For the past four years, a group of us has sponsored the education of a nine ten eleven twelve year-old Rwandan boy I met when I was there in 2007. We could use help! If you feel you can commit $10, shoot me an email – Saya [AT] macncheeseproductions [DOT] com - and I’ll let you know if we are able to raise enough to continue being his benefactors. I only collect if we raise it all.
Update November 2011: we did it! Thank you!!
Patience [left] at his new school in Uganda with his neighbor Pitie, 2012
Financial History
2011, 31 people, $750*
2010, 21 people, $400
2009, 19 people, $400
2008, 30 people, $400
*Patience is attending secondary school now which is more expensive than primary school.
Our History
In August 2007, I had the incredible opportunity to visit Rwanda. I was hired to shoot and edit a video for the Benebikira Sisters Foundation, a Chicago-based organization established in 2004 to raise awareness and funding necessary to expand the Benebikira Sisters’ healthcare and education programs. The Sisters have been instrumental in rebuilding the country after the 1994 Genocide.
While traveling the country, I met the family of my host, Sister Anna.
When Sister Anna’s siblings were killed in the Genocide, she became mother to their children, one of whom is Benita. Benita welcomed me with hugs, orange Fanta, a tour of her bright green house, and introductions to her two children.
Patience, Benigne, and Benita in 2009
Benita became pregnant with Patience when she was sexually abused at age 17. She lived with Patience’s father for three abusive years and left when she became pregnant with Benigne. The father has not been in the picture since. Because of the trauma of the Genocide and rape, Benita was unable to finish high school and currently suffers from deep depression, making it difficult for her to work and provide for her children.
When I met Patience, he was nine. Though we couldn’t communicate verbally – at that point, his English was limited to “Jesus loves me” and my Kinyarwandan to “Muraho” (hello) – we connected through my teaching him how to use my camera. He captured my heart as he sat as close as he could to me and gingerly held the Canon in his hands for the four or so hours we were there.
When Sister Anna approached me a year later about sponsoring his education, I wanted to say Yes! but didn’t have the $400. So I banked on what I did have, a very generous and expansive network, and asked if folk could donate $10. If enough people pledged, I would collect; if we fell short, I wouldn’t collect anything.
Patience, Benigne, Benita, and Patience’s dog Box in 2010 // Patience, 2011