Lon Zomer and Hazel O'Dea - their life abroad
Friday 26 February 2010
Cushion
Another tapestry cushion finished, this one is larger than a pillow, and started to get really hot to work with towards the end. A few more years and we'll have our own kasbah!
Monster mushroom
I couldn't resist this huge mushroom at the grocers this morning! (and it was the second smallest). Hope it's good to eat...
Sunday 21 February 2010
Grenade attack in Kigali
apparently there was Grenade attack in Kigali on Friday night, we were out on Friday night and didn't notice what had happened, and only heard about it at a party last night...
The local English language media only reported on this event 24 hours later http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14178&article=6292
looking forward to Sarkozy's visit next week
The local English language media only reported on this event 24 hours later http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=14178&article=6292
looking forward to Sarkozy's visit next week
Friday 19 February 2010
Wikwiheba year 3
It's been about two years now since the first time I visited Wikwiheba. Thanks to Wouters strange need to keep running they have been able to make some big changes. They changed from a women with an idea into a proper organization. This means they should be able now to apply for grants and small project funds. It also means that it is time to let go. Just as well as we are moving this summer.
The first time I came it was more like a stinky cave smelling of pee. Now they have a proper house, soon with a few extra extensions for an atelier and classroom, a plot of land for basic foods and a barbershop. Also they are closer to the school. Their policy is to send as many children as possible to school as often as possible. Some children get thought in a small purpose build room next to the house, as they have special needs.
Here are a few photos.
Corn harvest
The new rooms
Man making the floor
Cooking still happens at Mediatrices house
The salon in one of Ngarama's main roads
The first time I came it was more like a stinky cave smelling of pee. Now they have a proper house, soon with a few extra extensions for an atelier and classroom, a plot of land for basic foods and a barbershop. Also they are closer to the school. Their policy is to send as many children as possible to school as often as possible. Some children get thought in a small purpose build room next to the house, as they have special needs.
Here are a few photos.
Corn harvest
The new rooms
Man making the floor
Cooking still happens at Mediatrices house
The salon in one of Ngarama's main roads
Visit Lons Parents
Last night we waved Lons' parents off at the airport, after they came to Rwanda for a short visit, partly to see us, and partly to escape Hollands' winter.
As this was their third visit we were left scratching our heads to come up with suitable activities, but then realised that they had not yet been to visit the lakeside town of Gisenyi, the first visit through lack of time, and the second time, due to political instability in Goma.
We were fortunate and the weather was good, with great views across the landscape. So we drove up to Ruhengeri for lunch, and then on to Gisenyi via Kiaka, one of Lon and mines favourite cooperatives. For those who don't know Lons dad, he has a technical background, and loves to see the African solutions for many technical issues. He also speaks good french, and has the nerve to go and ask people what they are doing and why...oh and takes photos too (in fact pretty much all the pics are Henks due to a technical malfunction ((I left the memory card for our camera at home!)))
Every 4 yr old should have a sickle to chew...
Henk and the shoemaker
brushes are sewn by HAND!!
We drove down to the lake so that Henk could see the trimaran fishermen, and to watch the sun set with a beer
..and what a glorious sunset!
The next day, we went to visit the Imbabazi Orphanage near Gisenyi. We have a subscription for a bouquet of flowers, which comes every week from the orphanage (along with about 50 others in Kigali), so I was looking forward to seeing fields of flowers. However, the weekend before they had had a heavy hail shower which damaged all the fields, and had wreaked havoc... We were still received with great hospitality and warmth...
We also, over the weekend in Kigali went to visit the metal market....where Henk got a tour from one of the cooperative administrators - who declared Henk a researcher (and thus able to take photos and ask questions)
the wood market
and the regular market
Lon and his family went to visit the Wikiweheba centre - but I will let him post about that.
Wednesday saw us visiting a company here called Gahaya Links, along with about another 14 dutchies and visitors. Usually the Dutch partners have a coffee morning once every six weeks or so, and in the past, we have visited projects or gone on outings, so I decided to combine a trip for Lons parents with my partner duties...and it went really well. The baskets and jewellery that they make, are of a really high standard, for export (but also have prices which reflect that).
As this was their third visit we were left scratching our heads to come up with suitable activities, but then realised that they had not yet been to visit the lakeside town of Gisenyi, the first visit through lack of time, and the second time, due to political instability in Goma.
We were fortunate and the weather was good, with great views across the landscape. So we drove up to Ruhengeri for lunch, and then on to Gisenyi via Kiaka, one of Lon and mines favourite cooperatives. For those who don't know Lons dad, he has a technical background, and loves to see the African solutions for many technical issues. He also speaks good french, and has the nerve to go and ask people what they are doing and why...oh and takes photos too (in fact pretty much all the pics are Henks due to a technical malfunction ((I left the memory card for our camera at home!)))
Every 4 yr old should have a sickle to chew...
Henk and the shoemaker
brushes are sewn by HAND!!We drove down to the lake so that Henk could see the trimaran fishermen, and to watch the sun set with a beer
..and what a glorious sunset!The next day, we went to visit the Imbabazi Orphanage near Gisenyi. We have a subscription for a bouquet of flowers, which comes every week from the orphanage (along with about 50 others in Kigali), so I was looking forward to seeing fields of flowers. However, the weekend before they had had a heavy hail shower which damaged all the fields, and had wreaked havoc... We were still received with great hospitality and warmth...
We also, over the weekend in Kigali went to visit the metal market....where Henk got a tour from one of the cooperative administrators - who declared Henk a researcher (and thus able to take photos and ask questions)
the wood market
and the regular market
Lon and his family went to visit the Wikiweheba centre - but I will let him post about that.
Wednesday saw us visiting a company here called Gahaya Links, along with about another 14 dutchies and visitors. Usually the Dutch partners have a coffee morning once every six weeks or so, and in the past, we have visited projects or gone on outings, so I decided to combine a trip for Lons parents with my partner duties...and it went really well. The baskets and jewellery that they make, are of a really high standard, for export (but also have prices which reflect that).
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