Posts from February, 2010
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Tikkun Olum
by Ingabire Chantal, ASYV Counselor
17 February 2010Yesterday was the first day this school year that we participated in our Tikkun Olam Service in Rubona, our nearby community. The children of Agahozo Shalom understand that they are given great opportunity here. They also see problems in the outside communities of Rwanda and want to help solve these problems. We run two service projects in Rubona. One project is at the Primary school and the other at the Clinic. Yesterday it rained all day and the site supervisors in Rubona were very confused when we came for service, they said, “It is raining! Why are you here?” Our reply was simple, “We had an appointment and time is time, despite the weather.” Not only are we helping the community through service, we are spreading a better understanding of time management and commitment.
At the school, we formed 9 groups of kids and each group worked with 20 kids from the Rubona primary school. Because it was our first time at school, we made introductions by using different games to better know each other. Our first lessons in the school were in spelling, and we taught many English words. The children of Rubona were so excited to be learning with us that they sang and danced as a sign of appreciation. Many children were absent from school because of the rain so our time was cut short, but it is my hope they they will slowly learn to follow our example and honor their commitments. In the future, our plan is to have 25 groups of tutors from ASYV ( 2 kids in each group) to lead 10 kids in educational activities.
At the Clinic, we also met the patients and did introductions. The children went from room to room to see the conditions of the people there and to offer help where needed. Some of the kids whose school combination is BCM (Biology, Chemistry, and Math) went to assist in the laboratory. They examined the results and worked with the nurses to find treatments. They had the opportunity to use the measuring instruments. The staff of the clinic were surprised how polite our children are. They were very impressed about how they asked questions, “like adults”.
The kids are overjoyed to be helping their community and empowered to be able to give. They are anxious to plan next week’s program and are very enthusiastic and serious about their work in Rubona. I am happy and proud to see the impact they are making. They are so excited to see that they can impact another life and I believe it is so important that they understand that they have so much to share.