Founder Blogs
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News from ASYV Founder – December 2009
December 11, 2009
By: Anne Heyman, Founder – ASYVHello again from the beautiful hills of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. Today was the end of the first week of training for the staff and volunteers at Agahozo-Shalom. It was also the first day of strategic planning meetings for the entire management committee, all of whom are in the village together which is a rare occasion. Other than the staff the village is strangely empty, most of the first class having gone to friends or relatives for the holiday period. It is a bit sad for me not having those laughing smiling faces to greet me everywhere I go. Their singing is really missed, as are the normal sounds of the village – the rhythm of life that has been so wonderfully restored. There are a half dozen kids in the village all of whom had nowhere to go, and they are very busy helping to prepare for the new class of children who will arrive in the village on December 21st. They are so excited to be getting new “brothers and sisters”, and in fact the excitement in the village is building as thoughts turn to the planning sessions for next week, the additional trainings and the final preparation for the big arrival day.
[To read more of this article, download the PDF.]
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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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Founder Anne Heyman at Agahozo-Shalom for Inauguration
Hello again from the beautiful hills of Rwamagana, home of the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. It is 7:15 in the morning and as I sit outside drinking my coffee (3rd cup of the day already) I am watching the children as they walk up to start their day at the Liquidnet Family High School. Today is the first day of exams – the end of second semester. It is amazing that the children are finished with half of their first year at Agahozo-Shalom.
Last night I visited with one of the families during “Family Time”. Family time is the hour between 9 and 10 at night when all the children get together with their counselor and house mother and either just discuss the day’s events, topics of interest or on occasion have someone come in and talk to them about an important issue. I thought perhaps they would not want me to come, or spend that much time but they were, as always, very pleased to see me and very welcoming. In fact one of the young men from the house came to “pick me up” at my house, just to make sure I knew where I was going! For the first night before examinations the house was remarkably calm; it was apparent to me that for most of the children, as ambitious as they are, had the examinations in the right perspective. Our topics of conversation as always were all over the place – questions about where I come from, how I live. They all wanted to come and visit me in New York until I told them I live on the 16th floor….most didn’t think they could even visit, let alone sleep, in a building that high above the ground.[To read more of this post, Founder in Rwanda June 2009 download the PDF]
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Update from the Founder – April 2009
Today is my first day back in Rwanda in quite a while. The flight from Israel through Addis Abbaba was pretty uneventful. Didn’t even sit next to anyone particularly interesting on the plane. I didn’t see Shimon at the airport in Addis until we were boarding the plane, so I just grabbed a cup of coffee…or two…and tried to do a little work but the internet was painfully slow. It was raining in Kigali when we landed, which is perfect as it is the rainy season, but fortunately on the drive back to the village the sun came up and it was really a beautiful drive. Everything which is always green in this part of the world is SO green and luscious looking now, and the village is just blooming everywhere. They have been trying very hard to get all the grassy areas planted before the end of the rainy season, so the entire soccer field is planted with grass, as is the main courtyard at the school (the smaller courtyards are filled with water due to drainage issue that they are working on but they too will be covered with grass one day). Nir planted (or actually had these really great volunteers plant) coffee trees up at the school – he is determined to plant at least 5000 of them!
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Anne in Rwanda – Thursday, December 18
Thursday, December 18, 2008
It was lonely to wake up without Jason today….I missed our early morning snuggle. I went to take my usual cold shower with my usual dread, but when I turned on the taps….no water. Unfortunately one of the big issues we have is that “people” – who knows who – turn on the taps and just leave them running. Its possible that they turn them on and there is no water and they just leave them open, but I have seen village people – i.e. our people – walk by the outdoor laundry sinks where the water is running away and not bother going over to turn it off. Lots of education on every front is really needed.
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Anne in Rwanda – Wednesday, December 17
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
I woke up this morning and was very sad looking over at Jason in the bed next to me, realizing that he was going “home” – back to Israel….without me. I poked him and asked him for a snuggle. He is such a good sport, and it was really fantastic to have him around, even if it was just for 3 days. He worked so hard, and given that he flew in from Israel, went straight to work, stayed up late at night and got up with the sun in the morning, by the time I packed him off he was exhausted. He slept the whole way to the airport. I think he had a great trip – the kids loved talking to him as he is their age, and although he didn’t have the time to really hang with them I know he made an impact. When we left for the airport, as we were driving out of the village, we heard one of the kids yell “Bye Jason”. We arrived in Kigali a little early, and went to Chez Lando for a quick drink. One thing with not having a ready supply of drinking water at the village is that you are always thirsty! While we were grabbing our quick drink I got a message that the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, who I had come in to Kigali to meet, was ready to meet (she had come in from a ceremony at an orphanage in the Southern Province which she attended with the First Lady, Jannette Kagame), she was dressed in her traditional mashanana which was really beautiful. So I had to send Jason off the airport with Nir and head to that meeting. I felt so guilty about not going with him – he was kind enough to point out that he obviously didn’t mean that much to me but it was ok because he was a big boy…..He is so great. I don’t know what I did to deserve such an angel of a child, but I am so grateful for him – as I am for my other 2 children, and my husband, and all the other good things I have in my life – every moment of every day. That is what working on a project like this will do for you.
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Anne in Rwanda – Tuesday, December 16
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Today was spent in the village, generally walking around, observing, and taking things in. I want to say something about the farm, which is really taking shape beautifully. The organic farm will be located at the base of the houses, slightly below where the visitor houses are being constructed. There is a piece of land which has been flattened with the generous help of our construction company’s bulldozer (they have been great, allowing us to pay for gas and the labor but giving us free use of their equipment). On that land our volunteers are currently marking out the location of the cowshed, which will house 40 cows. On the right side of the cowshed is the feeding trough, and there are plans to eventually build another shed on the other side of the feeding trough so that eventually we can have 80 cows. This will provide the village with its daily milk needs when the village is at capacity. Next to the cowshed we are planning to build a chicken coop, housing egg producing chickens, and next to that, another chicken coop, housing chickens for food. The cook would like the kids to have one meal a week containing meat; for the most part it is rice, potatoes, beans and cassava with a variety of soupy sauces. There will also be a storage shed in the row of sheds. In front of that will be the vegetable garden, where we will soon be preparing the land for our first crop. Again, the goal is to provide the kitchen with as many of its vegetable needs as possible. Surrounding the farm area will be fruit trees that are cultivated: Citrus trees (orange, lemon etc.), mango, pineapple, banana and coffee are all in the plans. It is so exciting to see all of what was once….and not so long ago….just talk, or thoughts, taking shape.
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Anne in Rwanda – Opening Day, Monday, December 15
Monday, December 15, 2008
Today was just unbelievable. The morning started out very slowly, and in dealing with (and watching Nir deal with) so many frustrating issues (water, houses not complete, things not working, not enough beds)…and many others that I won’t go into here. Anyway, at some point Sifa and I turned to each other and said “we are going to ignore everything from now on and just enjoy” – and shook hands on it. It is interesting that both of us were feeling kind of down this morning….I was exhausted too, which didn’t help.
The kids started arriving at about 11:30 this morning. They gathered at the dining hall, and then in groups of about 20 they were taken on tours of the village by the counselors and house mothers. At 2:00 pm gathered on the veranda of the dining hall. Each child was supposed to come with one guardian, but of course many many more showed up. Everyone was very gracious though, and it was good. At about 2:30 we started, with Sifa introducing all the village staff, and then me. I told the kids that they would be asked the story of the village many times, so I thought that it was appropriate that they heard it from the source. I basically went through the history, with Sifa translating. Many “grunts” of acknowledgement, as you know the Rwandans do when they agree and are following, and lots of bursts of clapping. It was really wonderful, and quite incredible really to be standing with that beautiful view, talking about the future of both the kids and ASYV. I had been asked many times what my hope was for these children, and I told them it was for them to see this as an opportunity, to take advantage, to learn as much as they can and realize how much they can achieve, and then to take those lessons and share them with someone else. The vice-Ambassador for the U.S. had asked if she could come today, and I told her yes, but no speeches as this was just a welcome home. When I went to sit down next to her she had tears in her eyes, and said….”the power of one…what an incredible story”.
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