A quick P.S. to Zach’s note – from Ioana

Zach and I are happy to have the opportunity to stay here for 10 whole weeks. There is a lot of work to be done and we have many ideas that we hope to implement, making a short film being one of them. I am also involved with a women’s group called Women Developing Rwanda. As orphans who have survived traumatic experiences at an early age, these women and girls have established a support network for each other. Because of relatively strict gender roles, the girls at the Center are usually the ones to take care of their younger brothers and sisters. For now, we had few sessions with Barbara and Shelly, two counselors who usually teach local counselors how to take care of women and children. We are hoping to continue to use and explain their techniques, while also thinking about a potential income-generating activity for the women.
I feel that my days here have been more than fulfilling. I have never before met such a dedicated group of young people who are willing to walk for hours every day just so that they can learn English. I hope our teachings lead them on a road towards a brighter future. Maybe it will help them find a job. Maybe they will continue on to a University. But the furture is uncertain and for now, we try to be their teachers, may be even their friends.