Introducing Pam Hajnasrollah, Tubakunde Project, Rwanda

Tubakunde Project, a day care centre for orphaned and vulnerable children, reached its second anniversary in April 2010. In February 2009 the number of children had increased from 18 to 55 between the ages of 18 months and 8 years. The children were divided into day care, lower, middle and upper nursery classes and primary one, which led to Excel School being introduced as part of Tubakunde Project. In February 2010, the number of children increased again up to 82 with the addition of a class for primary two.

The children’s day begins shortly after 7am when they are rounded up in several journeys on the school bus and brought to Tubakunde site, where they enjoy a hearty breakfast of porridge and bread or eggs. Then there is time to play before settling into the classroom for the morning’s lessons. The children are taught in English, especially now that it is the official language of Rwanda. To keep them going they have a fruit snack at playtime mid-morning and then lunch at 12 noon. After more playtime, including a game of football with the staff, the children are back in their classes for another hour and then it is teatime! By 4pm they are boarding the school bus, usually tired and grubby after a hard day’s learning and play!

All children are medically checked periodically by a volunteer doctor who visits most weeks. Those children living with HIV/Aids are benefitting from regular monitoring and treatment.

The children that are sponsored by the project are from vulnerable situations ranging from being orphaned to abandoned and sick or poverty stricken.

Pam continues to have a heart to meet the needs of such children by providing a safe, caring and educative environment that will give each one a platform to a healthy and well-balanced future.