Hope for Life Home in Kabunga

We drew a huge crowd when we went to Kabunga's open market to play with the kids.

Last Saturday we took off for the second time to visit a home called Hope for Life. There are 14 boys in Kabunga, who have been given a second chance at life through the shelter that two college students helped establish just a four months ago.

Since March of this year these boys have been taken off the streets and given schooling, proper nutrition and love. In only this short time they have made great improvements in their health and outlook on life. While they act up at times, being in this environment has done wonders for them.

Its a simple example of how much change can be created by just a few individuals with a passion for the children of Rwanda. You can see more about this great project here: http://hilliarysart.com/HFL/index.html

within 2 minutes of showin up the the field we had drawn a crowd of over 200. The muzungu show was officially on!

Jess showin off her phenom heading skills

bike taxis look on to get a view of the action

bought some sukali at the local market, and tried our hand at eatin it

turns out they were a little more skilled than we were

our group at the kid's home

freedom

Some thoughts for the day...

I inhabit a space where all are equal. Regardless of sex, gender, race, religion or other, the humans in my world all are given the opportunity to pursue their dreams. No one is incapacitaded by another. This space where I exist extends to those who I come around, or those that come around me. My love is unobstructed, ignorance is nonexistant. I can come or go at any time, because this space that I speak of is my own mind.

I've been quite challenged over the last couple weeks. Starting to work with kids has been by far one of the greatest challenges I've faced since graduating college. If anyone out there thought biking across the country looked difficult, try working with children!!

Anyways, here's a brief update, I'm working @ the Boys and Girls Club in Blaine, WA, teaching kids photography through a national B&G Club program called ImageMakers. Its been great to see the kids enthusiasm for the project, and I'm already blown away by how quick they can pick up a camera, memorize a couple of terms like "shutter speed" & "focal point", and go put the concepts into practice!

Don't take my word for it, see for yourself: