You may remember that I included a memo in my last letter regarding Youth Unlimited’s desire to hire a manager for the Elevation Project. After finishing my degree this spring and working on a contract basis with Youth Unlimited since, I’ve decided to take on the project manager role.
I’m very excited about this new position, which will allow me to combine my passion for international development and youth work, my education, and my experience with YFC both in Canada and in Rwanda.
I will be coordinating the current projects that we partner with Rwanda YFC on. These include student sponsorships, a school lunch program, a program for HIV/AIDS affected women in Rwanda, and transformation and learning trips for youth and young adults. As well, I will be looking to build on the existing partnership by exploring further ways that we can work together with our friends in Rwanda.
Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated as I take on this new and exciting challenge!
Elevation Update
Here is a brief look at some of the exciting things that have been going on with the Rwanda YFC and the Elevation Project.
Student Sponsorships:We currently have sponsors for all 122 students involved in the Elevation sponsorship program! This is exciting news as student sponsorship goes a long way to help Kigali Christian School (KCS) cover the costs of providing high quality education to students from all backgrounds. It also means that KCS is able to admit more students for sponsorship in the new year, providing even more kids with opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have.
Food for Thought:
KCS provides lunch to every one of its 600+ students each day. The lunch program not only ensures at least one nutritious meal a day for the students, it has also allowed KCS to offer a schedule that is more conducive to additional time and activities.
Women’s Program: The Elevation Project has partnered with Rwanda YFC’s women’s program. For the past few years, Rwanda YFC has employed HIV/AIDS affected women on their property. This employment has provided the women with a source of income, as well as access to counselling, support and job-skills training. Recently, the Elevation Project has supported Rwanda YFC in their efforts to start a tailoring school for these women.
Trips:Time together is important in any relationship, and the Elevation Project is a relationship. As such, we try to spend time with our Rwandan friends when we can to build our relationship and more effectively work together. In the past year, myself and other Greater Vancouver staff have travelled to Rwanda, and some of our Rwandan friends have been able to visit us here in Canada. We are also planning a few trips in the new year, including a short visit in early spring, and a larger team trip in the summer.
Currently, those four projects are what we are most involved in with Rwanda YFC. One of the first things I’m working on is developing a Mission, Vision and Values statement. I believe this is an important step in refining our current work, as well as setting the trajectory for further development of the Elevation Project.
Stay tuned for further updates as I begin to really jump into this exciting work!
Partnering with the Elevation Project
This is an exciting project to be a part of. If you’d like to get involved there are lots of ways that we can make that happen! If you are particularly interested in any of the things we are currently involved in - Sponsorships, Food for Thought, Women’s Program & Trips - send me an email and I’ll give you more information on how you can support that work.
I am also looking to raise some monthly support. Please click here to read a special letter from YFC’s Executive Director for more details on my role and the financial needs associated with it.
If you’d like to support my work with the Elevation Project, click here to download a giving form, fill it in, and mail it to the address shown. You can also give online by going to my profile at www.youthunlimited.com and following the instructions there.
Prayer Points
- Direction as we are in the midst of developing a Mission, Vision & Values Statement for the Elevation Project
- Good communication with our Rwandan partners
- The necessary finance for my role as Project Manager
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