Our small but mighty Art of Conservation team is preparing its second year of art classes and exhibitions in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Soon, we will be speaking with ORTPN’s Chief Park Warden, Justin RURANGIRWA, district secretaries, local leaders, and school headmasters to hear from them where in Kinigi District they would like us to hold the three classes, and whether they wish us to focus on adults or kids. Our weekly schedule last year consisted of one adult class during the week and one for primary school-age children on Saturday and Sunday mornings - so we wouldn’t interfere with their school program. It will be interesting to hear from the chief park warden. For instance, the last class AoC held for adults was located in an area that is notorious for poachers.

But… before we move on, I would like to introduce you to…
Team AoC: Eric, Valerie and Fahad.

Team AoC: Fahad, Valerie and Eric.

Eric MUTABAZI
Artist and Instructor

Eric is standing in front of the sign he made for Gorillas Nest Hotel in Kinigi.

Eric grew up in Musanze District, Northern Province, Rwanda. He attended secondary school at the School of Art Nyundo in Gisenyi, Rubavu District, Rwanda. He has worked mostly as a graphic artist producing logos and signage for a variety of clients and is AoC’s lead art instructor.

Here Eric is asking a student to show an expression on his face for the class to draw.

Eric is one of few well-established, working artists in Rwanda despite the many challenges of life and work in one of the world’s most highly populated and poor countries.

Eric is giving a lesson on how to draw a gorilla.

Eric enjoys working with all types of media - especially paints - and hopes one day to have his own well-supplied studio. He lives in Musanze District with his wife and two children.

With the guitar I found in Goma, DRC, and Eric strums away.

It is wonderful working with Eric. He is always giving the most he can offer to the students and is extremely kind. He also defies the rule that most Rwandans dislike and fear dogs. He loves my two dogs and they love him.

Valerie AKUREDUSENGE
Translator, Intepreter, and Assistant to Director

Valerie knows Kinyarwanda, English, French, and Kiswahili.

Valerie grew up in the Gakenke District in the Northern Province of Rwanda. Like many Rwandans, she lost her family members during the 1994-1998 war, but persevered. She is in her last year of university level training at INES-Ruhengeri, Institute d’Enseignement Superieur de Ruhengeri, in the Department of Translation and Interpreting.

Valerie is helping hang AoC banners with art students of Kabeza community. Tourists and community members view the student’s artwork printed on the banners that in turn leads to communication about art, conservation, and health.

Valerie has worked as a translator and guide for Amahoro Tours, a community-based tourism company based in Ruhengeri. She completed a two-month internship with the Rwandan Parliament, translating and interpreting speeches as well as written text. Her independent study is about the importance of proper training for guides who work in community-based tourism

After returning from a day of singing and dancing with Ninda community, Valerie and visiting artist, soprano and animal lover, Virginia Croskery, sit in MGVP’s library transcribing the music we were listening to.

Chief Park Warden, Justin RURANGIRWA, and Valerie at Ninda’s Expose discuss how the participants of Ninda community benefit from AoC’s three-month art classes. Justin then speaks with the students, reinforcing that small steps taken in areas of personal hygiene, family planning, among others, can lead to better health.

Valerie and I have worked closely together for almost two years. Counterbalancing the hard work we are doing, we end up laughing while driving home after classes so much that our faces hurt from grinning.

Fahad NDANGIZA
Assistant to Eric in Art Instruction

Fahad is just now starting to work with AoC.

Fahad is joining Team AoC this year and we are pleased to be working with him. He grew up in Kisoro District in western Uganda. After completing primary and secondary level education, Fahad attended Kakungulu Memorial School in Kampala for two years of advanced level arts. Fahad says he returned to Rwanda, his home country, to share his knowledge with his people.

And then there is me, Julie Ghrist
Director

I am enjoying the singing and dancing. Nice hat.

In closing, I would like to share a big thank you to Natasha and Ron, from San Francisco, USA who are here trekking and visiting mountain gorillas. Referred by former MGVP vet, Dr. Felicia Nutter, Natasha and Ron contacted me before leaving the United States for their journey and kindly asked what art materials they could bring and donate to the project. Eric, Valerie, Fahad, and I went to
Virunga Volcaones Lodge where they are staying and had a wonderful two-hour long conversation. Both of their careers are in the financial world, but Ron has a passion for photography and ceramics. He shared with us the art scene in San Francisco and I cannot tell you what buzz there was between Eric and Fahad in the back of my truck as we headed home after our time with Natasha and Ron. Thanks, again, for the art materials, which are nearly impossible to purchase in Rwanda, and for igniting lots of positive energy.

Trekkers from San Francisco, Natasha and Ron, generously share their time and donate much needed art materials to AoC.

Until the next posting,
Julie

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