Beatha and her Boys

This is a photo of me with Beatha and her middle son, Mugisha, from when I last visited back in January 2013, over 5 years ago now. You can read more, and check out further memorable photos from that trip on the blog I set up at the time: https://beathaandherboys.wordpress.com/ 

I keep in touch with Beatha, and her sons Mucyo, Mugisha and Mugabe, at least once a month. We speak briefly on the phone, and I give her the details to pick up the money I've sent. Between myself and my mother, with additional support from friends and family, I have been sending Beatha an average of £150 a month for the last 8 years or so.  At times it has been more, occasionally less, but always something.

This photo is from almost two years ago.

Beatha is like a sister to me. We lived together for two years when I was teaching English in Rwanda with VSO, back in 2001. I've been back to visit twice since. She is a remarkable woman, and bringing up three children alone, with all the challenges that entails. She left her husband when he began to get violent, and both of her parents and seven brothers and sisters were killed in the 1994 genocide. She still has distant cousins, but no immediate family. I am her family. She is my family.

The money I would like to raise will mean I can continue sending her a basic £150 per month for the next six months, while I focus on planning for the family's future. So what are the basics? The two older boys are at school, the fees for which now cost £40 each per term. Uniform and materials are extra. The house they live in costs £50 per month in rent, and any remaining money goes on food, clothes and medical needs. Mugisha and Mucyo are both doing extremely well in school, usually coming out in the top 5 of their class when it comes to end of term exams. 

Mucyo, the eldest, will be starting senior school next January, which will mean boarding. The majority of secondary schools in Rwanda are boarding, as there are far fewer than needed for the size of the population, and less that half of children of secondary age are able to attend. If this campaign raises more that the intended £900, I will put that aside to start saving for Mucyo's secondary education.

Your support will mean the world to me, and to Beatha and her boys. People don't associate Rwanda with hope, but having lived there for a total of three years, I do. And Beatha, and her sons, are a big part of why I continue to feel hopeful. Beatha in particular inspires me with her incredible strength in the face of ridiculous adversity. I know she's not alone in that, but she is my personal example of an indomitable spirit.

I look forward to sharing updates, and my great gratitude to all generous supporters. On behalf of Beatha and.... Mucyo, Mugisha and Mugabe -

Urakoze Cyane!

(Thank you very much in Kinyarwanda!