one of girls, there was a problem – they had voted for and settled on the same name. What is incredible is the process through which the issue was resolved.
House Naming Ceremony
Amongst themselves, the boys said they would be willing to give the name to the girls, but it would mean that they gave in at the first sign of adversity, and if they were going to meet the expectations of them at Agahozo-Shalom they needed to stand up for what they believed in, so they had to insist on getting “their” name. The girls too discussed the issue, and were willing to give the name to the boys, but they were concerned that the boys would think they were weak, and didn’t think this would be wise. So they too decided to hang on to “their” name. It was decided that a quiz would be held about the candidate (Thomas Sankara-Former President, Burkina Faso) and whoever knew the most would be able to use the name. The boys house won, and at first were very enthusiastic about their victory. Seeing how disappointed the girls were though, they toned it down and made an effort to comfort and congratulate them on their effort. Family. Treating each other they way they should. As a “mom” could you be any prouder? The girls wound up choosing Socrates as their family name. Not a bad second choice.
House Naming Ceremony
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Liquidnet Family at ASYV
Members of the Liquidnet Family are at the village to facilitate ASYV’s first Leadership Training Seminar. It was a 3-day seminar where the ASYV Leadership discuss successes and looking toward the future and how to get there.
ASYV Leadership Team and Anne Heyman, Founder
It has been an engaging process for all. To read more about Liquidnet’s visit to the village, see their blog at http://race4rwanda.tumblr.com
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ASYV Training Seminar – Day 1
[caption id="attachment_441" align="alignleft" width="224" caption="Nir Lahav, Director"]
Syliva and Jean-Pierre
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The ASYV Leadership Training Seminar got off to a good start. Nir, Village Director, discussed successes in the village. Sylvia and Jean-Pierre, Directos, look ahead to the future.
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ASYV Leadership Training Seminar
The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village is having their first Leadership Training Seminar this week. The conference is facilitated by members of the Liquidnet Family who arrived at the village on Tuesday.
The conference began by acknowledging the village successes over the last year. Here is list of accomplishments put together by the Directors:
- 3 on time meals everyday for all
- we’ve seen the kids change—they smile now; they are amazing, responsible people
- the farm—we’ve tasted its fruit
- commitment and motivation of the staff are so strong
the kids now really know the meaning of the slogan “See Far Go Far”
- village is operational
- we know what it takes to achieve success
- village has had a great impact on both kids and workers
- created a learning environment
- the government and the entire country are looking up to us
- hope has been restored