Hello, HUMAN IN LOVE family! I’m very happy to have an opportunity to meet you all through this article.
On Jan. 7, 2016, HUMAN IN LOVE Rwandan branch delivered school uniforms to the students of a primary school of Mazane Island which is located at the center of a lake in Rweru Sector. Last time, I introduced you with the news of visiting the island, and today, I would like to tell you about the uniform delivery ceremony which took place after our visit.
After driving an hour from Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city, and another hour on an unpaved road, we can reach the center of Rweru Sector. A dock which leads the boats to Mazane Island lies 20 minutes away from the sector. From the dock, it takes around 40 minutes to finally arrive at the island.
[ (From bottom left) Branch manager Seong, Hye-shin, HUMAN IN LOVE Rwandan scholarship students Immanuel and Florence, (from upper right) HUMAN IN LOVE Burundi branch staff Stanley are on the boat to Mazane Island with the school uniforms. ]
Students of Mazane Primary School came to the island dock to meet us. They eagerly reached out their cute little hands to help our staff carry the sacks filled with school uniforms.
[ Moving to Mazane Primary School with the children who came to the dock to meet us. ]
Every single residents of Mazane Island somehow heard the news of the school uniform delivery ceremony, and they all came to see it. An official of the island helped us delivering the uniforms, speaking in a delighted voice that all residents of the island looked forward to the event.
[ Children and residents of Mazane Island gathered to participate in the school uniform delivery ceremony ]
As the students lined up by grade and height, HUMAN IN LOVE staff and volunteers prepared the uniforms with the teachers of the school. We hanged a banner and grouped the uniforms according to sizes. After the principal delivered a short remark, we started to distribute the uniforms to the students.
As the ceremony began, we were able to see various types of students. One student jumped and ran as he was so happy to receive the school uniform, another one asked us to change the size of the blouse, and there were also young children who secretly lined up to get their uniforms in advance even though they do not attend the school. However, they eventually got caught by the principal and had to go back, crying.
[ Students lined up according to their height ]
It was quite strenuous to prepare the event under the scorching sun, but all of our staff were happy enough to see the bright faces of the students after receiving their uniforms.
[Students in their new uniforms ]
All residents of Mazane Island are planned to move to inland Rwanda. The Rwandan government visited the island and was shocked by the poor living condition of the island residents, deciding to move all the residents to the interior. However, the construction of some 280 houses in Rweru Sector has been halted due to financial issues. The children half jokingly asked us to visit their school and provide them with new uniforms again when they move to a new village, and we answered with a smile, hoping the day can come soon.
[ With Mazane Primary School students who received new school uniforms ]
Your good will has created happiness to the children of Mazane Island, the small island of Rwanda in Africa. HUMAN IN LOVE kindly asks for your continuous support so that we can help children of other deprived countries. We would like to thank every supporter who made this meaningful ceremony possible.
The uniform delivery ceremony for the Mazane Island students was possible thanks to the students of Yale Elementary School who made a donation through the HIL program “Let’s Collect Good 100 KRW” and sponsors of HUMAN IN LOVE.
