Gabrielle Nunn had an inspirational trip to Rwanda which included a visit to meet Ndabaramiye, the child she sponsors.
“Plan has only been working in Rwanda since 2007 so I was interested to see the impact their work has had on children like Ndabaramiye, their families and the surrounding communities.
“On the final day of my stay in Rwanda, a Plan Rwanda staff member collected me from my hotel in Kigali, the capital. We left the sprawling city behind and headed into the countryside. I was taken on a tour of Plan’s field offices about an hour’s drive from my hotel. Over a cup of tea, the people who work there told me about the vital projects Plan manages. And I was told that I was only the second supporter to make a personal visit to their sponsored child in Rwanda.
A colourful marketplace
“In addition to the small gifts I had brought with me for Ndabaramiye and the children in his community, I wanted to buy something more practical for the family. So we visited a local market where Plan staff helped me barter for goods. Market places worldwide are so colourful and this one was no exception. Before long, I had purchased several ‘bargains’: a large quilt for the entire family, a smaller cover for the new baby, tee shirts for the three older children, flour and sugar.
“We set out for the final leg of our journey, passing through very remote communities along the way. Minor routes are a bit of a challenge, even when travelling in a 4x4 vehicle!
“We reached Ndabaramiye’s home to find a large crowd of people had gathered outside to greet us. There was much excitement as I was invited to take a seat on one of the plastic chairs, set out for my visit, under the shelter of a canopy adjoining the mud and wattle house. Ndabaramiye and his family seemed overwhelmed but the growing crowd of curious children and neighbours were not so timid. At one point, there must have been dozens of smiling faces pressing closer to where I was sitting with the Plan staff.
A warm welcome
"Small gifts I had brought for the children such as balloons and sweets were passed out, colouring books and pencils were kept aside to distribute appropriately later as there were so many children. In return, the crowd started to sing and dance and their message of welcome was translated for me.
“All too soon the visit came to an end and I was left feeling quite humbled by the experience and warm welcome I had received. Although I was unable to communicate with Ndabaramiye through a mutual language, my visit to see him has given me a special bond. I feel closer to him and his family now having learnt more about his life and world first-hand. It was encouraging to learn that Ndabaramiye had just started to attend school.
“No matter what our circumstances in the developed world, we have access to safe drinking water and immunisation for major illnesses such as polio and TB. I found it hard to imagine how Ndabaramiye, his parents and three siblings lived such a basic life. It was good to think that through Plan’s work, my small monthly donation could make a difference to their lives.”
Find out more about Plan's work in Rwanda.