The Taaluma Project

We are heading to Nyamyumba, Rwanda, for 14 days to begin the experiential learning aspect of our abroad experience. Immersing ourselves in this vibrant community, we aim to support the local families who have welcomed our program for many years.

With your support, we will fund the construction of homes, provide essential resources, and empower families to thrive. All funds raised will go directly towards building a home, supplying food for a year, and funding education for the children. It takes approximately $4,000 to build the physical house, $1,000 to provide a year’s supply of food, and $1,000 for educational fees.

Help us make a lasting impact by promoting Project Home’s motto: “it’s more than a house, it's a home.” Join us in this journey to build a brighter future together!

Our group is heading to Muhazi, Rwanda in a few weeks to participate in the experiential learning portion of the Linking Lives Study Abroad Program.

As a way to contribute to the community that will be hosting us, we are raising funds to support families in Muhazi. We plan to use these funds to purchase health insurance for a year, which is extremely impactful!

If we hit our fundraising goal, our group will run 1 kilometer for every $1,000 we raise! ($3,400 = 3.4, $4,900 = 4.9, etc).

Our group is heading to Ruli, Rwanda in a few short weeks to participate in the experiential learning portion of the Linking Lives Study Abroad Program. We are taking on an exciting challenge to support an initiative called Project Home which funds the construction of a home in the community, and supports the recipient family in several other ways.

Our minimum goal is to raise $4,000 to cover the cost of building materials for the house.

If we reach $6,000, we can do even more! The additional funds will provide the family with essential furniture, food, and education support for their children throughout the year. Your support can make a life-changing difference. Donate today and help us bring stability to a family in Ruli.

Our group is heading to Rwinkwavu, a small village in Rwanda, in a few short weeks to participate in the experiential learning portion of the Linking Lives Study Abroad Program. Join us in making a life-changing impact for the people of Rwinkwavu!

Our goal is to raise $3,000 to provide health insurance for over 500 individuals in need, ensuring they have access to essential medical care for an entire year. Every donation, big or small, brings us closer to a healthier and more secure future for this community.

If our goal is met our group will participate in a Pie, Egg, Plunge challenge in Lake Lugano!

We are 12 Virginia Tech students participating in service learning in Eastern Africa for a month and we want to give back to the community partners. We are raising money for an initiative called Project Home which funds the construction of a home in the community, and supports the recipient family in several other ways, including furnishing their house, providing fees to support the children in school, and making food and water available to sustain life.

If we reach our goal, we will do a polar plunge in Lake Lugano in December!

Virginia Tech’s Linking Lives study abroad program has been working with Mabawa, a nonprofit organization in Rwanda for 10+ years. In a few short weeks, a group of 11 Virginia Tech students will travel to Nyamyumba, Rwanda for 2 weeks to teach and host a literature focused summer camp with kids.

Although they will be there for a short period of time, the impact this program has is long lasting because it is mutually beneficial for both the Nyamyumba community and Virginia Tech students.

The money raised from this GoFundMe will go towards completing community projects that focus mainly on housing construction and house rehabilitation. The funds will go directly to our partner, Mabawa, and they will allocate the funds based on their needs for certain projects.

The money going to Mabawa is sustained and will affect the community for years to come, even as early as next semester when the next group of Virginia Tech students traveling to Rwanda.

We are proud and honored to have the opportunity to learn from the Nyamyumba community. We hope that with this GoFundMe we are able to make a significant contribution to the community. We are excited to update you on the work we do. Thank you so much for your support!

If you would like more information about the Linking Lives program or Mabawa, please visit the following websites: https://www.linkinglives.org/ and https://www.mabawa.org/

Students in the Linking Lives program have actively participated in service learning and cultural exchange over the years in Nyamyumba, Rwanda - our group is excited to participate in service learning in Eastern Africa as well!

We will be collaborating closely with Mabawa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to community development through sustainable initiatives. For over a decade, Mabawa’s initiatives have made a significant impact on the community.

The funds raised through this GoFundMe will support Project Home, an initiative to fund the construction of a home in the community, and support the recipient family in several other ways, including furnishing their house, providing fees to support the children in school, and making food and water available to sustain life. Through these initiatives, we aim to take a holistic approach to not just building a house, but creating a home for families in Nyamyumba, Rwanda. We are proud to be part of a program that allows us to make a meaningful impact on the community.

Please visit the program website for more information about the Linking Lives Program at www.linkinglives.org and more about Mabawa and Nyamyumba at https://en.mabawa.org/greaternyamyumba.

We thank you for your donation to this cause!

We are a group of students from Virginia Tech and Roanoke College currently studying in Lugano, Switzerland. Our program, Linking Lives, focuses on social change and experiential learning.

In November, we are going on a journey to participate in a field study in Eastern Africa. We are extremely excited to participate in this journey to not only be of service for this community, but to also live and learn from locals. We will be helping teachers in classrooms by teaching students' different subjects such as English and music, as well as assisting these teachers in the classroom as needed.

We will also be helping to build a home for a family that the village of Ruli decides by fundraising. Project Home, as the initiative is called, will not only allow us to create a home for the family, but also pay for the children to go to school in Ruli and supply the family with food and water. The money raised through this GoFundMe will directly support the Project Home initiative for the family chosen.

If we reach our goal (or close enough to it!), we will record ourselves jumping into Lake Lugano for a polar plunge when we return to Switzerland in December! Thank you for supporting our cause and spreading the message.

In a few weeks, 11 Virginia Tech students will be traveling to Rilima, Rwanda where we will have the opportunity to teach in primary schools, and make a positive impact on

children's education.

Our mission in Rilima goes beyond making a positive impact in classrooms, but also funding to make a positive impact on the community, and providing a stable home for those in need. We ask you to join us in making a difference in the lives of those in need through Project Home, a community-driven initiative dedicated to providing shelter, hope, and opportunities to individuals and families in Rwanda. Project Home provides a safe

structure to live in, a place of emotional and physical security, and home furnishings. School supplies and fees, safe water, and food are also provided for a full year so the family has the necessary resources to thrive in their community.

If you would like more information about the program we are studying abroad through, Linking Lives, or the nonprofit we are fundraising for, Fondazione Marcegaglia Onlus (FMO), please visit their websites:

https://www.linkinglives.org/

https://fmorwanda.org/

Thank you for being a part of our community and for helping us build hope, changelives, and create a world where everyone has a place to call home.

Sincerely,

Carson, Izzy, Rowan, Mac, Ashley, Adith, Ella, Eryn, Riya, Julia, Tyler

For the last ten years, Virginia Tech students in the Linking Lives Study Abroad program has traveled throughout the country of Rwanda to various locations with the goal of creating and strengthening strong relationships with communities. On March 29, 2024 a group of eleven Virginia Tech students are traveling to Ruli, Rwanda to continue participating in projects that will extend our bonds with these communities.

While we are in Ruli, we will be working with the Dominican Sisters of Annuncita of Ruli and other local NGOs to support the community we are invited to. Our central focus that we ask you to join us in changing lives is though Project Home, a grassroots, community-based initiative dedicated to providing shelter, hope, and opportunities to individuals and families in Rwanda.

Please visit the program website for more information about the program, Linking Lives: https://www.linkinglives.org/

On March 28, 2024, we are leaving for Rwanda to participate in a hands-on and interactive learning experience. We will be staying in Musha, Rwanda for 2 weeks learning from the culture and participating in projects that help serve Musha and the community.

Our study abroad program works with Project Home to provide reliable shelter, comfortable living spaces and home security. Other essentials such as school supplies and fees, safe water and food will also be provided for a full year so the family has all the resources needed to flourish within the community.

To raise money for Musha, Rwanda, our group of 11 Virginia Tech students will participate in a virtual 5k. Members participating have the opportunity to raise money for each mile they walk, and may also be given money from people who support the fundraiser.

Our group will proudly participate in Moving for Musha in hopes of raising money.