Rwanda, Running, and More (2025)

Classic pre run group photo

Hey! We’re back and what a whirlwind it has been. You would be amazed how fast ten days can go. Let me tell you all about it. Some folks love stories, and some folks love pictures to tell the stories. Well this blog will do it’s best to satisfy both types. There a bunch of stories and a bunch of pictures as you scroll and even more at the bottom.

MY RUN

I RAN! I swear. If you want exact miles, you’re not going to get them. Unless, you would like to join me next year and track them with me. Here’s how I did it this year. Around 10am on Tuesday the 24th I got started. I ran all around Kigali for near four hours. I sort of ran where I wanted to in the moment. That led me to taking long ways to visit homes we used to live in. It keeps me grounded doing that. I attempted to find Evode’s sisters’ preschool near the center of town but I failed. However, that added miles upon miles. Then I saw a public clock saying I was near two hours so I ran away from the city near Nyabugogo until I found a humble shop with water and simple pastries. I loaded up and ran back home. I took a route I used to always run years ago when we lived in a different area. Honestly, I tried my best not to get too much elevation because I have had knee issues for the last few weeks. The bad news was that is impossible though because Rwanda is never flat for long. The good news is my knee held up and I made it home in one piece after about four hours. some kids were not home at that time so we all relaxed and hung out while we waited for everyone.

OUR RUN

Once we had everyone gaggled up, we had a group photo and we talked about why we are running. the kids know exactly what they do it for now. They understand their education is possible due to many different folks around the world. It means everything to them and we talked about that. We also reminded ourselves that running together is also just plain fun and good for us. Then we took off to the local stadium. Russ, Amanda, and Nate walked and some kids joined them. The rest of us slowly chugged up the hills. For mileage people out there, Russ did roughly estimate that collectively, everyone added 120 plus miles for the last portion of the day. We made it to the stadium. The turf pitch the kids enjoyed so much last year was full of people. There is a now a secondary basketball court and football pitch with smooth concrete. They opted for that because they got it mostly to themselves. I was broken so I sat down on the bleachers, caught my breath, and was joined by our visitors and a handful of kids who felt like chilling out too.

WHY WE RUN (MORE REASONS)

If I had my wish, we wouldn’t have any street kids at all, anywhere, period. However, our time at the stadium allowed our visitors to be fully ingratiated. It started with a few boys. They came about and I gathered them to me. My Kinyarwanda is not amazing but it is functional, and thanks to the kids at home, I have learned many ways to break the ice and joke around to enjoy conversations with people form all different backgrounds in Rwanda. The street kids were extremely high on glue and petrol. They each had multiple empty plastic bottles with different amounts of toxic inhalants. They were extremely sweet however. In fact, at one point I eventually told them that I was happy to talk to meet them and spend time, but that I didn’t want the second hand fumes anymore. Their answer was to place their bottles about 10 feet away and come back. It was adorable and awful at the same time.

We talked about our home for awhile, and they said they would visit this week. Eventually, our kids were getting tired of playing. Also, eventually the word must have gotten out because we eventually had upwards of 10-15 street boys and girls hanging out. Street girls are more rare in Rwanda so I wasn’t happy to see that because they are usually hard to find. They were very sweet too. I happen to know a center for girls and shared with them. Sadly, a group that big, in the wide open, along with four “visitors” collects a lot of attention. I had to tell them we need to separate now. The unfortunate situation is the police will eventually see the situation, suspect the visitors are being harassed and the street kids will be rounded up and brought to jail.

I share this story because it is the reality of what we are working on in Ubaka U Rwanda. That evening after running, we got to gaze upon the beauty of what we do, and the challenges we still face. We walked home after with all of our kids and it is an absolute joy to share time like that with them. Also, I am happy to tell you that many of those kids we met did end up visiting later in the week and I hope that they might see there is hope and begin to consider a life off the streets.

This was after I had run for four hours. The kids enjoyed my tiredness.

FUNDRAISING

The truth is I have been doing this for over 15 years. A lot has happened in my life and everyone else’s lives who have joined us in any way. We have gained donors, lost donors, gained back donors, and lost donors again. It is not lost on me how grateful I should be for each and everyone.  We raised just over $10,000 this year. I have always said, I will run for whatever we can get and it will mean more than folks could know. This year is no different. I am happy to announce that the kids’ school fees will be covered for the next school year stating at the end of August. We will even have a little extra to help with our running costs each month. We need every bit we can to get ahead. Thank you, we could not have done this without everyone.

These are our kids today.

These are our former kids saying a few words.

BAPTISTE

One of our original boys, now a man, kept with Rwandan culture and threw a celebration at the home. Baptiste is an orphan and former street kid. He now has a thriving construction business, home, wife, and two children. Rwandan culture dictates you have a celebration to share your family and children with your parents. Baptiste recognizes Ubaka as his family and parents. We got to see many of our past kids and their families now. Our current kids got another example of what they can achieve. We had a blast.

No celebration is complete without throwing Evode around

SHENANIGANS

We play different games with the kids every year. This year we had a few new games that really took off. First off was puzzles. I don’t know why we never tried those before but they loved them. We used index cards and played charades with English. It was educational and terrifyingly intense! We also showed them how to make Ooblek. We had forgotten about it ourselves and forgot how much fun it is. The kids were blown away. We used all of the corn starch at the beginning. Sometimes, we had to add a touch of water. Sometimes we needed to thicken it up a bit so we added a touch of normal flour. The kids, seeing that, must have assumed normal flour was fine because I had multiple kids come up to me the next morning with floury/watery concoctions in their hands, not understanding why it wouldn’t work this time.

This was me trying to run a game of charades. You can see everyone screaming their answers all at once. It was a party.

STUDYING AND HOLIDAYS

We did some studying too. I will say there was less this time due to the fact that the kids just began their school holiday. However, the kids in Primary 6 had a bunch of studying to do. For those who don’t know, P6 is the last elementary school grade and finishes with a huge test. The test has a massive impact on their future placement moving forward. It is no joke. The morning we left, the P6 kids had their exam. We walked them close to their school to catch up and wish them the best of luck.

SPORTS AND MORE

Ubaka now has a basketball hoop and volleyball net. We got after it. Evode, even with his health issues these days, came in to coach for a bit and show the kids how to play as a team in volleyball instead of just hitting it back every time no matter what. There were guitar lessons, fashion shows, choreography, drawing, card games, bracelet weaving, and more. There is always something to do.

THE UBAKA IGIKOMBE 2025 (UBAKA CUP)

Last year we had our first football tournament with the kids. It was a hit. Russ and I made a “cup” out of a thermos and filled it with pastries. Needless to say, it didn’t survive. This year, Russ thrifted an actual cup and etched on to it “Ubaka Igikombe.” To get their anticipation growing throughout the week, we unveiled the cup early. The kids rushed it and began kissing it! I didn’t have the heart to tell them it’s bad luck to do such a thing without winning it first but who cares!

The last Saturday we were there, we sat down with the kids’ appointed captains and they drafted teams. The captain with the best school marks went first and so forth. The games got spirited. Things got a little heated but everyone stayed within the line. At the end of the day, we had ourselves a winner. It was Sungura as captain and he had Russ as well. The two won last year as well so they are making an early run as a dynasty. It was a blast giving the cup to them. We filled it with water and drenched Sungura and some of the team with it before they celebrated. Then everyone, win or lose, had their time with it and why not. The pictures tell the tale better.

The winning team of the 2025 Ubaka Igikombe

EVODE

Evode, the father of the kids, I explained prior to the trip that his health has been quite an issue. As it stands, Evode has been diagnosed with Stage 4 kidney failure, diabetes, and his eye sight has been an ongoing issue due to that. While I was there, we did go on walks, ate healthy, and one day I went with him to his eye doctor, We were there for 13 hours as hundreds of people had showed up from all of over Rwanda by 6am. Evode undertook a LASIK treatment and has been having favorable results. At this time, his diet change, exercise regiment, and medications have been helping him to manage more properly. While, Evode can’t do all of the physical things he always has in the past, he is still the best father figure for these kids that I know. He is also one of my inspirations and best friend. We will be communicating and helping out as much as we can.

This is Evode making me feel uncomfortable around people.

NEW AND OLD

We had a new visitor this year. Nate Wiggin has worked with me on the Portsmouth Fire Dept. For a few years now. We quickly became friends as well and he took the leap and bought a ticket. He also raised money to help with the kids school fees. In Rwanda, he has the distinction of being the first of my visitors to rent a motorcycle and show up with that each time. The kids loved him and they got along great. It was adorable watching them be concerned for a scrape Nate earned while playing sports. Little things like that.

Russ and Amanda came back for their third visit in as many years. Sounds like they have confirmed a fourth coming for next year. Watching their relationships grow with different kids and the culture is a joy for me and the kids alike. They have been with us from the beginning in regards to sponsorship and fundraising, and they have now cemented themselves in to the hearts of the kids.

WHAT’S TO COME

Well, plans are in the works for a future trip for 2026. If I have my wish, it will be in the end of April. If you, reading this are interested in joining us for any part, please do reach out to me about it. The run will happen again. In the meantime time, I am looking to go back to presenting at different groups that look for charitable endeavors to support. Please reach out if you have any ideas.

DONATIONS

We do always accept donation through our website. If you are a reading this, you are already there, no just need to follow the links to donate. Donations usually go towards the running costs of the home.

CONTINUOUS GRATITUDE

It’s the same every year, and there has been over 15 of them now. I have used all of the words I know to express all my gratitude and theirs. While I know it is not cheap for people to buy a ticket to Rwanda, I do think the best way for people to feel the gratitude we have is to experience it. I love seeing people feel the appreciation for what they have been a part of for so long. Consider it and talk to me if you are interested.

Regardless, I hold all of this when I run, and especially with the kids. Thank you for running with me, and supporting some of the best, and well deserving kids I know. Talk to you soon.

KOMERA

Sully

(Shaun)

Ubakasully@gmail.com

The kids loved to watch Nate with his bike

Fiston, Francois, his daughter, and Claude. All former kids of ours.

We had dinner at Francois’s place. It was awesome and so cool to see him doing so well.

OO-Blek!

We made dinner for the kids one night.

One of the teams for tournament.

One of the teams for the tournament.

One of the teams for the tournament.

My team for the tournament.

Another winning shot for the cup.

A local school celebration

Kevin wrote this and left it out for us to find. This is what it all is about.

The hard part is making sure the kids know how happy they make us already.

WHY WE RUN : DIE DONNE

Every year, my posts have become quite similar to each other. Read back, and there is a blog before the run, one following recapping the run. Now and again, when something big happens, we post about it. But, I have failed to share with people, for awhile, about some of the individual kids (now adults) that we have had over the years. these are just a few of the reasons why we run, and why we continue to support such a special place like Ubaka U Rwanda. If you read this and feel compelled, please consider going to our donate page to help support. Thank you so much.

Side note: please do enjoy laughing at my aging process as you see early photos and new ones!

Not all street kids are orphans. Some even having loving mothers. As loving as Die Donne’s mother was, she was not able to take care of Die Donne and his brother. Die Donne took to the street to ease her burden and to help support her when possible. I’ll give you an example of how his mother loved him so. She came to the home one day with new shoes for Die Donne. Evode explained to her that she did not have to do such things as she was on and off the street herself those days. His mother would not hear it. She explained that she was still Die Donne’s mother and that he needs to know she loves him and wants to support him. Evode could not argue with that.

It’s that kinds of love that makes Die Donne stand out in different ways from some. Growing up as he did, he was tough. However, he was completely confident to cry if the feeling struck him, which was not a thing most kids did at the home. He also has no problem expressing himself. Die Donne was the silliest and sweetest kid, and I loved seeing him every year. In 2013, I was in charge while Evode and Becky visited the UK. It was then that his mother passed away sadly. Feeling useless as a non Rwandan, I watched Die Donne handle all of the details. More important than that, He scoured the street for days until he found his little brother David. That day, David stayed home with us, and he is now flourishing as an adult too. Die Donne asked me if his schoolmates could come over to show respect for his mother. Of course. And a lot of them came, and their show of love to Die Donne only proved to me the kind of kid he was to everyone he met.

These days, he works in construction management. He was always crafty and resourceful. He came home for a celebration last year and I got to meet his wife and daughter. He came in holding his daughter on his chest like mostly women do in Rwanda. Die Donne will be among the ones to flip that script just as he did with showing his emotions at the home when needed. I’ve run a hundreds of miles for Die Donne and I will run hundreds more for every kid like him.

Enjoy the picture below of Evode getting to meet his daughter for the first time as well.

WHY WE RUN : YVES

Every year, my posts have become quite similar to each other. Read back, and there is a blog before the run, one following recapping the run. Now and again, when something big happens, we post about it. But, I have failed to share with people, for awhile, about some of the individual kids (now adults) that we have had over the years. these are just a few of the reasons why we run, and why we continue to support such a special place like Ubaka U Rwanda. If you read this and feel compelled, please consider going to our donate page to help support. Thank you so much.

Side note: please do enjoy laughing at my aging process as you see early photos and new ones!

YVES GATOYA

If you have followed us for awhile, you would have heard Yves’s name because he is one of our most storied boys of Ubaka U Rwanda. Evode always likes to tell stories about Yves when he was on the street. Yves is an orphan and was on the street from a very young age. He got pretty good at surviving. Something you should know about street kids in Rwanda, is that there is a prison that holds street kids, simply for being on the street. Almost of all of our kids have spent time there. Yves spent YEARS there. By age 7, he had the street and prison figured out. What he didn’t have figured out..was love.

Evode tried to keep Yves home for a long time but he continued to run away. Yves refused rules, chores, and a family environment. It wasn’t until one day, Evode decided he wasn’t going to make Yves do anything around the home that all of the kids were expected to. The kids cooked, they cleaned, they did their homework and studied etc. They weren’t allowed to fight either. Yves got away with not doing these things unless he felt like it for over a year. When I heard these stories, I used to ask Evode why he put up with that when there were others kids who would have shown gratitude for everything. Evode explained that he needed Yves to understand that he wasn’t going to abandon him and that he loved him like he was his own.

It worked. One day, Yves accepted a punishment (time out) for one thing or another. One day, Yves began to study like the other kids. One day, Yves walked up to Evode and explained that his small size didn’t matter, he deserved a big school bag like the rest of the kids in his grade, and that he was going to study hard.

And today, Yves is a chef and rising rapidly in doing so. He is an example to every kids that comes to us that anyone can accept love and family. He comes home and mentors the kids just by standing there in front of them. But he does even more than that. I, myself, was intimidated when I met him. Yves walked ten feet tall. Now he’s twenty feet tall, but with humility and compassion.

Run the 1 2025 (Rwanda)

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Chances are if you are reading this, it’s because you have helped us in the past and we love you so much for that. If this is your first time visiting, we love you too. I am going to add a bunch of information below that may or may not interest you. BUT let’s get into the fast details.

• TRIP DATES - 6/19 through 6/30

• MARATHON DAY - 6/24 Tentatively

• FUNDRAISING NEEDED - $15,000

  FUNDRAISING GOAL - School fees for the upcoming school year for 30 plus former street kids and vulnerable youth, along with monthly running costs support.

That’s what we do. What we need from you all is your continued support after all these years. Even more important, we need your belief in that these kids matter and deserve opportunity and love. So I am going to write a bunch for those who appreciate a deeper dive. In the meantime, you are able to donate directly on our website to our 501c3 and every bit goes to the kids.

15 YEARS

Technically I started going to Rwanda in 2008 but it was 2010 when I met Evode, Becky, and the kids of Ubaka U Rwanda. Over the years, we were able to sustain our care for the kids, moved a few times, bought our own land, and successfully built our own purpose built home for street children. So some things change and and somethings don’t. The day to day goal has never changed. Ubaka U Rwanda has made sure the children we take in are cared for and have every opportunity to rise above poverty, abuse, abandonment, addiction, and more. The home is run exactly as that : A Home. And we are a family. I can’t believe we’ve been able to keep going and we have you to thank for that.

RUNNING

Unfortunately, I’m not the smartest guy. I’ve learned a lot over the years but the truth is I am not the best fundraiser. Since 2011, I have raised money the only way I know how: More action, less words to convey how much the kids means to me. So I run. And a lot of people have joined over the years. These days, the kids join me. We’ve never raised a million dollars but we've gotten by and I will run for that any day. So this year, as in the past, I will run a marathon throughout the day. I like to save the last bit for the kids to join me when they get home from school. I am not sure the route I will take this year. I’ll get creative as it gets closer and share with you.

GUESTS

I’m not sure it’s fair to call Amanda and Russell guests anymore. This is will be their third consecutive time to Rwanda. They have officially secured themselves into the hearts of our kids that will last a lifetime. They have donated so much over the years that their contributions will go on far past. As I write this, I know Amanda is making up lessons to teach the kids and organizing books for reading. I know Russell is finishing up a new trophy that will go to the winning team in our annual Ubaka Soccer Tournament. And we have a first timer. Nate Wiggin will join us this year. Nate works with me and is a fantastic human being and friend. He reached out, and that’s about all you have to do if you want to see all of this first hand. Well, you also have to buy your ticket. That is the part that most people stop at. However, no shame in that. It isn’t cheap, and the charity only supports the kids, no one else. Anyway, I can’t wait to see the kids get the extra dose of happiness that comes from seeing familiar faces along with new faces, just for them.

BESIDES RUNNING

We keep our trips pretty open these days. The idea is to be as present as possible with the kids. However, there are somethings you can count on. You can count on us playing a lot of games, soccer, volleyball, and silliness. You can also expect to share a lot of meals together. You can expect them to get a lot of laughs at our expense as we fumble with their language. We will get plenty of opportunities to help them with their English. Reading to each other is an activity that is as enjoyable as it is educational. The home also has an outreach program for kids that are still in the street. They will come over during the week and get to eat a meal, wash, learn, play, and begin a bridge of mentorship that will hopefully lead to ways for them to work with family to get off the street. It can also help prepare them to live at our home if need be. Visitors help with this a lot. Any projects around the home, we will be jumping on as well. We also encourage everyone to take time to explore the country as well. Rwanda is absolutely gorgeous.

LIFE

More than ever, we find ourselves in a difficult situation. For those who do not know, Evode is the backbone and heart of Ubaka U Rwanda. There is no one who has been with the kids longer, who understands them better, who has sacrificed more for them. I can tell you, I have seen many other programs in Rwanda and beyond. I have never met a single person who has demonstrated such a consisitent and unconditional love.

Evode has had health complications over the years. At this point, he finds himself with his most difficult trial. Kidney failure and other complications are having more and more of an effect these days. None of us (humans) know how many days we have going forward. I don’t have any concrete information to share at this time. What I do know, Is that I will be taking in every moment I can.

NEWBIES

We don’t call new kids to the home “newbies” but I wrote that anyway. Just because health is an issue doesn’t mean Evode slows down his care for as many kids as possible. Over the years, we have had kids come full circle, grow, and move on to their own independent lives. This year I will see kids I have known for over a decade. This year, I will also get to meet kids for the first time. That is always special and makes things really fun to learn about new kids and see them started on their path.

FOR NOW

You may have noticed we have stopped using Gofundme for fundraising. We have had multiple issues over the years and Gofundme has made fundraising more complicated than it needed to be. We realized we were only using the platform because it was familiar for people. However, we have raised money through our account directly before and we can do it again.

The good news is if you are reading this, you have already found your way to our page. That means you are just a click away from our donation page. The challenge will be getting folks who don't know us as much to come here rather than a GoFundMe Link. We are grateful for you being here and for helping us. If you would be so kind to help anyone visit our page, it would mean even more.

THANK YOU

I’ve said it a thousand times and and I’ll be saying it for the rest of my days. Please reach out if you have any questions. Stay tuned for more. Whatever you are able to do, means the world and goes farther than you could imagine.

TURIKUMWE (We are Together)

Sully (Shaun) Ubakasully@gmail.com

Stories, Running, and Successes in Rwanda 2024

One big family

Hey everyone! As always, I am bittersweetly home from Rwanda. And as always, as always, I had an amazing time and am loaded with stories and photos. So for those with less time, the fundraiser went off without a hitch and we raised over $10,000 which easily will cover our school fees due in August of this year, and will help with our running costs for a few months as well. As someone, who appreciates anything, this is a huge success. Read below for details on the efforts of the running, new kids, visitors, celebrations, daily life, and the bright future ahead.

Amanda and the kids chilling out and playing Jenga

THE FIRST WEEKEND

The first weekend is all about getting back into the Rwanda groove with everyone. I arrived around 0200 in the morning and was greeted by a fair amount of the kids surprisingly. We talked in hushed voices excitingly but quickly remember we had school in the morning and went off to bed. The next morning I got to see Russell and Amanda make their triumphant return to Rwanda and confirm to the kids that they are people of their word, and that they came back. For kids who have dealt with abandonment in many forms during their short time, these gestures can mean the world to them.

This was not the winning team of the tournament but they took a great picture!

FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

On Friday we had a small space and a lot of kids trying to play as much football as possible. On Saturday, before lunch, we went to town, and in a rush, we bought the first “cup” looking thing we saw and it ended up being a thermos with some glitzy colors. Russell also handmade some yellow and red cards out of paper, crayons, and tape. I labeled the cup (thermos) with medical tape and wrote the UBAKA IGIKOMBE (cup) 2024. Amanda and Russell also donated two small goals for the kids. You can’t imagine how much arguing ensues about if a goal is confirmed or not when the goal posts are two tires, or two shoes, or two stones. We called in five captains to our room and gave them a list and allowed them to pick teams. We settled on 10 minute games with penalty kicks for a decider if the game is tied. Every team plays every team and the top two records play each other in the final. If this sounds like a lot of preparation, it was. However, I encourage you to try to run a football tournament with children of all ages who mix their bits of English with your bits of Kinyarwanda! Anyway, it took about four hours and got pretty intense but never over the line. Alas, we had our winner who got to raise the cup. After thirteen times in Rwanda, this was the first time we pulled this off and it will not be the last.

Everyone not playing at the time had a lot of fun watching, cheering, and heckling

NIGHTTIME

I’ll be honest, on paper, this trip was a little less exciting than last year. Last year, the kids hadn’t seen visitors since COVID and we showed up with seven of us. It was a big thing. This year was a big thing too, but it was on a deeper level. Many of our nights got quiet around 8 PM or so. I remember one night, most of us huddled around a few bunk beds and exchanged riddles, jokes, and stories. I remember another night, we huddled outside on the stoop with the dogs and proceeded to talk for hours. It might sound a litle boring, but we were learning each other in a real, organic way. I love football tournaments, card games, and movies but this was more than that. I went to sleep every night feeling like bonds were growing and it felt great.

Mellow nights hangin out with the kids

RUN THE 1

Tuesday was the run day. Rain was forecasted, which to be fair, it is the rain season in Rwanda right now so it is always forecasted. Luckily for me, the rain never got very heavy, and mostly allowed me to not have to deal with too much sun and heat. Last year we ran around the homes we used to live in. This year, I ran around the streets our kids used to live in. Also, things have changed in some parts, so I found myself scaling Mount Kigali a way I used to remember. I was way off this time, but luckily had a contingent of children to lead my way up the hill. That first leg was almost three hours so I got home and had lunch with Evode and rehydrated. I took off again to finish up the solo run at 4 hours. The kids got home soon after that and they were pumped. We took off for the final leg. The rascals took a backroad way to the stadium that was nice and peaceful, but it took us way higher and for that, I was not appreciative! They sang and laughed the whole way up. We got to the stadium and I realized why Fisto and Francois were so adamant about bringing a football with us. Years past, the stadium was always closed because it’s a professional stadium. I learned that since last year, they have now made a second playing field that is public with quality turf. None of the kids had actually played on it yet and they went wild for it. The stars were out, and all of the lights everywhere made it a wonderful night. Amanda, Russ, me, and another boy made goal posts for the kids and they had a quick ten minute game. Let’s just say, we have a new tradition to look forward to next year. They couldn’t have been happier on the walk back. We ate dinner together with candlelight because the power had gone out. The kids say thank you all the time but these thank you’s were some of the most sincere I’ve heard in a long time.

We took off running after the kids got home from school

A victory photo under the stadium lights. The kids broke into a song I have never heard after the photo was taken.

THE REST OF THE WEEK

Kids are at school most of the day during the week. That gave us sometime to check out things in Kigali. There was traditional painting with an artist co-op, basket weaving with a women’s co-op, a women led craft brewery tasting and tour, and more. At night, we would help the kids study. At least, we tried our best. Math is a big subject for help because it’s math, but it’s also English. The kids past the first three grades receive all of their teaching in English so their math problems are phrased in English. It becomes a battle to learn the math, but also understand the whole question to begin with. We also stopped at a bookstore and got a couple books that had Kinyarwanda and English so we could let them read the English, and they could laugh at us reading the Kinyarwanda. We may or may not have snuck a few games of Twister in there as “studying” English by repeating the orders of colors and which foot or hand were implied. There was also a lot of drawing too.

I love photo. I came home from an errand and found the gang relaxing. It's easy to play a game or take pictures with the kids. Relaxing and letting the kids be themselves isn't hard either but it takes time. Russell and Amanda are really good with letting the kids open up on their own time

NEW KIDDOS

There were a few newbies this year. We had a group of smaller boys starting school for the first time. They were extremely sweet as you can imagine and very much attached to our hips whenever we were around. We also had three new kids who were not currently enrolled due to the school year ending soon. Two of them had stayed with us in the past, but for many reasons, they were lured to the streets again. It took a very heavy tragedy to remind them where they should be. Sadly, a few months ago, eight street kids tragically drowned when they were sleeping in a gutter when it flash flooded. The three kids not in school would been with the other eight but they had been off searching for food. It is just another example of the danger out there for street kids and why we are trying our best. The three not in school, we were tasked with helping them get their multiplication tables down from 2 through 5. If they succeeded a verbal test from Evode, they would get their brand new shoes. I am happy to report they succeeded. They are looking forward to school in September.

Amanda grabbed this photo. It's a great view of daily life with new/young kids. They are always at your side, very affectionate. Russell, Ganza, Myself, and Ravis are watching the inflatable slide blow up.

Emmanuel and Claude are seen here with the clearly ferocious Marshal. Claude, sadly lost his brother in the accident I shared above. They are wonderful kids and will begin school in September

THIRTY YEARS

April 7th marked the thirtieth year since the beginning of the Rwandan Genocide. I had never been to Rwanda during the three months the genocide occurred. I can tell you that in the years I have been to Rwanda, I have seen the country grow exponentially. I can tell you that even in 2008, I was floored. Us visitors, took a short trip outside of the city to go to a genocide memorial site. It was extremely heavy but felt important to witness and learn from. I encourage anyone reading to take a look at what happened in 1994. There are many great learning tools out there. Sadly, the holocaust wasn’t the first horrific genocide of modern times and they were pleading for “Never Again” back then. And sadly there were more before Rwanda, and there has been more since Rwanda. I don’t have the answers, but I am sure that not acknowledging them is definitely not the answer.

In the chaos of the party, everyone was trying to get the fathers, mothers, and children altogether for a photo

A CELEBRATION

We always try to do something special for the kids every year before we go. This year we had looked into trying not to find a way to get them to Akagera National Park to see wildlife. Sadly, this year we could not find a reasonably financial way to do it. However, it turned into a win for us. Instead, we decided to invite all of our kids from the past, supporters, and family for a big celebration. We had a big turnout of at least 100 people. Some of the biggest highlights was seeing so many of our “kids’” wives and kids, and hearing their stories about how they are now. Maybe, my favorite part was watching them see each other for the first time in a long time. We also had over a thousand photos from present day and years ago constantly on random on the TV and it was a joy to sit and take them in with everyone. To see the impact as a whole like that was powerful in many ways to everyone. Our current kids got to see that their plans for their futures aren’t just hope. Our alumni, got to be reaffirmed about how far they’ve come. All of us (including you reading this) got the biggest expression of the full circle of Ubaka U Rwanda we had ever seen and we felt it. A few of our young men who are now chefs orchestrated all of the food and cooking. The alumni all got together and purchased gifts for Evode, Becky, and Me. I was so happy to have Russell and Amanda witness and meet the kids because like many of you, they have been supporting them since the beginning too. After the many words of gratitude from folks, the kids put on an acrobat show. Even a couple young men, known for their abilities, jumped and wowed the crowd. After that, a table was brought out, and different pastries, eggs, and Fanta were placed at one end. The whole party was encouraged to lineup behind the table where the person in front got to attempt to flip a bottle a quarter full of water. If successful at making it land straight up, that person got a choice of anything on the table. That was it. It was that simple. Everyone had a blast. I attempted all of my attempts with one of our young man’s baby daughter in one arm. I could care less that I never got one! We also had an inflatable slide. At some point, it nearly tipped for a second when the mothers and children arguably overloaded it. No one was hurt, and now we have a story for years to come. Before our alumni left, they had a meeting and decided that they would all make extra efforts to visit more and help study with our current kids knowing how much Ubaka U Rwanda gave to them and how they want to give back. The very next day, one of our own was there that night, going over math with some of the older kids. He stuck around after and shared some of his testimony with them. We couldn’t have asked more from the party. I could write about it for days so I’ll just say that it affirmed everything.

The young men we have been with over the years, put their money together and got me this personalized Rwandan jersey. They had the new kids join me in front of everyone which I thought was very kind of them

GOODBYES

They are never easy. Amanda and Russell left a day before me so they got the brunt of the sadness. The kids were taking turns thanking them and seemingly being alright. Russell had just confirmed to the kids that they were coming back which is the best part. However, one of our most sensitive and sweets kids stood up to talk and barely got out a word before he began to tear up which caused the little ones and a few others started to go down. After, Amanda and Russell left, we spent time watching videos from the last week and going over how lucky we are that we have such great friends and loved ones. Of course, the next day was my last so we were back at it the next night. The good thing was the initial blow had been dealt. Plus, they are more used to seeing me come and go. The next morning, I cooked their porridge before school and said bye to them separately as they headed for school. There were a few that were clearly trying to keep things together, but everyone seemed to perk up when I told them we would pass by their school on the way to the airport and honk the horn three times so they’d know it was us.

Russell gave the kids a bunch of goofy clothes to mess with and they did not hesitate

THE FUTURE

I’m pretty locked in honestly. I said it last year that I’m trying to figure out how to do this now that I am not doing wildland firefighting anymore and now that COVID is managed. I’m really enjoying this schedule and I hope more people are inspired to join us in the future. We are always going to have running costs and school fees. More importantly, Rwanda, Evode, and those kids are always going to be another family to me. I can’t explain the way I feel connected. I see Russell and Amanda starting to feel it. I have seen others too and I hope they get the chance to return. There are some that I know deserve and would absolutely love to see the fruits of all their labors. I’ll be there next year. I’ll be running again. It’s the least I can do to meet them somewhere for all the things they have given to me. As of right now, I see late April again but possibly late February. If you have made it this far in the blog, you might just be that person that would benefit and deserves to spend time with these amazing people in an amazing country. Please reach out. And as I told the kids before we left, I reminded them to center themselves with gratitude. After the stories are told and pictures shared, gratitude is the most I can offer. I know the world is a crazy place with an insane amount of need. Thanks for making this work. Thank you for having a heart for these kids. We’ll keep at it, and you are always invited.

TURIKUMWE (WE ARE TOGETHER)

SHAUN

This as Evode with his children when he was still in the hospital. Evode is on the mend and he is making the necessary life changes he must to manage his health better

This one came out a little better!

Some of the men trying to get a photo together and dragging the "umuzungu" in for it too!

Yes, the inflatable slide was firefighter themed. No, I did not plan that.

There is a lot of people in that slide. Too many people, we found out! Good news, no one got hurt, and now we have a story.

The kids having a blast

Becky teaches young children and she asked me to come by and teach them about fire safety. After the kids successfully navigated an obstacle course and showed they could do their fire drills well, they got their certificates and were pumped.

Another ferocious shot of Marshal with the kids

Maxi, or Lily (depends who you ask) is equally as ferocious as Marshal

Die Donne and Yves thinking they can still beat me at Igisoro. I think I proved them wrong?

Die Donne came to the party hot with his wife by his side, and his daughter strapped to his chest. Evode and I could not stop laughing.

D'amour is seen here setting up the prizes for whoever can flip the bottle properly

The kids put on an acrobat event as well

Elisa having a time playing football on the streetElis having a time, playing football outside the gate as the sun goes down

The kitchen is complete now and the dining room has been upgraded as seen here

Possibly my favorite moment of the trip. It was raining heavily. Kids were getting ready for bed. I was trying to find a new Kinyarwanda/English book we had brought for the kids. I wanted to keep it safe for the night. I found Samuel cozy, reading aloud to the book. It is rare for the kids to get time like this to themselves. I was also so happy to see him warm, safe, learning, happy, and peaceful.

Samuel enjoying football outside

Kevin and Gabriel helping to cook for the celebration

Twister was a hit this time in Rwanda

Here I am playing a classic game with Ganza, where you are essentially fencing with each other and trying to get the other. I am clearly engaged as much as he is here.

While Evode is on the mend, he gathered the kids one by one to be tested on their multiplication tables. Those who did well for them, received a new pair of shoes. Those who needed more help were sent off with us for more practice. Don't worry, they still have shoes. They just want to earn their new ones.

This was the pre tournament meeting. Everyone was very serious

Meet team Bonheri

Meet team Fisto

Meet team Mugisha

Meet team Francois

Team Francois wins the Ubaka Igikimbe 2024!

This obviously kept us organized but the best part was running up after each game to update it. The kids swarmed and speculated all day

I finish with these. This is Joel and Ishimwe meeting for the first time in years. It was a joy watching these reunions. I add photos below of them in 2011.

This Joel in 2011

This is Ishimwe in 2011

Run the 1 2024!

Hey! Most likely, if you are seeing this, it’s because you hopefully saw our Gofundme fundraiser for our upcoming Run the 1 event. Regardless, this blog is all about giving some more insight to the upcoming trip in Rwanda for those who can stomach my writing long enough. If you haven’t seen our fundraiser page, you can access it with the link below and please consider donating and/or sharing.

DONATE HERE - https://www.gofundme.com/f/run-the-1-rwanda-2024

WHAT IS GOING ON?

We are going back to Rwanda is what is going on! April 17th, myself, Amanda, and Russell are taking off to the Land of a Thousand Hills again. This will be my 13th trip I think? Even cooler is it will be Amanda and Russell’s 2nd trip back and that is a huge deal. The first trip is massive, and frankly any trip one can get after is an amazing opportunity. However, Amanda, Russell, and all of our visitors last year really made an unforgettable impression on the kids. When a visitor comes back again, they feel it. It means something. It means more than many of us could imagine. I am so excited to witness all of it.

Now, that isn’t totally fair to the hundreds of people who have supported these kids for years and years. That is the worst part about donating. It’s not very romantic at all. However, sadly, money has a place in this world. So to you who is reading this, please know that I see you and can’t thank you enough for being the unsung hero the kids need. It should be noted, that I truly want you to be able to witness the kids and this home you have helped build over the years. We have had several visitors over the last couple years and there is nothing better than watching someone who has supported for so long get to take in the beauty of all they have helped.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO THIS TIME?

The tricky part about a quick visit to Rwanda is balancing being present and relaxed with the kids, and finding ways to make something of an impact before you go. The first weekend is generally meant to catch back up with the kids, culture, and make sure the kids feel special and seen. This turns into a lot of soccer, chores together, meals together, games, movies, and more. It is also just listening. Sometimes, the kids are speaking Kinyarwanda with each other but it still feels like you’re involved and it just feels right.

In the middle of the week, the kids are back in school. It is fun to see them off. We generally will have current kids on the street visit to wash, eat, and play. We also get to witness Evode discuss with them their current issues and ways to work towards a life off the street. Anyway, we can help with that is a joy. On the Tuesday we are there, I will be running nearly a marathon throughout the day. I say nearly a marathon because I will save some for the kids when they get home from school. Last year, this brought so much joy to them and they felt like they were contributing. Honestly,I’m not looking forward to all of the miles, but those ones will be something special.

Evode and I have plans to visit the many kids who have now grown up and moved on their own. Some of them have families. I have spoken about the full circle that has been achieved now after all these years. I want to detail it better for myself and for others to see what we were trying to talk about years ago. Further on that, our last weekend, we plan to throw a massive celebration and bring as many of our “kids” and their families together. To use the word “alumni” feels kind of funny but so awesome. 

And of course, anything else we find during our time, we will help as best we can. We’ll do our best to help the kids with their studies, read with them, and share so we can both take away lessons.

ROUTINE

As I settle into this new “routine,” I feel so excited and relaxed in the best way possible. The home that we have helped build has been a place of peace, love, security, and family. I used “we” because that includes so many of us. Gone are the days of not dealing with uncertainty for our home. Gone are the days of just scraping by for a roof over the heads of our kids. I am so excited to see everyone again, and know that we can immediately settle right back into what I feel is another home.

Don’t get me wrong, there is still a massive need. I wouldn’t be running the miles if there weren’t! School, utilities, food, and more will always have their place. But you can’t deny the feeling of home that resides over Ubaka U Rwanda now. It was always there, but now it glows. I hope to share with you as much of that feeling as I can. I hope to share with you the tiny moments that make it all matter along with the big picture of what we have accomplished and continue to. I hope you know how grateful we all are. Talk to you more soon!

KOMERA,

Sully

Amanda soaking up and sharing all the love with the visiting kids.

Sunish and I with Clever at his university which he has now graduated from

Looking over the kids schoolwork is very rewarding for all of us

Evode mentoring the visiting street children.

The whole family together living with all of the kids in the same home.

I think I am tuning the guitar for the hundredth time in the picture but it is all part of the fun letting the kids explore.

Catching up with Gentil who is one of our alumni now living with his wife and child

Happy Holidays and Future Plans

Hello everyone! First, let me say happy holidays to you and all of yours. It has been a wild year. I am going to keep this short however. I decided it was time to hear from someone else for a change. Russell MacDougall joined us for our last visit to the kids in February and wrote his thoughts and observations from the trip. All of this is to entice you reading this to entertain the thought of joining us one day in Rwanda. It is official, I will be going back to Rwanda April 17 through April 29th 2024. We have a few folks including Russell committed as well at this time. I will further update as that gets closer. But for now, I hope you enjoy Russell’s perspective. We can’t thank him enough. It is a little lengthy but for anyone who is looking to get an idea of what it would be like to visit, this is everything you’d like. Please reach out any time to help support and consider joining us! Happy holiday!

“When I was put on the street, I thought no one would care about me again.” – Francoise

This quote, said to us with Evode translating on our last day with the boys, was my biggest takeaway from my trip to Rwanda and something I continue to think about six months later. I’ll get more into that in a bit, but first I want to give you some background.

I traveled to Rwanda in February 2023 after hearing about it from Sully for fifteen years. When he emailed a group of us in July 2022 saying he wanted to do something different for his upcoming trip and bring more people to experience what Ubaka and Rwanda are all about, my wife and I responded immediately; we were in! We ended up spending ten days in Rwanda experiencing the country, culture, and local traditions, but, more importantly, meeting Evode and the boys and spending time at Ubaka.

Evode

I hear stories about Evode every time Sully comes back from Rwanda and thought there was no way the man could live up to the hype. I was wrong. Evode is a man who saw a problem in his community with the number of children being left on the streets and decided to do something about it. Before Ubaka was involved and money was being raised across the world, Evode was working with the kids, helping them as much as he could, and trying to teach them to be better people and make more of themselves. He’s dedicated the last twenty years of his life to helping these boys and hasn’t lost the desire to do more.

Even now, with eighteen boys living under his roof, he brings in kids from off the street once a week to give them a meal, some guidance, and a place to feel safe for a few hours. While we were there, we experienced two days of this outreach program, with more than a dozen kids showing up at the gates of Ubaka to get a meal and have a chance to play and be kids for a couple hours. We didn’t get to connect as well with these boys, but watching Evode sit with them and talk to them about their current situation and what their future could hold was one of the more powerful moments of the trip.

To the boys under his roof, Evode is a father figure who holds them to strict rules: no drugs, no drinking, and they must attend school and keep up with their studies. When they are old enough, they are expected to find work and move out to make room so Evode can bring in more kids. He has their respect and their love, which is a big deal for these boys. If one of them runs away, which happens from time to time when they are first brought in, he goes and finds them and brings them back. He explains to them that it’s not only him trying to help, but people all over the world raising money to give these boys a chance at a better life. Their connection is easy to see, even without understanding the language.

Aside from his interactions with the boys, Evode also invited us to eat at his table. We had almost all our meals with him and his family, enjoying traditional Rwandan food and drinks. We also spent time with his wife and three children, getting to know them better during the nights when the boys were doing their studies or had gone to bed.

The Boys

Our main reason for the trip was to make connections with the boys and see how much Ubaka has grown in the fifteen years since we had been donating. As we traveled around the city Evode and Sully would point out the different homes they had rented through the years before they were able to buy land and build the home that Ubaka is now. It was incredible to see how far they have come, how much they’ve grown even since we’ve been involved, and how that has allowed them to help more boys get off the street.

Most of the boys were excited and shy when we arrived. Most had met Sully before, but not all, and having six muzungus (“white people” in Kinyarwandan) show up suddenly had quite a few taken aback. But those walls quickly came down with the help of games, books, and especially soccer, where I got to show off my uncoordinated “talent.”

The soccer field in the yard was small and had a couple of holes and shrubs for boundaries, but it was where I got to know a lot of the boys as they dubbed me “Benzema,” a talented French soccer player, because of how I looked (not because of how I played). This is also where I started to learn their names, their nicknames, and see how they treated each other - competitively, but also very supportive through their play. We spent most of our first day playing all different types of games and just having fun with them.

Our second day we pulled out the dozens of books we brought and sat down either reading to the boys or having them read to us. We all spread out and found one or two boys to spend time with and help them as they worked to learn English or just enjoy the silly stories we brought. This was when I really connected with Boneri, who, after finishing one book, would hold up another and ask if we could read that one too. Just the day before he had seemed like one of the shyest kids, but after this experience he really broke out of his shell and become a bit like my shadow, always close by.

Our friendships would continue to grow throughout the week as we helped the boys with schoolwork, taught each other words in our respective languages, read more books, played more games, and spent quality time together. They taught us the Rwandan game called “Igisoro,” which looks a lot like Mancala, but is a very different game. The boys have one board that they share, so a crowd formed whenever they took it out. They would always have one of us play against one of them, but, in truth, we were just moving the beans around while the other boys told us what to do. I lost count of how many times Fisto or Patrick would say, “No, no, no!” and wave a finger before pointing to a different pile and a better move. When you take the beans from your opponent it is called eating and to this day, I can still hear the cries of, “Eat, eat, EATTTT!” because I would constantly forget.

Before we left, we visited a local market and bought our own board so we could share it with friends and family when we got back home. I could go on for pages about the different experiences and fun I had with the boys, making connections with almost all of them. Those connections were the whole point of going and their friendships are something that I continually think about.

Run the 1

This was my first time being present when Sully did a Run the 1 event. It was also the first time that he was able to run with the kids, and it was a powerful night. While he and Ben ran throughout the day to fulfill Sully’s self-imposed marathon distance, we all came together to run the final leg with the boys once they got out of school. As previously stated, I am not an athlete, nor am I a runner, so I “volunteered” to “run” at the back of our pack and pick up any stragglers that may have fallen behind the group. When we got to our end point at the stadium, I had three boys finish with me, including Boneri, who ran most of the way backwards or laterally without breaking a sweat.

We took a break, got some pictures, and then enjoyed a nice walk home, which gave me the opportunity to talk to Claude about his hopes to become a chef and his favorite dishes to make and eat.

Some Old Friends

We ran into a couple of boys (now men) who had grown up through Ubaka and were able to see where they are now. We took a trip early in the week to see Clever, who is in his last year of university and getting an engineering degree. To see what these boys could accomplish when given the opportunity was a big moment for all of us. He gave us a tour of his campus, showed us where he lives, and came out to dinner with us. Getting into university is a big deal in Rwanda. It’s not just being able to afford it, you have to test incredibly high in order to be selected. It is no easy task and Clever is a role model to some of the boys who hope to follow in his footsteps.

We also got to meet Is-yakah, who grew up with Evode and Ubaka before joining the military. He met us at Lake Kivu with his daughter and rode back with us to Kigali. He spoke to the boys to tell them that they need to study and listen to Evode and take advantage of this opportunity to better themselves. He also gifted the boys a TV for their study room that they use to listen to music and watch movies. He had done this long before we arrived, but it was cool to learn that it came from someone who had connections to Ubaka and wanted to give something back for the next generation of boys after seeing how much they used it.

Lastly, Joel showed up at Ubaka one day to hang out with the boys, reconnect with Sully, and play some games. Sully told us that when Joel was a young boy, they would take him into town and have him face off against the older men playing Igisoro. They would underestimate him and he would win most of his games. Sully described him as a goofball. He still has a contagious smile and laugh.

Gisenyi

While this trip was full of new experiences for us, Sully likes to try and do something special for the boys every time he visits to give them one as well. This year we all chipped in to rent a bus and take the boys out of the city to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi. It was a three-hour bus trip (one way) but the ride out was filled with excitement and a lot of singing from the back of the bus. We also used this time to talk to the boys about our lives, homes, and adventures. Any time you pulled out your phone, all the boys wanted to see were pictures of where you were from and where you have been. They would ask questions about climate, animals, and food, as well as what we did there. When it came to learning about other places in the world, they couldn’t get enough.

When we got to the lake, we found that a good amount of the boys didn’t know how to swim so we took the time to show each of them a few techniques, with varying levels of success. There were a lot of different floatation devices in use that day and they were getting a work out. Almost every boy stayed in the water from the time we arrived to the time we left - splashing, swimming, jumping off the dock, and running into the water.

We ate together on the bus on the way home - a treat of kebobs, potatoes, and juice. We had way too many potatoes and it became a challenge for each section of the bus to finish their serving! Those of us in the back did more than our fair share, with a chorus of “Potato!” “Potato! “Potato!” until all of them were gone. Tired from a day in the sun and way too many potatoes, the ride home was a lot quieter with less singing and more snoring.

After Gisenyi, it was our final day with the boys and we spent it in much the same way - trading stories, playing games, and soccer. You could feel a heaviness in the air, as they didn’t want us to go and we didn’t want to leave. We had an early dinner where we all ate together for our final meal. Afterwards, Evode got up and translated for us as we all spoke to the group about what this trip had meant to us and how we would be carrying these experiences for the rest of our lives.

Once we had all spoken, some of the boys stood up and shared their feelings as well; quite a few tears started to fall. This was when Francoise stood up and said, “When I was put on the street, I thought no one would care about me again.”

This is what I will forever carry from this trip. That a child under ten could think that no one has, is, or ever will care about them or love them is heartbreaking. I thought I understood what Ubaka was doing and what my donation was going towards, but this opened my eyes to how much more it means. They call Francoise “Sungura,” which is Swahili for “rabbit,” because of the way he plays soccer. He’s quick, agile, and one of the most competitive boys; he almost always has a soccer ball in his hands. He’s smart, funny, and an artist. During Run the 1, he stayed behind with Evode and helped push him up the hills to make sure he would finish with them. He’s a leader to the boys and, without Ubaka, there is no telling who, where, or what he would be. Because of Evode, he is better. Because of Ubaka, he has a future. It was a powerful moment to see firsthand. A little of our money in the right hands can change lives. I urge anyone who can to donate, whether its during the fundraiser for Run the 1 or through the website, because there are far too many more Sunguras out there who could be great.

In closing, thank you for reading all of this; it means a lot to me. Also, if you read all this, the boys would like you to know they say muraho (hello). Almost every boy throughout our ten days told me some form of, “Greet your family for me!” or “Greet your friends for me!”- just one more thing that stood out about them.

I hope this shared a different perspective of Ubaka and amplified the message Sully has been telling us for over a decade. This is incredible work being done by incredible people and they can always use more help.

Before we talked to the boys, Sully told us to prepare something so we weren’t caught off guard. He told us many times, before and throughout, not to promise anything to the boys unless we were 100% sure we could fulfill it. I ended my message by telling them that I would return - and I plan to, in April of 2024. We’d love it if you would join us.

Komeza Komera (Continue to Be Strong)

Russ

P.S. I’ve added a bit under these pictures about other experiences we had in Rwanda for you to read as well. The country and its people are incredibly welcoming.

Seeing Rwanda

I had some reservations about heading to Rwanda and they were echoed by some of our friends and family. From the moment we arrived, we could tell that those reservations were over nothing. The people of Rwanda welcomed us with open arms and did their best to answer our questions, get us where we needed to go, and make us feel safe and comfortable. I can’t emphasize enough how many people looked out for us or helped us on a day-to-day basis.

While the main reason of the trip was to meet Evode and the boys and visit Ubaka, this was our first trip to Africa and we wanted to be able to experience its culture as well. We took one overnight trip during our stay, but aside from that, our adventures were done during the day while the boys were at school.

Nyamirambo Women’s Center

We went to the Nyamirambo Women’s Center for a tour of their neighborhood and to learn their story. The Center was started in 2008 by a group of eighteen women who were looking to better themselves. They have grown a lot in the past fifteen years. They now have over fifty employees and offer free education for women in English, sewing, computer technology, and hair styling, just to name a few. Our tour took us through their work areas where they create gifts and patterned fabrics that are shipped globally. We also went to hair salons they created, the neighborhood market, and saw murals painted on almost every available space. At the end of the tour, we had lunch in the home of one of the original eighteen women, as she had prepared us an incredible spread of traditional food. For more information (and a better description of who and what they are) check out their website: http://www.nwc-umutima.org/about.html

The Genocide Memorial

All the first timers took an afternoon trip to the Genocide Memorial in Kigali. In Rwanda, they own their past and educate themselves and others in hopes that history will not repeat itself. It is against the law in Rwanda to claim that the genocide did not happen. The site of the memorial in Kigali was chosen because it is the location of mass graves for over 250,000 residents killed during the Genocide. It is a somber experience to spend time in the memorial and not one that you quickly forget.

Volcanoes National Park

Our overnight trip took us to Volcanoes National Park. Here we spent the afternoon canoeing down a peaceful river and taking in all the beautiful nature Rwanda has to offer. The next morning, we were up early to head to the park where we hiked into a protected forest and were quickly surrounded by a pod of over 120 monkeys going about their day. We spent 45 minutes in awe as monkeys jumped, ran, and swung all around us. Volcanoes National Park is known for their gorilla treks as well, but the golden monkeys are a less expensive, less physically demanding option that was still very rewarding.

 Thank you for reading all this and looking at the pictures. Hopefully this shined a light on how incredible Ubaka and Rwanda truly are. I urge you to donate if you are able or, better yet, to join us on our next adventure!

RWANDA 2023 (Run the 1 and Everything!)

The gang, all ready to run together.

Heads up, folks! This one is going to be a long one, but a good one. Unlike many years past, this trip was the most unique I have ever experienced and I surely wasn’t alone. For those just showing up, we had six different visitors during a short but eventful ten days. I think it will suffice to share how each day took place, which will include Run the 1, a Gisenyi excursion, street kid outreach, and much more. For those who don’t want to read a lot, I am writing this at the airport during a layover on the way home. We currently have raised 13k, getting closer to our 15k goal. AMAZING! The trip was incredibly impactful for everyone involved and has lit a path to future trips with more visitors. Read on if you are interested in where we are going and whether or not you want to join us. I also added a TON of pictures. And, as always, thank you for supporting these incredible kids.

A bunch of new and old goobers!

NEW AND OLD FACES

Remember, I have never been away from Rwanda for more than a year since 2008, and now it has been three. There were a lot of faces I knew and plenty that have moved forward into their adult life. There were also new kids who I hadn’t met. All of this is to say that the guests and I never had a dull moment as we got to know everyone. It was so meaningful knowing that so many kids from the last ten years and more have made it and now I get to witness the full cycle of what we are doing to help these kids. On a lighter note, I was also able to use some of my old jokes and games that had gotten stale over the previous decade due to a fresh audience!

Sunish, Clever, and I at Clever’s university in Musanze.

UNIVERSITY EXCURSION

Sunish came to visit this year. His last visit was ten years ago. He has been sponsoring Clever since 2010. Clever is now in his last year at his university. We were able to visit him and see where he lives and goes to school. The whole gang came and got to witness one of the best examples of what Ubaka U Rwanda is capable of. Clever was so happy to share his life with us and we were all able to talk and spend time with him like never before. It was truly sweet to watch Sunish get along with Clever, even more so than they did ten years ago. We even took him out to dinner before we left. Clever is studying to become an electrician and is set to finish up in October.

A blurry shot at night, but here is everyone at the end of the run. We walked back to enjoy the city lights and relax together.

RUN THE 1

After traveling all day and getting home at 11PM, I grabbed Ben Holmes at the the airport at 3AM and we tried to get some sleep around 4AM. We woke around 8AM while the kids were in school and the others were touring Kigali. With little sleep and no experience in Rwanda whatsoever for Ben, he and I took off running. I took Ben around to all of the different homes we have stayed in over the years, showing him where we came from and our progress since. We ended up running and exploring Kigali for about two and a half hours. Then we grabbed lunch and stretched for a bit before taking off for another hour and a half run in the heat of the afternoon. By 5PM, the kids were home and all excited to go running as well. Sunish even made a friend at a local guided tour, Marie, who joined all of us. Some visitors noted how nice it was to watch someone’s first experience with the kids. Even Russell MacDougall, not known for his running skills, joined us for the steep climb to the local stadium. Once Evode got home, we took off. It was the greatest way to close out Run the 1 that I have ever experienced. I have always imagined the kids running at the same time as us in the past, but there truly is no one better to be running with or for than those kids. We celebrated and had a nice walk back home.

Cool kids!

In the end, the lot of us put in some miles. All in all, Sunish ran well over ten miles that day, Amanda walked and met us at the stadium. and Ben Holmes and I ran for close to five hours for the day. Was it exactly a marathon? I don’t know, because I wasn’t going to run through Rwanda checking my “fancy” phone the whole time. If anyone wants to get a perfect mileage, please feel free to join us next year! Jokes aside, Run the 1 has always been special, but I can’t find the words to say how wonderful it was this time.

Sitting in on a mentor session with Evode and the kids from the street. I can’t always make out everything they are talking about, but it’s really special to watch regardless.

OUTREACH

On Monday and Friday, kids that are currently living on the street came to the home to play games, have lunch, wash, rest, and discuss their futures with Evode. It was here that our guests got to witness the evolution of a street kid in Rwanda, from being on the street, to living at Ubaka U Rwanda, to going to university and living on their own. It is quite a journey. We had a wonderful time showing the kids love and support. We played soccer, of course, but we also played Rwandan music with them and got to watch Evode mentor them. Watching Evode work with the kids is a thing of beauty. One aspect of the outreach is meant to help some of the kids find a way to make their homes work with their families if they have any. Another aspect is to get some of them ready to potentially come home to Ubaka and prepare to be successful in school and at home. It is my most sincere wish that I see as many of those faces as possible the next time I return to Rwanda.

Lake Kivu. The kids were timid at first because they had never seen or jumped into such a big body of water before.

GISENYI

Over the years, I have always tried to take the kids on a field trip of sorts to get them life experience and create special memories. I had more help this year, thanks to the visitors. Ten years ago, we took our kids three hours outside of Kigali to Lake Kivu in Gisenyi. None of our current kids have had that experience, so it was time to rent a bus and do it again. The kids didn’t slow down all day. Watching them see their beautiful country like never before was a highlight. They were actually too timid to jump in the water at first because they had never seen such a big body of water before, but once they got going, they were off! My personal highlight was coaching one of our little ones to jump off this platform that was probably six feet above the water. He was extremely proud afterwards. People were tired on the way home, but we sang songs the whole way back and enjoyed each other’s company. I’m fairly certain they enjoyed a day that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

Maxine, lounging around while we play soccer.

MISC

In between all of these highlights were moments upon moments of sharing and bonding. Seth and Alison introduced a simple but wild game, called Happy Salmon, that had all the kids laughing and yelling their different cards to one other. All of the visitors had multiple reading sessions with the many books they brought for the kids. This was one of many examples where we got to watch Amanda, our resident teacher, shine through. Of course, soccer match upon soccer match was had. We even had enough visitors to put together a Visitor vs The Kids match, which did not work out well for the visitors, but sure was fun! I watched as Sunish was able to teach one of the kids how to run routes as a wide receiver playing American football. He was a natural. I watched Russell and Holmes give their chemistry skills a go with some of our secondary students. There was a night where the kids kept trying to spell our names and were having trouble, so we flipped the roles and had them shout out their Kinyarwanda names as we tried to write them. There were dance performances, sharing of games and food, countless laughs, and more that cannot be quantified.

Fisto, Beni, and Boneri, before they take off to school in the morning.

IMPACT

It has been sad every time I have left, but I have never seen the kids this upset before. It could be because of the time away - they hadn’t had any visitors over the past three years. It could be because some of the kids are new and not used to seeing me come back again and again. It could be because the trip was so short. However, it cannot be overlooked how well Sunish, Russell, Amanda, Seth, Alison, and Ben got along together and with the kids. The kids had one heck of a week and came home from school every day to a bunch of friendly faces ready to engage, laugh, learn, teach, play, and bond. The kids got to experience many things that they never thought they would. So, tears were shed as we all shared our words about how much this trip meant, and the kids had their say too. I had a feeling this would work out well, but I had no idea just how special it was going to be for all the kids.

Russ and I, looking out at Kigali from the home on a peaceful evening.

THE PATH

All of this leads to me to what is next. Well, short term, stay tuned, because I plan to get some words and thoughts from our visitors and long-time supporters who were just there. We have a plethora of pictures and videos to share as well. Long term, though, I am sold on Run the 1 taking place in Rwanda so long as I can be there, and, hopefully, with others. I want to start making Rwanda more accessible so more people can witness all of the support they have given over the years and reap the rewards of seeing it and enjoying a relationship with the kids. We have such a beautiful home now that is capable of supporting kids and guests alike for years to come, and, for anyone reading this, you deserve to enjoy it and feel it. Come this April, I plan to look at dates for April 2024. I will set and share them as soon as I can. And, if all works out, the plan for years to come will be to set dates in April well in advance so those who are interested can plan properly. I hope those who are interested will reach out and we can get working on another adventure to show these kids just how much love and support they have.

Alison, enjoying her time with the kids on an outreach afternoon.

In the true spirit of Run the 1, there were no negatives. Everyone involved, from the kids to the guests, to Evode and Becky and our supporters, had an absolute blast, grew closer, raised everyone’s spirits, and secured a bright future for truly amazing kids and the future of Rwanda. But, dare I say, no year more than this year brought everyone this close. So, as sad I was when I left, I was more happy to think of this reinvigoration of Run the 1. I can see where we can go from here so people can make the plans they need to and see all they have helped to create from afar, and the kids can see how even more special they and their home are.

Amanda had a great time capturing shots of the kids on outreach days while we played soccer.

If you are still reading this, thank you so much. I hope this may give you hope for the future. I may have finally used every way to say thank you there is, but I will never stop saying it anyway. THANK YOU. Enjoy the rest of the photos!

Reach out!

KOMERA

Shaun Sullivan

This shot is taken from the kitchen. Before it was finished, there wasn’t an opening here to serve the kids. This was my first time getting to use it properly and it was really nice.

Holmes and I stopped to enjoy the view while we were running around Kigali.

We couldn’t ask for better dogs at home. They are protective, but they are kind above all.

Gabriel, sitting next to Amanda, is one of the oldest boys at the home now. It has been awesome to watch his growth over the years.

We hadn’t even taken off yet and spirits were high!

A quick nap was almost impossible.

Fiston came to visit. He and I go back to 2010. Fiston is now living on his own and making a life for himself.

Everyone is looking on as Holmes attempts to write one of the kids’ Kinyarwanda names by hearing it only. We did this for fun and to show them that it was understandable that they spelled our names wrong at times.

There he goes. Most likely wasn’t right!

Alison, taking charge while playing a ridiculously funny game called Happy Salmon.

None of this works without Evode’s love and committment to the kids. He is one of my best friends and an inspiration to me. And, of course, I made sure Marshall made it in the picture too.

Beautiful Rwanda

Going over Kevin’s school grades to see how he has been doing. The smiles show you he has been doing great!

For those who remember the first fundraiser we did in 2011, “The Walk for Porridge.” not only helped Ubaka U Rwanda, but also a school for street kids at the time. These young men came from that school. I still visit them every year because we remain close. Holmes got to see them this year which made it even more special for both sides.

Bus buddies, Beni and Fisto.

Walking towards our beautiful, fully-realized home after all these years.

They got me. I miss ‘em.

Serenading Marshall

We busted out a jam session with the kids from the street. It was so much fun and so sweet.

Sunish taught a lot of kids things on this trip. I don’t think anything was as sweet as when this boy took off running with the mini djembe after his lesson.

I loved this because Francois refused to leave Evode's side when he started walking. And, at the steepest part, we started “assisting” him too and had a laugh over it.

We also have a daycare in the morning for local toddlers. They are a handful, but oh so adorable.

Francois, cooking the morning porridge. This was the first time I saw the kids cooking with gas. In years prior, they had to use charcoal. The gas is easier, of course, and it’s probably better not to be inhaling all of that charcoal grit now.

Just one more picture of our boy Marshall.

Seth, reading with Francois.