habimana

so, i went to gasabo today. i gave soap and toothbrushes and toothpaste and bracelets and a backpack to vedaste and his brother. vedaste was #2 in his class. i thought it would be hard for him to do well since he was 15 and in second grade but he has done great. his brother flunked the first grade so i gave him a strong lecture.

i also met habimana. he is also 15. his mom died from aids last year and he spent 3 days with her body because he didn't know what to do. he stopped going to school when his uncle refused to pay school fees. his uncle also beats him when he tries to talk to other children. he takes care of cows and other kids are mean to him and beat him. he wants to go back to school. he would start the 2nd grade. the rwandan school system is different. the school year starts monday, not in the summer. i've decided habimana needs to go to gahini, the anglican school where vedaste and gilbert go. there are several students there that are about 8 years behind like them and so they can encouragement instead of ridicule for being so behind.

the problem...gahini is expensive. it's about $80 a trimester plus when a student first starts they have to buy soap, a uniform, towels, etc. it's a boarding school. these orphans can't go to school all day and then come home to farm and cook. they have to go to boarding school. i would pay for habimana myself but i already pay for vedaste and gilbert to go to gahini and vedaste's house is about to fall down so i need to save to get him a new house.

does anyone want to send an orphan to school? a sunday school class or entire church or a family with about $200 to spare? i'm looking for someone to pay for more than one year. what's good with school if you can only go one year before your sponsor gets tired of paying? i'm giving money to solace so habimana can start on monday but it's vedaste's school fees for the next trimester so i need to reimburse solace as soon as possible? anyone want an orphan? trust me, it's marvelous to know you are literally saving someone's life. vedaste was being threatened and barely eating when i first sent him to school and now he actually looks like a man. it made me cry.

for the pictures:

habimana, the boy that wants to go to school. he says he can't smile because he has too much sorrow in his heart. he's 15, he shouldn't know that kind of sorrow. blah.

my gasabo orphans. can you see me? notice the cute braids. we're outside the church where we had to meeting.

me, vedaste and gilbert with the bags i gave them. vedaste is the big one. he was just above my shoulders and his legs were skinnier than my arms when i first met him and now look and him. it's marvelous.