Koinoina Foundation

A lot of behind the scenes work goes into planning a fundraiser, and that is definitely true when you’re trying to plan the first one.

We are so grateful to the Grand Rapids community for embracing Koinonia Foundation in the ways that they have. Here’s a great example: the owner of Bar Divani has graciously offered to be an in-kind sponsor for our fundraiser, and we are excited to announce that “Experience Rwanda” will be held Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Photography Room at Bar Divani. The event location is 15 Ionia Ave. SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Bar Divani is a fantastic place, and if you’re a Grand Rapidian who hasn’t been there, I suggest that you go and check it out.

Proceeds from the fundraiser will benefit the purchase and installation of a solar power system with computers for a secondary school in Rwanda’s Eastern Province. In a country where less than 10% of the population has electricity, a solar install will provide more than 500 Rwandan students with a safe and technologically advanced learning environment. Every child needs and deserves a quality education – can you imagine if your child went to school without electricity or computers? That’s an incredible disadvantage that we can help overcome.

Hopefully you’ll soon be seeing posters for the event at local businesses around town. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, and they are very reasonably priced because we know that every donation helps.

We are doing our best to put on a fun event where people around Grand Rapids can come, enjoy Rwandan food, music, art, photography, information about the country, and a gift bag with items from Rwanda. Tickets are $40 and include all of the above, plus 2 drink tickets for the bar. We promise to tell you a little bit about ourselves, but to also keep it short so that you can enjoy “experiencing” Rwanda.

To become a sponsor, request an event poster for your business, to make a donation, or to register, contact me at ashley@kfaid.com or 616-742-9101. And check out who’s already RSVP’d at our Facebook page.

Ashley

P.S. Here are screen shots of our new brochure. Click to enlarge them. Thanks to Greystone Print Solutions for their great printing work!

We’ve started spreading the word that Koinonia Foundation will host its first fundraiser this fall in Grand Rapids. (Side note: If you’d like to assist in some capacity, contact ashley@kfaid.com.) Proceeds from the event will help fund the cost and installation of a solar power system at a school in Rwamagana, Rwanda.

The install is a Koinonia Foundation partnership with The Rwanda School Project. The Rwanda School Project is a funding partner of The Rwamagana Lutheran School, which will be where the system is installed. What I really like about this school is its focus on sustainability. Rwanda is the most densely populated country in Africa – there are nearly 10 million people in a country roughly the size of Maryland. That can be quite a squeeze on the environment and natural resources. In recognition of this, the school is creating itself as a working demonstration facility with solar power (that’s where we come in), bio-gas digesters, water catchment, farming and gardening techniques (drip irrigation, zero-grazing, and erosion protection), and low-fuel ovens. Students and staff participate in building and maintaining these systems, as well as overseeing their evolution.

Another great thing about the school is that they work hard to serve a significant number of economically disadvantaged students and to attract (and retain) girls. They also hire the majority of their teachers from the Kigali Institute of Education.

The school will open its new facilities in January 2011. Eventually, it will serve about 540 students in grades Secondary 1-6 (U.S. grades 7-12).

Here are some pics forwarded from Andrew Williams, when he checked in last week on the construction.

It’s about halfway through our trip, and yesterday we trekked out to the Shyara School to check on the solar power system we had installed last year. We also needed to install some special low-power lights in the classrooms and outside the facilities.

When we arrived at the school after a nearly two-hour drive, a large group of students, teachers, and community members gathered to greet us. (more…)