Hi!
Just a little update on how things are going on here at DuHope in Kigali!
As I have said before, we have seen so much progress in our counseling department. I had asked you to pray for someone named "L", and although we have not yet come to a conclusion about what we are going to do to address her situation, she came in the following week saying she felt a weight off her shoulders because she had been able to share her story with others. She will often come to me during the day and say to me quietly over my shoulder, "Today, I am happy". I tell her if she is happy, then I am happy. It goes to show you how much impact this community, fellowship, and a safe environment for sharing can have. Nothing in her situation has changed, yet she feels hope just knowing there are people hearing her and caring about her.
I cannot say enough good things about our counsellor. She also did a session on relaxation, which included her encouraging the women to do things they enjoy: dancing, singing, laughing with others. As an example, she had the women share what their favourite animal is and then asked them to imitate the noise that animal makes - this was something that seems so trivial and silly, but it was an example of how sometimes they can just let go and to show how good laughing can feel!
We have unfortunately lost our creative designer for the jewellery workshop as she has gone to attend university classes. We have others who are able to help with women with what to make, how to make it, etc., but one day we decided to let them have a turn at designing some things themselves - I think they did a pretty good job, don't you?!
Just a little update on how things are going on here at DuHope in Kigali!
As I have said before, we have seen so much progress in our counseling department. I had asked you to pray for someone named "L", and although we have not yet come to a conclusion about what we are going to do to address her situation, she came in the following week saying she felt a weight off her shoulders because she had been able to share her story with others. She will often come to me during the day and say to me quietly over my shoulder, "Today, I am happy". I tell her if she is happy, then I am happy. It goes to show you how much impact this community, fellowship, and a safe environment for sharing can have. Nothing in her situation has changed, yet she feels hope just knowing there are people hearing her and caring about her.
I cannot say enough good things about our counsellor. She also did a session on relaxation, which included her encouraging the women to do things they enjoy: dancing, singing, laughing with others. As an example, she had the women share what their favourite animal is and then asked them to imitate the noise that animal makes - this was something that seems so trivial and silly, but it was an example of how sometimes they can just let go and to show how good laughing can feel!
We have unfortunately lost our creative designer for the jewellery workshop as she has gone to attend university classes. We have others who are able to help with women with what to make, how to make it, etc., but one day we decided to let them have a turn at designing some things themselves - I think they did a pretty good job, don't you?!
We have come to the place where we want to start expanding the products the women are making. There are some that are just not as advanced in the skills used to make the jewellery. For example, a woman I will call "E" who is a bit older and has trouble seeing the small beads; she will often only finish one piece with help from the others, while they themselves complete at least 3 in the same period of time. She said she was thinking that she would probably have to stop coming to the program. I asked the translator to tell her that we wanted her to stay and that we would find something else for her to do. We have been brainstorming and talking with some other organisations and friends over here who may be able to sell some different types of products. Our hope is that no one will feel they need to leave or won't make enough money just because they have a different skill set than others.
With that being said, we have launched our first computer, English, and business training class in cooperation with another organisation (Esperance Education Institute). We have started with 7 women who will be trained 4 days a week for 12 weeks using Rosetta Stone software on the computers. I'm excited to see how it goes and to expand the opportunities for these women. However, these things do cost money, so if you would be willing to contribute or to sponsor a woman to complete the program please click here.
Please continue to pray for us, if you are a pray-er :) Please also consider donating to the general program fund here, or to my personal fundraising here.
Thank you, as always.
Much love.
Bronte.
