Blog
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A Beautiful Day at Agahozo-Shalom
December 15, 2009
By: Rachel Olstein
Director of Volunteer Services – ASYVThe day begins early here with the chirping of birds and the early morning sun peeking in through the curtains. Leaving our room and stepping out onto the porch, we’re greeted by a freshly planted lawn looking over the blossoming farm. The crops are flourishing, providing the entire village with nourishment from pineapples, bananas, beans, carrots and more.
All around, preparations are being made for Monday, when 125 new students will arrive at the village. Tables are being assembled and painted, mosquito nets hung, and grass chopped. Some students have already begun to arrive, bringing with them an enthusiasm and cheer that fuels the excited anticipation in the air. They can be heard singing on the way back from meals or shooting hoops in the evening. Meanwhile, the staff – house mothers, counselors, and volunteers – is participating in training and team building sessions. Everyone at the village is thirsting for knowledge and skills; in each session, new ideas are born, shared and formulated into plans for the coming year. The veteran staff has taken on a leadership role, passing on the philosophy and spirit of Agahozo Shalom to the new staff.
All around, there is a sense of eagerness and readiness to begin this new year at the village, where things are already blossoming and bustling, confident that the coming year will be a success.