Blairstown Rotary Club
donates dictionaries to a school in Rwanda
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Donor: Rotary Club of Blairstown
NEW Video from Dictionary Distribution in Rwanda
The Blairstown Rotary Club recently held a meeting at which Susan Batts was the guest speaker for the evening. Club members learned that Susan had delivered the club's gift of 250 dictionaries to a school in Butare , Rwanda . They also learned that this was no small accomplishment.
As current residents of Harmony, Susan and Richard (Dick) Wallace of the Rotary Club have known each other for a long, long time. He learned that she was going to Rwanda and requested that Susan deliver the Rotary Club's gift to a school in that country. Richard noted that the dictionary donation had been a two-year quest, as the first shipment never made it to Rwanda . It was lost somewhere in Kenya .
Susan left Kennedy Airport in NYC, flew to Dubai and then to Kenya , all the time giving two large cases of dictionaries her careful attention. Finally, she arrived in Kagali , Rwanda . Then via very rough roads and uncomfortable transportation, she personally delivered the Blairstown Rotary Club's dictionaries to a village school in Butare. Her PowerPoint and DVD presentation showed the Rwandan students actually receiving their dictionaries and reading the Club's letter to them.
Susan also commented on her trip to the Volcano National Park and the area where tourists can get up close to gorillas. The pictures of the gorillas, impalas and other wild animals were amazing. The mountainous countryside was very beautiful, but is also economically very poor. Bicycles are the main means of transportation.
At the close of her presentation, Susan was given a very warm and generous round of applause. Susan was given a lot of credit for babysitting the two cases of dictionaries halfway across the world. What a wonderful ending to the “dictionary story!”
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UPDATE May 2008 : Pictures and Letters
Here are some pictures that we received from the project in Rwanda. You can click on the picture to enlarge it. (they will open in a seperate window)
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Letter from Kate and John of The Paraclete Center which inspired the Blairstown Rotary Club's Dictionary Project in Rwanda:
October 4, 2005
Dear Dick and Marie,
We are writing to you to ask for help with an educational project for Rwandan students studying in secondary schools (grades 7-12) and for students of the Catholic University of Kabagyi located in Gitarama, Rwanda. We intend to send paperback dictionaries to all students engaged in studying Conversational English throughout this particular area. The goal of Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, is that all children living within the country be enrolled in primary schools (grades 1 to 6) by 2015.
Rwandan students study English beginning in grade 4. None of them have textbooks in English or, for that matter, textbooks in any language. They write everything of importance the teacher says and then study from their notes. Books are a luxury. Even English-speaking teachers are without manuals or resources to support their work.
We were privileged to teach Conversational English at the University from January, 2005 to April, 2005. It amazed us how much the students loved learning and studying. Most hope that education will be a way out of personal poverty and will be a contributing factor towards the success of the country's economic and political development. Rwandan students prepare in uncertain times for an uncertain future. It matters to them, and it needs to matter to us, that they become proficient in speaking English. Working together with you we hope to find ways to support this effort. Please consider helping us now provide all students with paperback dictionaries to assist them. Pronunciation comes easily to the students but learning what words mean and the context in which to use them is another matter.
In Rwanda learning resources don't exist. Paper and pencils are all most schools can afford and many lack these necessities. There are no books on shelves, no pictures on walls, no learning posters, no tapes, no recorders, no teacher aids. In one primary school we visited there were sixty first-grade students studying from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. At 3:30 p.m. another sixty students came to study. Since 90% of the population is located in rural areas most schools are located there. It is ordinary for teachers to work with over 100 students every day. For many of the school children we visited it was their first experience of seeing “muzungu” (white people). Before our very eyes the story of the Pied Piper came alive. Children flocked around us during playtime. They diligently tried to welcome us with smiles, gestures and of course with English greetings.
Please become interested in helping to provide English Dictionaries to energetic and enthusiastic Rwandan students this coming school year and for years to come. The enclosed flyer is specific. It describes how you can help through donating old or new paperback dictionaries, or purchasing dictionaries at a very low cost and donating the funds for the shipping and handling of the books you donate.
Rwandans are a hopeful people. They continue to struggle daily to overcome the horrors of the 1994 Genocide. One small gift of a dictionary and the postage fee to send it will delight a Rwandan child.
Gratefully,
Kate Flaherty
John Mac Phee
Hello!
I've just returned from Rwanda where I teach English for the month of February. Your dictionaries were such a gift! How much the school enjoyed them—teachers and students alike! They would love to hear from you, teachers and students.
Sincerely,
Ellen Contreras
Dear my colleague and friend Richard Wallace,
I am very glad to send you this letter with many greetings.
I am old of 22 years and I am a teacher in Queen of Peace College and I teach French and History. I thank you for English dictionaries that you sent to our children (students). They have been very happy for your gift.
Richard, I would like to have cooperation with you or other teachers in your school especially teachers of French and History. I am senior level and I need to continue my studies in university but I have no possibilities.
In my work, I haven't any books of reading, any computer, any bicycle because I usually go to school by foot. Here in Rwanda the bicycle costs $100, it is very expensive.
My favorite food is meat, rice and sweet potatoes. My favorite book is “Which is the best thing in life?” My favorite leisure is sports (football).
Please Richard, I need your answer very soon.
Alexis Ndagijimana
Dear my friend Richard Wallace,
I'd like to write you this letter with my greetings.
I'm 26 years old. I'm English teacher in College Marie Reine de la Paix.
My favorite foods are biscuits, yellow bananas, rice and meat. My favorite subject is English as you have been told above and my favorite book is dictionary, story books and Grammar. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
I live in poor country (Rwanda) in poor family with both parents. I like to play fooball and the guitar. My younger brother is 2 years old. I go to work by old bicycle.
So let's finish here. If you want to communicate with me, contact addresses above.
Ruhigra J.M. Vianney
Dear Richard Wallace,
My name is Emmanuel Ndabikunze.
I am 32 years old and I am English and French teacher in Rwanda. I have 12 years of experiences in teaching.
My favorite subject is English and French and my favorite book is Dictionary and novels.
My favorite food is meat and rice.
I'm very happy to have this opportunity to write this letter to you.
We were happy for your gift of dictionaries from Blairstown Elementary School. From now, we're going to study English from America. I love USA especially American people. That's why I want to have a cooperation with you, especially teachers, drivers and farmers.
I studied English and French literature. I am bilingual; I have university level in English and French in teaching (education).
In my job, I haven't computer but it is needed. I go to work by foot because here in Rwanda, bicycle is very expensive (150,000 francs=500 $US). My favorite sports are swimming and listening to country music of Kenny Rogers, Jimmy Leeves and Dolly Parton from America.
So I need your answer very soon. Have a good day and happy new year.
Yours,
Emmanuel Ndabikunze
Dear Richard Wallace,
My name is Emmanuel Ndabikunze.
I am 32 years old and I am teacher of English, French and History.
My favorite subjects are English and French. My favorite book is Dictionary and novels and newspapers. My favorite food is meat, cassava, beans, rice and fish.
I take this time to write this letter in order to inform you about my life and Rwanda in general.
I am teacher of English and French and History. I want to have a cooperation with teachers, drivers and farmers from America. I have driving permit (license) but I have no car. I love Americans and my hopes are to go to your county in the next years if I will have the possibility, but it is very expensive because it is a long trip from Rwanda to America.
About family, I got married 3 years ago. I have a child called Denis; my wife is Denyse, 27 years old. We love Americans.
I need your answers very soon. Thanks a lot.
Yours,
Emmanuel Ndabikunze
Dear Richard Wallace,
My name is Innocent Rutuyeyezu.
I am 32 years old and I am a teacher of geography, physics, sports and civics.
My favorite subject is biology and my favorite book is “Natural Sciences.” My favorite color is green. My favorite food is pizza, oranges and apples. My favorite sport is football. My favorite holiday is Christmas.
I like to write this letter to inform you about my information. I want to know:
-Informatic skills (computer),
-To be graduated level (biology-geography) and without school fees
My hope is that my children would like to visit you in USA (United States of America). Actually, my first son is 3 years old and my girl is 10 months.
Thanks a lot,
Innocent Rutuyeyezu
Hi Dear Ally D. and Antony,
My name is Louise Nishimwe. I study in third form. I have a brother and I haven't parents because they were died in genocide 1994. I like to play basketball, to swim and to dance. I want to be your correspondent. In my vision I want to come in America because I love it so much and it is my dream. Do you want to come our country? If you want you are welcome.
Please, I want a very good answer.
Love,
Louise
Dear my Brielle and Steven,
I have 15 years old and I am a girl. My name is Marylene Jospine Iribagiza.
I study in third form A, I have my mom, and dad, sister, and I have my brother. I like to play volleyball, and I am Rwandan. I want to be you correspond. In my vision I want to come in America because I love it. Please, I want a very good answer.
Thank you,
Marylene Jospine
Dear my lovely flower Sasche,
I love you but I don't know you. I know only your name and I love you so much.
I am a girl; I have eighteen years old. I have my grand sister and my brother.
I don't have any parents. My parents died but I live with my aunt in Butere.
I am a student. I like to play, to dance and pray. I am also a poetess and singer. When I see you I will sing one of my songs to you.
I want to see you because I love you very much but I don't know your address, your picture or you could come here in Rwanda and I see you.
Thank you very much and I wish you a good time. My friend I love you very much and I want to see you my lovely.
God bless you my friend.
Clarisse
Hi dear Hunter A.,
My name is Diana Ayizere.
I have 16 years old; I study in third form. I have a father and I haven't a mother. My mother died in genocide.
I like to play volleyball. I want to be your correspondent please, I want a very good answer come to you.
Dear my lovely Peter Ariana,
I love you but I don't know your face. I love you because you have a good name. And I think that you are beautiful.
I am a girl, I have fifteen years old. I have my grand sister and my brother.
I don't have any parents. I am an orphan but I live with my uncle and live in capital Kigali in Rwanda.
I like to pray, to play, to dance, to study and also my American singers love is Chingy. I love him very much and I love also Ciara and Beyonce.
I want to know you because I love you. I am a singer and poetess. I sing and I love to sing. When you will write for me a message, I will write for you one of my songs and a poem.
[she includes a drawing of a doll with the note “I love that toy.”]
Thank you very much and have a good time all day in your life.
By: Christelle