TOWARDS SELF-SUSTAINABILITY.

As we have mentioned before, we don't focus only on the individual child in our child development strategy. We do our best to encourage, and not diminish, the role of the parents/guardians in the holistic development of their children. We believe that the ability of the parent/guardian to provide care, guidance and protection to the child is key to the success of our efforts and the sustainability of our achievements in the child's life. Hence, boosting that ability is an integral part of our child development model.
This month, one of the families we have focused on is that of our boy GODSON NSABIMANA. His mother, pictured below, has recently undergone an operation which has left her weak and unable to carry on the strenuous work that she does to take care of her five children. She can no longer dig to earn income until she fully recovers. Hence, we thought it necessary to support her to do a simple home business which does not recquire much physical effort. After discussing with her, we settled for what is pictured below. She sits at the small market near her home and sells foodstuff. Sometimes she gets someone to sell for her. This is just the beginning. We hope, as she gets stronger, to help her strengthen and enlarge the business.
This will benefit not only the registered child but the whole family hence an improved domestic environment for the child to grow and develop.
We continue to pray and plan for bigger income generating enterprises but we just have to start somewhere.....

A NEW START FOR A NEW HOPE

Welcome to yet another season of study and labor here at Falcco. The children are back to school for the 1st term of the academic year.

We are glad to report that last year was a landmark year because one of our teenagers, Munezero Jackyline, completed her two year tailoring course and is now in the process of getting self-employed. We met her as a school drop out without any hope of a better life. Now her transformation is undeniable. She is happy, more outgoing, and is making meaning of her life with the skills and exposure she has acquired. More of her story will be coming up soon.

Below pictured is another transformation story in the making. Geoffrey Nizeyimana started school quite late and somehow failed to fit in with the much younger class mates in primary school. This led to low morale and a general loss of interest in studying. However, after much patience and counselling, together with consultations with his mother and family, we discovered that he was interested in acquiring vocational skills. We have now put him in a vocational training institution and we are amazed at the change of attitude towards studying. His attendance is regular unlike in the past. He is studying carpentry, which was the course of his choice. In the pic, he is captured doing some practicals.
Many thanks to his new found sponsor and to all that are sacrificing your resources to create these transformation stories.

Holiday time.

This month has been great as we have been having a lot of interactions with the children; playing games, teaching them life skills and a bit of academic revision. In the first pic below, Samuel Ihorihoze, the youngest in the group, makes a contribution in a discussion about cultural traditions and local proverbs and riddles. We were amazed how much they knew in terms of riddles and wise sayings used in this part of the country.
When saying riddles, the challenger says "saku saku", the rest reply "Soma" (meaning literally, READ). Then he gives the riddle and one person gives the meaning.

One riddle that was brought up says in the local dialect "Mfite abaserikare batatu omwe nabura ndarurara" (I have 3 soldiers; when one is absent, i go without food). The answer was given promptly by one of them: It was "Amahega" (cooking stones). In Africa, the traditional stove or cooker was composed of 3 stones placed in a triangular shape close to each other. The food in a cooking pot is placed on top of the 3 stones (amahega), and firewood is placed under the pot (between the 3 stones) and lit with fire. More firewood is added to keep the fire burning until the food is ready.
The idea behind the riddle is that if one of those stones(soldiers) is removed, the family will not cook that day hence going hungry.
In African culture, the use of riddles, stories and wise sayings is a common tool used in a home setting to teach important values and life lessons to children. Here we are....

More Xmass Action

Some more fun...

XMASS 2014.

Merry Xmass and happy new year to all of you!

This Xmass was one of a kind here at FALCCO. Members of Transformation Revival Centre, a local church here, teamed up with us to organise an Xmass service and party for the children. Many thanks to the members for their involvement and contributions.

The children practiced the whole week for their musical presentations. We had some parents and other guests come over for the Xmass morning event.
Ululations and "Jingle Bells" filled the air as the knife touched the edge of the cake. The cake was cut by Justine Cyimpaye (representing the other children) assisted by a FALCCO volunteer, the director, a parent and one other guest.

Some children got a bit scared by the "fire" around the cake but realized later it was actually harmless!
We greatly appreciate our sponsors and friends who have made this year 2014 a memorable one for the children. We look forward to an even greater year 2015.

Tis holiday time again for our children. This is the end of academic year holiday and they will be having more time to help out at home and relax.
Xmas is on and preparations are underway for a children's xmas party on 25th Dec. Song practices are taking place and everyone is getting more and more expectant for the long awaited xmas cake!
Pics will be up as soon as our network is stable.

Hello from all of us here at FALCCO!
It was really great last month when we hosted our friends Thor, Sara, Emma, Sophia and Victor from Sweden. The children enjoyed every bit of the time they had with you. Thanks for giving them and all of us a memorable experience!