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Discover Worlds Umubano
Sister School Program
“I am involved in Umubano Sister School Program because I hope to find common ground with students from other countries” -Nicole, 16
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Dear Friends,
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We are thrilled to announce that the documentary made about the Umubano Sister School Program is finally available to view online!
The documentary series Full Focus on KBTC Public Television featured Umubano back in November of 2008. The documentary is a great look at how Umubano got started and what it is trying to accomplish through cross-cultural exchanges and education between the US and Rwanda. It is also an excellent glimpse into what Rwanda is like today. Marie Berry, Joe Stockton, and myself are interviewed in the documentary and there are many beautiful photos that were taken during our first trip to Rwanda in the summer of 2007, as well as during Marie’s return trip in 2008.
Please take the time to watch the documentary (about 30 minutes) and pass it along to friends and family. Let us know what you think by commenting on our website.
Also check out the rest of this newsletter to see what is currently happening with the Umubano Sister School Program!
The mission of the Umubano program is to empower students in the US and Rwanda to cultivate sustainable cross-cultural relationships with the goal of increasing global awareness, compassion, critical thinking, and grassroots activism.
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In Kinyarwanda, the native language of Rwanda, the word umubano means a relationship between friends
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“I am involved in the Umubano Sister School Program because I want to help other people have the same educational opportunities as I have had” -Stephen, 16
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Special Thank You To Our Recent Donors!
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Jerry Fireman
Rona Besterman
Beau Miller
Emily Mansfield in honor of Anna Mansfield
The members of Garage Voice, Noah Gunderson and the Courage, Lower Lights Burning, and Tony Kevin
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News
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Welcome, Caroline Kleindienst!
Umubano Sister School Program is now working with Caroline Kleindienst, an artist and grassroots activist. Caroline recently led an art workshop with the students at Christ the King School. She is also helping Umubano to create a poster set, featuring drawings by Rwandan youth. The drawings were originally created during a workshop that Elizabeth Davis, a former GYC delegate and Director of Project Akilah, facilitated with Rwandan street youth. These posters will be available for teachers to use in their classrooms to aid in discussion and other activities. Check out Caroline’s website to learn more about her and her grassroots arts projects!
Umubano has a NEW website! blogs.discoverworlds.org/umubano
Thanks to the great tech staff at Discover Worlds, Umubano has a new website with way more features! Learn more about the program, the schools in the program, and how you can get involved. It even has a section featuring recommended curriculum and other educational resources for teachers and students! Check it out!
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Sister School Updates
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A new school has joined the program!
West Orange High School, West Orange, New Jersey
Mrs. Dana Pearl’s French classes have now joined Umubano Sister School Program and are currently writing letters to their sister school in Rwanda. The students are really excited about the program and are looking forward to meeting their new pen pals!
Schools and Groups involved in Umubano Sister School Program:
West Orange High School, West Orange, NJ
Blaine Middle School, Blain, WA
Christ the King School, Seattle, WA
Charles Wright Academy, Tacoma, WA
Girl Scout Troop 1437, Robinwood Elementary School, Franklin, Wisconsin
We have received requests from several more schools and groups in the US who want to participate in the program. Now, more than ever, we really need your help. The cost of shipping material back and forth from Rwanda is expensive, but we don’t want to turn interested schools away from the program. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Umubano Program today!
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Meet Our Newest Chapter Director!
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We are thrilled to introduce Bridgette Ridgeway, Umubano’s newest Chapter Director. Bridgette is the President and CEO of TaylorField and a senior public relations and marketing strategist. During her 12-year career, she has represented GE Healthcare, Northwestern Mutual, Wal-Mart Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor Sales USA, and many more.
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Get Involved!
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We need your help!
Please consider making a tax-deductible donation of $10, $25, $50 or any amount today.
You can send a check to:
Discover Worlds – Umubano
10969 Wellworth Ave #107
Los Angeles, CA 90024
Or, donate securely right now using PayPal!
$100 sends a bag of school supplies to a partner school in Rwanda
$50 sends a school’s letters to their partner school
$25 supplies materials for an art workshop
$10 prints pictures of a Rwandan partner class for their US pen-pals
Please help keep Umubano operating by making a tax-deductible contribution today!
We are still looking for Program Chapter Directors in the US!
A Chapter Director is responsible for locating a partner school in the US, and then coordinating the logistics between that school and the Umubano staff, including giving presentations to the class about the program, human rights, and Rwanda. Don’t worry – Umubano has curricula and presentations already prepared! If you have any experience in Rwanda or an interest in education, we want you to get involved!
We are looking for teachers and schools to participate in the program!
Participating teachers and schools are responsible for working with the Umubano staff to bring the program to their class or school, working with Program Chapter Directors on workshops and other educational activities, organizing their students to write letters to their partner schools in Rwanda, and potentially expanding this relationship to include the exchange of other things (i.e. books, school supplies, art projects). If you know of anyone who might be interested, please let us know and we will send them more information!
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Stories From On The Ground
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Last month, I had the privilege to co-facilitate an art workshop with 8th grade students at Christ the King School (Seattle, WA). The workshop was led by Caroline Kleindienst, an artist and activist who is now partnering with Umubano on several arts education projects. At this art workshop, the students were confronted with drawings by children their same age who live in a home for street children in Rwanda. Their drawings depicted images about daily life in Rwanda and scenes of conflict and violence that the kids had witnessed. The children in Seattle were introduced to the reality of life in Central-East Africa, the genocide in Rwanda, and the challenges of establishing peace in a post-conflict country. After discussing the drawings of the Rwandan children, Seattle students were invited to paint their thoughts, feelings, and suggestions for possible solutions. To start a cross-cultural dialogue, the students in Seattle sent some of their pictures back to their partner school in Rwanda, Mburabuturo Primary School.
This workshop was incredibly eye-opening and meaningful for the students. I saw it across their faces as soon as they starting picking up the Rwandan childrens’ drawings. The students got a chance to see with their own eyes the stark images that these street youth carry around with them everyday. Rwanda may be in the process of rebuilding, but the experiences of the genocide are still ever present in the minds and hearts of both young and old. This is why education and dialogue are crucial for the development of Rwanda and the healing process in a post-genocide climate. Youth especially need outlets to talk about their hopes, fears, and experiences. Umubano Sister School Program is trying to be a part of that process by connecting students, facilitating cross-cultural learning, and enhancing access to educational resources in the US and Rwanda. -Melissa Cushman
To view some of the drawings created by the Rwandan children, visit Caroline’s website at www.carolinekleindienst.net
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“I want to learn about the changes they faced after the genocide. I hope one day to go there and make my own personal impact no matter how big or small it may be.” -Sandra, 17
For more information about Discover Worlds and the Umubano program check out our website: blogs.discoverworlds.org. If you would like any more information about the program, are interested in becoming a chapter director or partner teacher, or are interested in joining the Umubano staff or Board of Advisors, please contact us at umubano@discoverworlds.org. We want you to get involved!
Thank you so much for your support.
AMAHORO! (Peace in Kinyarwanda!)
Marie Berry & Melissa Cushman
Co-Program Directors
Umubano Program
Discover Worlds
blogs.discoverworlds.org/umubano
umubano@discoverworlds.org
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