Build Rwanda News

Michelle- "How did you originally get involved with Intango?"

Ralph- “Well I think it goes back to Val, she had always wanted to do a mission’s trip somewhere and then we heard of this one coming up [to Rwanda] and we thought this seems to be the right thing. I wasn’t signing up because of my skillset, it was more to do the mission, to help out wherever.”

Michelle- "What was your overall experience of going to Rwanda?"

Ralph- “We didn’t know what to expect before we went there and once we got there, it far exceeded any expectations [that we had]. If I had to rate it from 1 to 10, I was expecting maybe 5 or 6, and I would put maybe a 9 or 10 for what we actually received out of our trip to Rwanda.”

Val– “I would also say the same. I had no idea what to expect. What I was really blown away by was how progressive Rwandans want to be- how they want to improve their country, their standard of living, they want to advance, and they are the hardest working people. We were impressed by so many things – the fish farms that the government started to help get protein to the people, how they deliver medicine to the rural parts of the country. It was also the cleanest country we have ever been in, and Ralph and I have travelled a fair bit.”

Michelle- "What type of work did you do that while in Rwanda? And, what trades were you involved with?"

Ralph– “I first started off working with the electrician group at Intango. We were putting in light fixtures, pulling wires for receptors and switches and wiring all that together. We had to then build to reception desks for the reception area of Intango, so I helped with the carpentry by putting together a reception desk area.”

  Val– “We went with some of the social workers and got to meet some of the single moms. We were able to visit with them, share a little bit of our story, hear their story, and to see where they [the single mother’s] live. That was a real highlight for me. Also, going to the clinic [maternity clinic in the Nyabasindu slum] and to be able to hold the babies, let the moms know just how much those babies are loved and what a great job they’re doing. The questions the mother’s asked through the interpreter about breastfeeding, how we carry our babies on the front and they carry them on their back – the differences of that with the pros and cons. Then of course, going to the school and to some of the churches. That was hilarious demonstrating to the school girls how to use a feminine hygiene kit – explaining through an interpreter, “How do you work this?”, “What are they [the feminine hygiene kits] for?” That was probably one of the most emotional things for me. I remember one girl, she was probably about 12 years old, and she said, “We cannot believe that someone on the other side of the world would think of us and how this would help us and bring it to us.” And that really was something that stood out to me – how genuinely gracious they were and thankful. And, I loved that it was taking them something practical that they could use and would make a difference. I had never heard of these [feminine hygiene kits] for girls prior to going on this mission’s trip and I was blown away by how thought-out, practical, and ‘quality controlled’ these kits are. I also organized the sea can and the tools [on the CLA main site]. You can do a lot of really practical things, which I also loved. And for 1 or 2 days, I helped stain all the library shelves [at Intango]. We put a lacquer on [the shelves] and got them ready after the guys had built them. It was nice to be an extra set of hands where needed. We loved that we were doing something that was helpful, that was needed, and that it made it a difference. I loved that the things we did were for a purpose.”

Michelle- "Did you feel that your giftings and your skill-sets were utilized while in Rwanda?"

Ralph- “I felt that the training I had going there was definitely an asset. But I think you don’t need to have massive skill sets, as long as there’s a few people there that have [skillsets], that can be shared. I mean that is the whole purpose of doing the vocational school in the first place – take our skills and pass it on to somebody else, to carry it forward.”

Val- “I didn’t go to secondary school, I don’t have a ticket in any kind of trade, or anything like that, but I think that’s what I found so lovely. Even without that [a specific skillset] I felt I could still be used as long as you just wanted to lend a hand. Whether it was organizing the sea can, or shellacking some shelves, or holding a baby, I felt I could still be useful, even if I don’t have a special designation in any one area.”

Michelle- "How did being in Rwanda help you understand the current need that is present in the country for skills training?"

Ralph- “I know there was help from some of the people working there [at Intango], and they were more than capable of doing the work, they just needed to know what they were supposed to be doing. We could never expect them to just see a roll of wire there and figure out the process, it would just be illogical. But if you walked it through with them, they were more than capable. I’m sure after we left they retained some of those skills and would be able to carry on do the same things over and over. And again, if you show them more skills, the more independent they can become at doing those types of tasks.”

Val- “The explanations of the kits [the hygiene kits] were well received. When we went to the schools, even the teachers wanted the kits. The kits are impactful, useful, and practical. Bringing something that is not common there [in Rwanda] and showing them the usefulness of it, they were just all over that, so excited, and open to it. They are smart people, it makes sense to them. It was such an easy reception from everyone. In fact, if a person asked me to describe Rwanda in two words- it would be ‘forward thinking.’ That would be my description of the country and the people.”

Michelle- "What was the cross-cultural experience like for you both while in Rwanda?"

Ralph- “We were well briefed ahead of time regarding ‘what not to do’. That was really helpful. It was nice to know those things ahead of time so we knew the boundaries. You don’t want to offend people out of ignorance, so it was nice that we were informed. My experience was it was amazing to see how hard the people work, grateful they were and generous to a fault.”

Val- “It blew me away how soft-spoken Rwandan’s are. I thought, again it was totally my ignorance, but I thought they were going to be large, in-charge, loud and aggressive, and I was totally blown away by how polite, soft-spoken, and not aggressive they are. That was my experience while we were there -completely different than what I thought.”

Ralph- “Also, the pride the Rwandans took in their country, with Umuganda [the Saturday once a month where communities clean their neighborhoods together and have community discussions]. And then we come home and are driving in our rural areas here and we see beer cans and McDonald’s cups up and down the ditches, and I ask myself: ‘Why can’t we be more like the Rwandans?’ For me it was reverse culture shock. I’m shocked at how much they cared for their country, enough that they would pick up the garbage, sweep the dirt in-front of their house to make it look clean. 

  Val- “100% we felt safe.”

Ralph- “Not even for a second while walking in the dark back to our hotel area did we have a second thought.”

Val- “Again, a shock to us. This is such a safe country.”

Michelle- "Did you enjoy the food while in Rwanda?"

Val- “The kitchen was very good with the food. There was always lots of good food provided. The fruit and vegetables are absolutely to die for. You do not want to eat a banana when you come home from Rwanda.”

Ralph- “You’re not supposed to go on a mission’s trip and come back with a few extra pounds. Always enough food, the food was very good food.”

Michelle- "For any Canadian’s considering going and volunteering their time and skills for Intango, would you recommend participating in a Build Rwanda Work Team?"

Ralph- “If a person wants to achieve power and wealth, this type of team wouldn’t appeal to you. If you want to serve the Lord and reach out to other people- Christ’s hands extended- then it is a great opportunity to do that. If you have any skillset and a willingness, then God can use you to bless your hands and be an asset to others.”

Val- “I can’t tell you the amount of people that we have shared this with- if you ever want to go on a mission’s trip, go to Rwanda. It was such a good experience for us. I don’t know what we were really expecting because we had never been on a mission’s trip before. After about 9 days of being in Rwanda, I remember Ralph looking at me one night before heading to bed and he goes, ‘I don’t know what we were expecting, but we were only going to do this once. I would totally come back, would you?’ And I said, ‘In a heartbeat.’ I think that says it all. Both of us knew that we would love to go back to Rwanda. It was really a bucket list thing, and it turned out to be something we want to do again. We really have told many people it is a great thing to do.”