Truly the "LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS"

Rwanda is known for its rolling hills and is called "THE LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS." This is so true! I have never seen these many hills in my life! It adds so much beauty to the country. The one thing that amazes me the most is that, all farmers farm on the hills manually! Now we are in the rainy season, this country is 100% green, you never see little dry land. ALL GREEN. Reminds me of my EVER GREEN STATE: WASHINGTON!

RUBAVU DISTRICT

LAKE KIVU WEST VIEW

KID HAS A DINNER

KARONGI DISTRICT

LAKE KIVU IN KIBUYE TOWN

VIEW OF MY TOWN

LAKE KIVU NORTH VIEW

MY FAVORITE SCENERY 

BEAUTIFUL HILLS

Our water filters and cookstove distribution days!

Glimpse of our distribution days, which are my fav. I will upload a video soon. Distribution days are usually very up beat with dancing and singing. It starts out with talks from leaders and then into a skit that illustrates the importance of our technologies and then into a dancing/singing. Then, days following distribution, each household is visited by a community health worker (CHW) and educated on correct usage of technologies.  

Skit

7:00am ready to distribute 

Time to assemble water filters

 Celebrations - cow dance

Photos of my site!

I think Gisenyi is very different compare to other parts of Rwanda. Because its near the DRC, the culture and language is diverse. Also, because its on the boarder, its more of a business town. Almost everyone is always selling something. Lastly, it has a different vibe thank many other towns thats cool to live in. 

Gisenyi Town

My new home

 Town

Kivu Beach

Happy to be on water again!

Lake Kivu

Peace Corps life has been little busy….

I know I have not blog in a while. So let me catch you all up….

Finally, I have a placement!!! After a month of Pre-Service Training and another month of waiting around for placement, I have the perfect placement.

My site is in a town called Gisenyi. Gisenyi is right near the Democratic Republic of Congo in northern Rwanda. I am literally 20 minutes walk from the DRC boarder. GISENYI IS ACTUALLY RIGHT ON LAKE KIVU. My first year in Peace Corps I was on an island and now in a lake town, life can't get any better.

Apart from loving my site and furnished home, my placement is with an organization called DelAgua. DelAgua has a very well put together website check it out, delagua.org!!! We have a campaign going on right now in which we distribute water filters and cookstoves to the poorest villages in Western Rwanda. Distributions are followed by households education. I am the campaign coordinator for two districts. The goal is to reach about 3 million households. I will post videos from our distribution days, which I think are so cool.

I really like this placement, because its very different than my first placement in Kenya. My first year was the very traditional Peace Corps placement and I loved every minute of it. My second year in Rwanda, is different because I am working with an organization that works in villages but from a supervisor position. I got the best of both worlds.

I have so many pictures but I can't figure out how to load photos from my iPhone to my mac. As soon as I figure that out, I will post photos!

Peace!

Mid-Service Conference (MSC)

So, Rwanda is treating me well so far. Finished my language training with the training group and swore in last week. I can say my KinyaRwanda is at a reasonable level now lol

I was evacuated from Kenya before we had our Mid-Service Conference (MSC). So, I joined a health group in their MSC this week and it was amazing. I will also be closing my service with this group next summer. MSC is when we get together with our original group and reflect on our one year mark. Also have discussions about how we will continue to serve for the reminder of our service.

This week, for MSC, we stayed in a nice hotel and ate 5 times a day lol Food is a big deal when you are serving in remote villages. One thing I miss the most about home is the variety and availability of food. The hotel had a summing pool, so that was fun.

In addition, I was elected as Volunteer Advisory Committe (VAC) for the health group that I will be doing my Close Of Service (COS) with. I am honored to be representing this group in admin meetings about volunteer concerns.

I am still waiting for my placement, I don't have a site yet. I will be doing grass root soccer this week, stay tuned for details about that.  

Swearing In Once Again

August 22, 2014 Our swearing in ceremony took place in the home of the US ambassador. After two months of craziness with evacuation finally became a volunteer once again.     

Happy to be a PCV again!

My partner in crime!

My site mate from Kenya also got transferred to Rwanda. I am so excited to continue my service with her. I have learned so much from this woman. 

24 health volunteers and 10 of us are African Americans

My beloved host mom 

Our black is beautiful! 

The most number of African Americans in one group in the history of Peace Corps.

EVACUATION

Due to in securities in Kenya, we were evacuated from Kenya on July 24th. I took a direct transfer to Rwanda to continue my service.

I was very sad to leave my community and all of my unfinished projects. And most of all my beloved dog Simba. There was not enough time for anything. No choice but to move forward.

I was in Rwanda summer 2012 doing a study of broad and absolutely loved it. So, I have been wanting to come back to Rwanda for a long time. So when the opportunity came up, I didn't hesitate. So I am very excited to be here again.

I have now joined a PST (pre-service training) and will swear in again as a volunteer on August 22nd.

All in all the last few weeks have been a roller coaster ride. But I am looking forward to a peaceful year of service in Rwanda.    

World Malaria Day

World Malaria Day Event

So sorry everyone, haven't blogged for a while. 

Friday the 25th of April we shun a light on Malaria Day! 130 people were informed and tested for malaria and those who tested positive were treated for free. 

People waiting to be tested

Registration Table

9:00am event day

Youth Corner

Another Peace Corps Volunteer 

Lab Test

Game time

Proper Net Hanging/Repair

Additional help from District Hospital

Water Project Documentary

Sorry guys, been kinda of busy with everything. Check out this small documentary I made for our water project. 

Happy Valentine day!

Happy V-day from Kenya

Happy Valentine's day everyone!

Fresh start

So, moving to a new site after three months is like starting all over again. Luckily I am not too far from my previous site so at least the local language is still the same. However, its new organization, new community, new home so its a new fresh start.

Now I have been at my new site for about 3 weeks mainly setting in and making a new home. First order business, since I love working with students, I already re-started my health clubs in 3 local primary schools.

water project!

My host organization is implementing the first clean water source for my community. That means, they are placing a big water tank in town center. They will be pumping the water from the lake and treating it. This tank will be the only clean water source in my community, which will be available to community members at a small coast.

We will be training our Community Health Workers (CHWs) about water and sanitation this coming week because we would like them to go door to door and mobilize the community for this project. After the training I will be joining them as they spread the word and educate oh how to keep water clean till consumption.

The purpose of this water project is to decrease water born diseases in our community. Pictures and videos about this water project will be updated here soon!  

Other than that, hope the new year is starting out good for you all!  

New Site

After two week of site development I have been assigned to a new site. Luckily, I am in an island called Rusinga on lake Victoria and still close enough to service my previous site from time to time.

This island isn't much different than my previous one and poverty still a big issue. However, it is closer to inland making food very easily accessible.

I am supper excited to serve again!!!