Project Update

City of Joy is a Mission Center and will one day include: School (nursery-secondary), University, Church, Medical Clinic, Community Center & Library, Sports Fields, Vocational Training Center & Missionary Training Center. Our first goal has been to obtain a nonprofit status for City of Joy in Rwanda. All the papers have been submitted and we are waiting. While we are waiting we have started a sewing class with 26 young women. We are training them in a 12 month program and have purchased a plot of land for a Vocational Training Center where they will be able to make a living sewing. Other community programs that we have started are: Goat Giveaway-146 goats at $30/goat have been donated; Rabbit Giveaway-49 rabbits @$3/rabbit; 1 cow has been donated ($300), an after school sports program has been started by Kids Play International that City of Joy is managing; Student Sponsorships-8 students ($52 secondary & $20 for primary students) have received money for help to go to school. Our sewing class has provided over 20 uniforms for other needy students.

City of Joy is negotiating with local land owners for school property. We hope to in the coming months purchase enough land so that we can start a nursery and kindergarten. Then as money is available we will expand our school. As with all things in Rwanda, it takes more time than expected. The cogs of government move slowly and we are patiently waiting. Electricity is one project that we have been waiting for word for almost 10 months. We hope to qualify for a Roll Out Program that would bring electricity to our neighborhood at a discount rate. The cost to bring electricity to City of Joy apart from the Roll Out Program is over $200,000!