Wednesday 22 July 2015

Rwanda Wednesday - Lucy and Lauren

Hi everyone, all good over here! Although we are being eaten by mosquitos! Thank you all for your comments although it makes for a very emotional debrief (especially for us Thornburiers!)
Team superman (Lucy’s team) started the day with superheroes, making comic strips, and making superhero finger puppets. All the children loved learning about new superheroes, although some knew a lot of them already. Whilst learning about superheroes, we asked the kids who their heroes were. They said there heroes were Nina, Matha and Gidion (teachers at the school) because “They taught them very well” After break when the children had porridge, we made loom bands. The kids went crazy for them! They absolutely LOVED it.  

Team Mo Farah (Lauren’s team) stared with English where they had to make up their own superhero, many of them said their superhero’s name was someone from team Mo Farah! Then we played bingo, the children LOVED it! And were very excited when they got a full house! After break we gave them T-shirts to decorate with pens, paints and stickers. Many of them were trying to find the letters of their names to stick on them. When they had finished they all put the T-shirts on!

This afternoon was very emotional (crying face because we have no emojis) The head teacher of the catch up school brought in 25 children from the streets. We started off by playing with the parachute, and then we made masks and loom bands.  The street children loved playing with the parachute especially when playing cat and mouse. We went inside to make masks and the children loved all of the glitter and stickers. All the children were so proud of the masks they had made and loved posing for pictures with them on. After this we moved onto making loom bands, all the children understood very quickly and loved the charms to put on them. The street kids preformed many songs for us, they used the drum and all started dancing around. After this we took a group photo with all the things the children had made. Last night some of us prepared bags to give away to the street children. They included a shirt, colouring things, bubbles and a bouncy ball. All the children’s faces lit up when they saw what was in the bags, they put their new T-shirts on and were so happy with them. Some of them even started posing for us to take a picture. By the end of only a few hours, the street kids were beaming from ear to ear! 
At the end Helen made a very heartfelt speech which made many members of the team cry. One of the street kids asked “when will we see you again?” which was very hard to take on board. 
The CRED foundation provided all the street kids who went to the catch up school today, with a HUGE meal of rice, minced meat and beans. Although on the street they don’t have meals, some children were telling us they would find potatoes on the floor and eat them raw.

The catch-up school work with the street kids to help them get on the straight and narrow. After the catch-up school have helped them stop sniffing glue ect, they try their best to find them foster homes and give them an education. Today was almost like an open day for the street kids to show them what life could be like if they stopped the bad habits they have picked up from the streets.

Overall today was eye opening to see and emotional to hear the stories of how the street kids live. Missing everyone at home! Can’t believe we are half way through already, it has gone so quickly!

Lucy and Lauren xx  

PS Sophie would love to have a comment from someone. And so would other team members who haven't received any comments yet!



















23 comments:

Unknown said...

Nice mask Lowrie

Unknown said...

Hi All (especially Cathy & Genie)
From the pictures, it looks like all the kids and all of you are having a great time. But even from the snap shot you're giving us in the Daily Blog, it seems that every day brings something new.
The loom bands are in a lot of photos and it sounds like they're going down a storm, I take back every bad thought I ever had when I found those little rubber bands all over the place, they are obviously truly universally loved.
To Cathy & Genie, I've tuned Grandad into the Blog today and he will also be reading it every night, but I'm not quite there yet with getting him able to comment. Zane is having a good time on camp, he won every race in the gala they held. When I was in London earlier this week I popped in to see him and bring him some stuff he forgot.
Dogs and people all OK this end, but missing you. Have a great remainder of your trip and I hope the mozzies aren't too bad.
Love
Pete XX

Linda Bohin said...

It is lovely to see you every night on the blog and the comments made. You look really happy with all your new friends. Can you make loom bands in your sleep!!!!!! We have got one of your pictures as our screen saver. We have been waiting for Wednesdays update and see you have had another memorable and emotional day today. We are sure you are finding it very rewarding, keep smiling that lovely smile we love you lots Nanny and Grandad xxxxx
Also Mum and Dad say another great blog today loving to hear all your news. Went out on Peggy today in the lovely sunshine xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Also hello to Sophie and all the others !!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

Hi Natalie (and all Team Rwanda especially Sophie!!)
Hard to read this blog without getting emotional. The work you are doing is incredible. Again such lovely photographs showing the mask making activity and the children eating their meal. It really makes us realise how lucky we are.
How you managing the heat? Weather here is awful!! Me and Dad off to Swansea tomorrow(its forecast sunny). So looking forward to seeing you. Only 2 teaching days left. You are making such a difference Nat.

Love you millions
Mam and Dad xxxxxxxxxx

Unknown said...

Hey Natalie!
Been looking forward to reading the blog all day! Sounds like you had yet another great but emotional day! So proud of you! It's so lovely to see you with the children. You will have to make me a loom band when you get home. You must be an expert now haha!!
Nan and Granch drove me to Chippenham today. We got a bit lost hahaa! I showed them some pictures of you and they said you look like you're enjoying yourself. They send their love.
Me and Carl are all packed for London. Hoping it's going to be a sunny day!
Miss you loads but so happy that you are making the most of this fantastic experience!
Love you so much!
Rachel and Carl xxxxxxx

Duncan Weir said...

Great blog - well done, Lucy.

Aislinn... Messages:

1. From James - Alright. (He says he is not really missing you but I think he is, just a little.) He says it is hard work with Calum and Lauren without you!
2. From Granny - she has picked all the blackcurrants today with help from Lauren.
3. From. Mum - first day back to work after her back injury and all well.
4. From Dad - I have been banned from sending you my jokes. This is not good. I also wanted to pass on my very educational tip that sharks will only attack you when you are wet ... But Mum pointed out that Rwanda is land locked with no coastline, so it is an even more pointless tip than usual!

Keep going with the good work.

Ps Hello, Sophie!

Unknown said...

A great blog girls - well done you. What an amazing day you have had truly inspirational not only to you but to us at home as well. The parachute and the loom bands seem to be very well loved by all the children and are bringing them a lot of joy. I hope that the children who visited today were encouraged that there are opportunities out there for them and they now aspire to go to the centre to.
Em Callum says hello and sends his love and says he is very proud of you.
Looking forward to tomorrow's blog already, lots of love xxxxxxxx

Big hello to Sophie to, you are doing a fantastic job xox

Unknown said...

Hi Dais..... Looks like you are having an amazing time! We all love reading the blog and love seeing you there looking so relaxed. Not going to lie today's blog made me cry reading about the street kids. But as you know that's not hard. We all miss and love you loads. Keep up the good work (Daisy's mum) p.s love all your masks xxxx

Peter Timblick said...

Hi Sarah, Great to see you smiling in all the photos and rest of the group as well, you obviously are making a difference to the children. I'm missing you soooooooo much can't wait to see you soon and hearing your stories. Love you loads Mum xxx

Unknown said...

Hello sarah t. So glad to see you having fun with helping the children and also proud of the work that your doing for them to help change there lives xx keep up the good work xx i love and miss u loads xxxx hope you and sophie enjoy the rest of the week dxx

Unknown said...

Hi Sionedd

It was lovely to hear from you today :-) even though me and Aden are missing you something terrible I would just like to say I'm so so proud of you babe for doing this trip and making such s big difference to the kids of Rwanda. You and the rest of the team a such amazing people and you really are putting a smile on the children's faces which is clearly evident in the photos :-). Well done to all the team

Aden also told me to tell you yesterday that he needs you home as "cwtching" with me on the settee is not as good a Sionedd's haha!

But on a serious note you are such a beautiful person for doing this. Me and Aden are so very lucky to have you in our lives. Take care on the rest of the trip and get in touch when you can

Miss you beautiful and hurry home

Love you loads and loads me and Aden xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jo said...

It seems like you have had an extra tough day today with the street children. As mentioned in other comments, it's hard not to get emotional reading tonight's blog. Well done to you all for keeping it together and bringing some joy into their lives. The masks look amazing.
Great pictures again, the parachute looked great fun.
I hope you achieve lots more great things for the rest of the week.
Sending you a big hug Luce, Miss you so much😘
Keep up the incredible work Team Rwanda!
Big Hello to Sophie and everyone else
Lots of love
Jo (Lucy's mum) Xxxxx

Unknown said...

Emma Bullen I hope you are making the most of this opportunity. All of you are providing wonderful memories for those less fortunate. Mum and I are immensely proud of what you are doing. X

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Hi My Beautiful Babies,

Thank goodness for this blog!! It has been brilliant being able to read about all the lessons and activities you are sharing with the children.
I'm sure the school and the pupils will benefit (and truly appreciate) all of your efforts.

I can't begin to explain how proud I am of you both. The maturity and confidence you have shown is amazing. The strong independent young woman I hoped you'd be have most definitely arrived!!

I have no doubt that this experience will stay in your thoughts and hearts forever. I hope you are proud of your achievements so far - you absolutely should be!!

We miss you loads and loads. Love you all the way to the moon .. and back again!

Please be careful My Leggy Bird and My Baby Girl.

All our love, always.

Mam, Garrett and Eleri xxxxxx

PS - Well done to everyone else too - brilliant work!

Unknown said...

Hi Sarah C. We're loving reading all the daily blogs from Team Rwanda. it certainly sounds like you are all having an amazing time all be it an emotional one at times. Todays blog about the visit by the street kids and the impact they had on you all was inspirational. You're all doing an amazing job. The activities seem to be being thoroughly enjoyed by all the children. The many longs hours spent in preparation has certainly paid off!
The photos are wonderful , incredible that they are taken each day and shared with us all back home so soon afterwards. love the ones with the masks today especially. Missing you loads. sorry to hear the mossies are having a field day. Hope you're managing to sleep ok and there are no mice keeping you awake! Keep strong all of you , and keep supporting and caring for each other as you share this incredible experience. We're so proud of you.
love you loads.
all our love and prayers.
Mumma and Papa. xxx

Unknown said...

To My Sionedd and My Lowri,

Mammy is doing my head in with all her blubbing - I have to keep giving her lots of cwtches!!

I like the photographs and would like to come and play too - I can bring my painting and play dough for everyone to play with!

I'm missing you both very very much and I really need a big hug from the bestest sisters in the whole wide world!!

When you come home please can we go to the beach - I would like to play in the sand?

This week my new words are brilliant, darling, fabulous and proud - my sisters are brilliant and fabulous and I am very proud of you both. I want to be just like you (but I'll keep my toys tidy).

Bye bye for now my darlings,

Loads of big hugs and sloppy kisses

Eleri xxxxxx

Unknown said...

Hi Sarah C. We're loving reading all the daily blogs from Team Rwanda. it certainly sounds like you are all having an amazing time all be it an emotional one at times. Todays blog about the visit by the street kids and the impact they had on you all was inspirational. You're all doing an amazing job. The activities seem to be being thoroughly enjoyed by all the children. The many longs hours spent in preparation has certainly paid off!
The photos are wonderful , incredible that they are taken each day and shared with us all back home so soon afterwards. love the ones with the masks today especially. Missing you loads. sorry to hear the mossies are having a field day. Hope you're managing to sleep ok and there are no mice keeping you awake! Keep strong all of you , and keep supporting and caring for each other as you share this incredible experience. We're so proud of you.
love you loads.
all our love and prayers.
Mumma and Papa. xxx

Unknown said...

Hi Kaya,
The blog is so good to read every night, just to know what you've been up to. I hope the Mosquitos aren't too bad. Can't imagine how rewarding this whole trip is for you, especially with the street children. I'm so proud of you, keep on smiling and keep up your great work.
I love you so much
Your Nath

Duncan Weir said...

HI SOPHIE!!!!!!!!!!

Love Holly x

P.s. Suppose you could tell Aislinn I said hey, please let her know if she fancies staying another few weeks the peace and quiet would be appreciated!
x x x

Unknown said...

For Lowri, Sionedd and Tracey.
Hiya guys, the work your doing is fantastic and its so good to know your enjoying it at the same time! It's so good to know you're all safe and well and I'm loving these photos that your uploading! Lowri your an even darker shade of white now lol. I hope you enjoy the rest of the time that your there, keep safe guys!
Emily symons xxx

Unknown said...

To all the team (but particularly Tracy, Sionedd & Lowri)

Looking at the photos it's hard not to do so without a tear in your eye and a lump in your throat. The children's faces say it all - you clearly have made a difference to these children and the fact that you care enough to be there with them may just be enough to give them the push they need to change their lives. 'Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world'

Missing you and bursting with pride at your efforts. Love you all so very much.

Kerys (Dad) xxxxx

Unknown said...

Enjoying reading back through your blog- lovely post Lucy (and Lauren!), it sounds like an amazing experience for both the team and the children you are working with- well done. Lovely pictures too! Can't wait to hear more when you are back but enjoy the last few days- every moment is special. (smiley face because I have no emojis...) xx