Sunday
Weekends are often times for visits and socializing. In so many ways, what I most look forward to on my visits to MGS is having a chance to visit with the many wonderful colleagues to whom the initiative has connected me. This time, I am realizing that the Maker Space and the PEBL project have created another whole set of colleagues that have also become good friends. This weekend was a time to enjoy those connections.
On Saturday, Clementine’s little one, Linda, celebrated her first birthday. Clementine invited Joni, Kaelen and I to the festivities. It was such fun to visit the faculty housing apartment where Clementine, her husband Pierre live. Linda was well celebrated at her party!
On Sunday, Djamila Kamisi, her husband and baby girl came to visit us at MGS! Djamila’s daughter is named IMPANO (gift in Kinyawanda) Lemuela (gift from God.)Besides having time to talk about the remarkable progress of Djamila’s work with the PEBL project, we had a chance to get to know that sweet lively little Lemuela who was born in January 24.
Getting to know these young professionals and their little ones is a special privilege for me. Clementine and Pierre, Djamila and her husband represent the commitment and dedication the nation needs to rebuild a strong nation. Each of them feel that they are involved in careers and projects that allow them to contribute their skills to build a peaceful, prosperous future for their nation (and, of course, for their children.) Pierre speaks confidently about his work with an state run agricultural group. Djamila’s husband believes strongly in the work he does with the Rwandan foreign service. Both Clementine and Djamila feel fortunate to be involved in work that encourages young people to develop their STEM skills. They also believe that the work of the PEBL project and the work of Maker Spaces will have a significant impact education here in Rwanda. As Dr. Brian Gravel writes in his latest research paper on Maker Space research, educators here are seeing “how making can transform STEM learning experiences for students. “
Like Clementine and Djamila, educators in Rwanda believe that making and its cultural traditions and innovation here can influence education from early learning through secondary school. Making also connects well to the entrepreneurial courses that Rwandan schools offer. Young, educated Rwandan women like Clementine and Djamila, and like the students here at Maranyundo aspire to be, seem to me to reflect the future of this hopeful nation.
One more event this weekend. It was time for Kaelen to leave MGS and return to her commitments at home. On Saturday evening, the Sisters gave her a Rwandan outfit that they had purchased in a shop in Nyamata. The green jacket and stylish red dress promise to be interesting additions to her wardrobe! Sister Laetitia is hoping she will come back to MGS soon to model her “new look” right here in Nyamata.
On Sunday, Sister Janviere, Joni and I took Kaelen to the airport and
watched her stride up the departure ramp and wave good bye.I hope she will return some day soon… Linda V Beardsley
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