Art for Gorillas

Category: Art of Conservation (AoC), Ministry of Sports & Culture - Rwanda, Sports for Gorillas | Date: May 27 2009 | By: Julie

The 5th Annual Run for Peace Marathon in Kigali with the 2009 theme “End Violence Against Women and Children” proved to be an enlightening event for our students. Most of the students had never been to their nation’s capital, let alone participate in a national sporting event. It was amazing to see these children from rural villages standing in Amahoro Stadium at the race starting line, excited to see themselves on the JumboTron and ready to run. Many of the children ran the 5K straight through, beating adult runners, while others preferred to walk and take in the sights of Kigali. Afterwards we all crossed the finish line, we enjoyed lunch in the stadium and stayed to watch the winners of the half and full marathon come in.

The whole event went without a hitch, including the dreaded 4:30 am departure from Kinigi, much to my relief. The buses arrived at the Kinigi schools on time and everyone was there and ready to go. The students had spent the night before at the school to avoid coming upon a forest buffalo in the early morning hours when the wild animals are prone to move out of the forest in favor of the cultivated lands.

Valerie, Eric, and US photographer / writer Molly Feltner, who is volunteering with AoC, arrived in Kigali before the race to participate in a mini-expo showcasing Rwandan organizations that work with disadvantaged women and children. The Art of Conservation booth displayed a selection of our interactive learning tools (photo above shows children enjoying the masks), students’ “peace” pictures (see previous post), t-shirts, and tiles. Photo by Molly Feltner.

While our donation basket at our expo booth collected a mere 500 Rwandan francs (about 90 cents), we did succeed in fulfilling other missions such as raising awareness of the project on a national level and giving our students an enlightening and fun experience in the capital city.

AoC art teacher, Eric, discusses our students’ peace drawings with expo attendees. Photo by Molly Feltner.

The Amahoro Stadium’s loud speakers announce the 5K Fun Runners to proceed to the starting line inside the stadium. Our group is ready to go!

And we’re off!

We all completed the 5K course and now it was time to watch the runners of the half marathon and the full marathon from the stadiums bleacher. Runners from Kenya and Tanzania won in both races.

Race is over… I am relieved and also extremely appreciative of the effort Valerie, Eric, Innocent, Molly, and the schools directors put forth in making this a great field trip.

Please click here for more information on Molly Feltner.

Please click here if you would like further information on Rwanda’s Ministry of Sports and Culture.

Tags: children, gorillas, peace, sports

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Category: Art of Conservation (AoC), Sports for Gorillas, USTA | Date: Nov 10 2008 | By: Julie

I walked to the nearby post office and found a box waiting for me sent by John Terpkosh - a member of the United States Tennis Association / Missouri Valley. Inside the box I discovered cool USTA pens, balloons, and little soaps John picks up along the way. “Yep, these gifts will go over just fine with the kids!” I thought to myself.

Please click here and here for previous Sports for Gorillas blogs and learn how this little tennis club of 13 kids came to be - with the generous support from John and Coach Bunny Bruning.

Sure enough, the young tennis players and Coach Tony are very pleased with the pens!

Coach Tony models the team t-shirt and gives the thumbs up to the USTA gifts.

Gentille and Clementine, such darling girls, are happy!

Sports for Gorillas Tennis Team - Musanze - Rwanda.

Coach Tony and I will be speaking with Rwanda’s Ministry of Youth. We must find support to improve the tennis club and make the sport more accessible for all Rwandans. I constantly hear children calling out to me, “Julie, tennisi.” I wish I could give every child a racket, tennis shoes, balls, and Coach Tony!

Thank you again John!

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