December 2024 Newsletter
2024 Shelter Them Annual Report
As we celebrated 20 years of impact at The Roaring 20s – Shelter Them Gala, we’re excited to have all who came to participate and join in our Virtual Silent Auction
We have a new addition to our family, a baby Inka!
Shelter Them now has a new baby cow! The calf is healthy definitely as a full fur coat. The kids haveall come to greet it and tried to speak to it but their accents in COWANESE is probably too strong..haha
Good nutrition and needed vitamins are so important to the development of children.
Mental and Physical growth is amazing to watch.
We are dedicated to the full health of our children. We have vitamins for their daily intake as a precaution. We want a healthy and bright future for Rwanda and we are doing our part!
We had a great time and despite weather predictions being nasty, it was warm, sunny and DRY!
There is some more to reach our goal so click on the link and donate for the wonderful kids!
Why Participate?
Support Education... Your participation helps empower children in Rwanda through education
Promote Health... Walking is excellent for your mind and body—a win-win situation!
Build Community... Connect with like-minded individuals committed to positive change
Why Are We Walking? Education is a cornerstone of a brighter future, yet many children in Rwanda lack access to basic educational resources. The FFT Walk for Education aims to change that by raising funds to support educational programs for these children. Every step we take together on October 6th brings us closer to empowering these young minds through education. Your participation in this walk helps ensure that more children can attend school, receive quality education, and have the chance to pursue their dreams. It’s about giving them the opportunity to create a better life for themselves and their communities.
You can donate or help us by walking and raising funds! Corporate sponsors are always welcome and have benefits too you can read about HERE
All funds raised through the FFT Walk for Education will go directly to Shelter Them Poverty Relief’s educational programs in Rwanda. These programs provide children with access to school supplies, uniforms, tuition, and other educational needs, ensuring they have the resources to succeed in their studies
Thank You for your support! Together, we can walk far, fast and together to change lives through the power of education. Every step you take and every dollar you raise will make a lasting impact on the children we serve!
The 18th Annual Shelter Them Gala in Brampton, Ontario on June 2 was another success! The theme was a Kentucky Derby Garden Party and many of the guests came dressed for the event. The fascinators were fascinating and the top hats were top notch!
In addition to a fabulous meal, guests were entertained by a Rwandan dance troupe and uplifted by a poem written and performed. And as always, the gala provided a great opportunity for friends and supporters of Shelter Them to meet and catch up. It was easy when everyone there was connected by a common cause – the welfare of our kids in Rwanda.
David and Sherry Jenkins were in attendance all the way from Newfoundland, and we are thrilled to report that after their presentation on child sponsorship, 10 more children now have sponsors whose generosity will provide them with shelter, medical care and education, giving 10 more Rwandan children a fair chance for an independent, productive and fulfilling future.
All our guests were very generous, as always, and we are grateful to report that through ticket sales, the online auction and other donations, Shelter Them made a net profit of over $15 000. That will go a long way towards enabling our staff in Rwanda to continue their great work on behalf of our kids.
Ther were lots of cameras about the room, and here is link to many of the photos that were taken throughout the evening "GALA PICTURES 2024" . If you were there, we hope you will be reminded of the fun we shared. And if you were not there, have a look anyway. We would love to see you at the 2025 gala! If you want to make an additional donation to the cause, or if you would like to know more
An Award of Excellence for Our ECDC in Gateko!
We are pleased and proud to announce that The Early Childhood Development Centre in Gateko, which was established and is funded by Shelter Them, has received a certificate of excellence by the Governor of the Eastern Province of Rwanda. Our ECDC is among the top four centres out of 563 in Bugesera District!
The centres were evaluated based on several criteria:
- Delivery of services
- Infrastructure and hygiene facilities
- Conducive place for children to play
- Creativity and innovation in programming
- Parent and community engagement in the ECDC
This award is thanks primarily to the programming and leadership provided by Julius Twahirwa, our Education Manager, and to the dedication of the caregivers who deliver that programming. But they could not do their excellent work without the generosity of our many Shelter Them supporters, especially the members of the ECDC Club. Would you like to become a member of the Club? Please click on Donate to learn how you can help to provide these young children, 3 to 6 years of age, with a fair start to their future!
The Sky is the Limit – Meet Our
Second University Graduate!
Meet Khesia Niyonsenga, who has just graduated from the University of Kigali, where she majored in Business Management and Accounting. Khesia was born in the small village of Nyamugali, one of eight children. She says she had no hope for her future because her parents could not afford her school fees and materials. She says, “In 2016, the Shelter Them sponsorship program changed my life… I thank Shelter Them for giving me hope for the future and to achieve my dreams. I will always keep Shelter Them sponsors in my prayers.” Shelter Them sponsorship works! Click on Child Sponsorship on the Main Menu above to learn how you can transform a life!
Hearts for Rwanda Campaign
Shelter Them’s mission is to empower vulnerable children in Rwanda, by first ensuring that their basic growth and development needs are met and then providing them and their families with the tools and resources needed to have a bright, independent and sustainable future
Have A Heart, Please Take Part !
Make a monetary donation and write your name on a Heart. The hearts will then be delivered to the children of Gateko showing them that you care.
Partner with us!
Your support will help us provide a safe, clean learning environment for all children from ages 3 – 6 in Gateko Village Your support will provide these children with nutritious, well balanced meals every day they attend our Early Childhood Development Program