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<!--Generated by Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/) on Tue, 29 May 2012 23:36:35 GMT--><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"><title>Blog</title><subtitle>Blog</subtitle><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/</id><link rel="alternate" type="application/xhtml+xml" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/"/><link rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/atom.xml"/><updated>2012-05-23T20:30:29Z</updated><generator uri="http://www.squarespace.com/" version="Squarespace Site Server v5.11.81 (http://www.squarespace.com/)">Squarespace</generator><entry><title>How much of a person's past can you ignore to justify their current wrongdoings committed against you?</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/5/23/how-much-of-a-persons-past-can-you-ignore-to-justify-their-c.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/5/23/how-much-of-a-persons-past-can-you-ignore-to-justify-their-c.html"/><author><name>Right2School</name></author><published>2012-05-23T20:29:47Z</published><updated>2012-05-23T20:29:47Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<div>I am going to be completely transparent. &nbsp;Today I want to throw in the towel and end my work in a developing country. Providing a program that helps people in need is hard. &nbsp;I would like to think that every one of the 40 students that Global Capacity supports is grateful, hard-working, moral, and honest. &nbsp;But I know that's not true. &nbsp;They don't get the best grades in school and they are not completely honest. &nbsp;I was reminded of this today when our partner in Rwanda, Yvonne, emailed me with the unfortunate report that one of our students has been lying to us for months now.</div>
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<div>This student has been supported by us for close to three years now. &nbsp;I have pictures with him, he has sent letters and emails to me, and when I was in Rwanda I took him out to dinner for a special meal. &nbsp;To know that he has deliberately and repeatedly lied to my staff and to me aches deep in my heart. &nbsp;And it makes me wonder how many more of our students, our children who have no advocates of their own, who have been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get an education through our scholarships, who we have sacrificed and gone to bat for while the citizens of their nation ignored and doubted their abilities, will do this. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
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<div>And then I remember how broken our students are. &nbsp;How most of them have never had a parent-figure to model themselves after, to teach them right from wrong, and to instill the values that parents are supposed to instill. Most of our students are products of the genocide and were forced to grow up real fast due to their parents' death. &nbsp;They arenow the heads of their household and had to become guardians to their younger siblings. &nbsp;</div>
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<div>People programs are messy. &nbsp;Our scholarship program is a people program. &nbsp;We provide more than just school fees and materials for high school but also counseling, mentoring, and relationships. &nbsp;We walk with 40 students throughout their six years of high school. &nbsp;We lament in their sadness and struggles and celebrate in their achievements and joys. We provide counseling to them about their horrific pasts and encourage them to forge ahead into the unknown with a 1000% better outlook than they had been given. &nbsp;</div>
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<div>It is their brokenness that leads them to lie to us and disobey. But does that make it ok? How much grace can you give to someone after they repeatedly lie to you and hurt you? &nbsp;And is grace more deserved if they hadn't had the chance to learn right from wrong or develop strong, positive character traits? &nbsp;How much of a person's past can you ignore to justify their current wrongdoings committed against you?&nbsp;</div>
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<div>Any insight would be greatly appreciated. &nbsp;&nbsp;</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Letter to our Donors: Think of yourselves as organ donors</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/5/14/letter-to-our-donors-think-of-yourselves-as-organ-donors.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/5/14/letter-to-our-donors-think-of-yourselves-as-organ-donors.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-05-14T12:32:00Z</published><updated>2012-05-14T12:32:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br/><div class="MsoNormal">April 12, 2012<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal">Dear Global Capacity Donors:</p><p>Many times in everyone’s life the request comes along to donate money for certain causes.&nbsp; Some people respond with a yes, others a no and maybe some others are sometimes. My husband and I have been missionaries now for six years and having been on the other side, words could never express what the word donor means. You know usually when you think of a donor we can think of an organ donor. An organ donor is one who gives their organs after they die or some even while still living for the purpose of another person to enjoy life in a better way. Think of yourselves in the same way.</p><p>Someone who donates their organs is sacrificing something of their own personal being for the betterment of another. Here in Rwanda, as A Voice for Rwanda, partnering with Global Capacity, you the Global Capacity Donor does just that…..you sacrifice to give us life here in a better way.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/>The students you sponsor are all part of the programs we do in working with the families or the individual student. We could NEVER do it without you. You have no idea how your donations contribute&nbsp;to the well-being of each individual student and their families. Living here on a daily basis we see the struggle of life. Global Capacity is a different kind of sponsor. The provision for the students’ needs besides school fees is unique. It reflects the care about them as a person. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/>For me, Mama Muto, who so many times previous to having Global Capacity come alongside and sponsor&nbsp; the students we work with would dread each time a student would come with a need. I started to hate hearing my voice having to say sorry we do not have the money, or maybe next time. Global Capacity has allowed me to function not in dread or fear but more in peace knowing&nbsp;the funds are there if they get sick, needing transport of going to and from school, personal items, boxes of metal they can put their belongings in so it locks, shoes and sportswear.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/>We are forever grateful to Global Capacity who is our organ donor. By your sacrifice you have made our lives and the students’ lives better.&nbsp; We receive all the hugs as we are the ones here physically with them. We share with them their good times, sad times, challenging times and can help them grow physically, spiritually, emotionally and socially.&nbsp; You have allowed us to be able to walk out in all these areas. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/>On behalf of myself, my husband Les (Papa Muto) and Michael &nbsp;(Global Capacity Program Assistant) we thank you with our whole hearts. We send you all the hugs from all the students. Even today, one young girl Cadette completed her application as Global Capacity will be paying her fees for vocational school. There is no way to describe how jubilant she was when she left. The one word that I could use to describe what your donations mean to each every student would come down to the word HOPE.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal">Blessings to each and every one of you,<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yvonne (Mama Muto) -&nbsp;<o:p></o:p><a href="http://www.right2school.org/a-voice-for-rwanda/">http://www.right2school.org/a-voice-for-rwanda/</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Global Capacity News, May 2012: My Dad Was Shot To Death By Robbers</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/5/8/global-capacity-news-may-2012-my-dad-was-shot-to-death-by-ro.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/5/8/global-capacity-news-may-2012-my-dad-was-shot-to-death-by-ro.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-05-08T19:08:00Z</published><updated>2012-05-08T19:08:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br/><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Student Spotlight: Cadette<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><img align="left" alt="cadette" border="0" height="200" hspace="6" src="http://go.energycap.com/l/5792/2012-05-07/bdk77/5792/69566/mamamuto_photo_001_copy.jpg" title="cadette" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="163" /><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Cadette’s dreams are beginning to come true thanks to the support of Global Capacity. Cadette is in her early twenties and only had the opportunity to complete school up to the 6th grade. She has had a difficult life. She was brought up in Tanzania and she survived war at the time she lived there. She is not without pain as she can remember the painful day her father was shot to death by robbers. She came to live with relatives in Rwanda, including her mother. Due to poverty her mother was not able to give her the things she needs. She is now part of a girls' home for older orphans and vulnerable young people. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">With the help of Global Capacity, Cadette actually had a choice for the first time in her life regarding her future and schooling. She could choose to try to complete school starting at the 7th grade or go to Vocational School. She chose to begin a one-year program in Vocational School for hotel management. She has a mixture of emotions at this time of joy, fear, excitement and of everything else ahead of her. She began the program late however the school is giving her extra tutoring to catch her up. She did not want to postpone any longer a chance for the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">She has to pinch herself in believing every morning she is on her way to school. Global Capacity’s sponsorship gives her all she needs to be a good student and to feel good about herself. There are no worries of how her fees will be paid, how she will continue to have transport, notebooks or internship requirements. All of these are paid by Global Capacity so the only worry Cadette has is to study and to pass. This is a luxury for most students to have these worries eliminated. She thanks Global Capacity with her whole heart.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Noteworthy News&nbsp;</span></b><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">CNN aims at telling inspiring stories through its CNN Photos, using photography as the narrator. A recent story depicted the aftermath of the 1994 Genocide, focusing on the essential themes of love and reconciliation. The article <a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/roys-all-evilE28099--hpt-hp-c2/bfdzq/406599901" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a94db; text-decoration: none;">Love is a weapon to destroy evil</span></a> tells of the profound experience of forgiving and then loving those who have wronged us. Who better to do that than Gasperd, whose brother was killed by a man named Innocent. They both now stand arm-in-arm in reconciliation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">May 1 was Labour Day in Rwanda. &nbsp;The nation celebrates the holiday to remember and honor the countless workers who have helped Rwanda develop into what it is today. &nbsp;President Kagame gave an address to the citizens, which noted that 125,000 Rwandans enter the job market every year.&nbsp;<a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/ews-index-php-i-ampa-53120/bff12/406599901" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a94db; text-decoration: none;">Read more of his words</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Subscriber Sound-off&nbsp;</span></b><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">A recent editorial in Rwanda's<em>New Times</em> newspaper discusses how Rwanda's traditional education system seemed to favor the academic disciplines of science and mathematics over art and literature. &nbsp;In </span><em><span style="color: #4a94db; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/s-index-php-a-53126-ampi-14980/bff1d/406599901" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a94db; text-decoration: none;">Where are our cultural creatives?</span></a></span></em><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">, author Diana Mpyisi notes "As a country, we are known for inventing unique, home-grown solutions, which in the beginning usually baffles the world and later received global praise. Why can’t we do the same with our educational system and, unlike the global educational trends that focus on mathematics and science, place equal emphasis on art and design, as well as subjects in the humanities?"&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><strong><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We want to hear from you!</span></strong><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> What academic discipline do you think is most important in helping an extremely poor country to grow and flourish? See the question on our </span><span style="color: #0084a9; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/lobalcapacity/bfdy2/406599901" target="_blank"><span style="color: #4a94db; text-decoration: none;">Facebook page</span></a></span><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">&nbsp;and tell us<strong> NOW!</strong>&nbsp; &nbsp;</span><br/><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br/></span><br/><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Newsletter Signup</span><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">:&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.right2school.org/newsletter_signup/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">http://www.right2school.org/newsletter_signup/</span></a></b></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>2011 Donor Reception Presentation</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/13/2011-donor-reception-presentation.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/13/2011-donor-reception-presentation.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-04-13T13:11:00Z</published><updated>2012-04-13T13:11:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br/><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><b>The following is the presentation given by Matthew Heinz at Global Capacity's Donor Reception, honoring our 2011 donors.</b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">"Good evening everyone.&nbsp; </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">When I was in Rwanda this past August the importance of what we are doing really hit home to me and I felt an enormous burden in my heart for our cause.&nbsp; I wrote about it in my blog and chances are you are not part of the 69 people who read it, so here you go:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><u><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><a href="http://globalcapacity.org/2011/08/one-room-five-people.html" target="_blank">Aug 17, 2011</a></span></u><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">. Today we visited six of our students' homes for the purpose of learning more about them and meeting their families. It's one thing to see a photo of these kids sent in an email. Up until this past week that had been my reality with most of the students. I had not met them yet. I read about them - their grade in school, what they want to be when they grow up, their hobbies. There is nothing quite like meeting them in person, seeing them in flesh and blood, and celebrating the big smile on their face because of what you have done for them. It's a much more profound experience.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">Going into their homes today was my favorite part of the trip so far...as well as the most challenging. It put my knowledge of the students way past what I had known about them previously. Sure, it was extremely difficult to see the living conditions and gave me a greater understanding and respect for what we are doing.&nbsp;</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-atvZOsMSGx0/T4gh-PmplUI/AAAAAAAAPN8/SOgXceD-iLk/s1600/IMG_1084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-atvZOsMSGx0/T4gh-PmplUI/AAAAAAAAPN8/SOgXceD-iLk/s320/IMG_1084.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">For example, in the first home we visited lived two of our students, grateful that we had the time to stop by.&nbsp;</span></i></div><i style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">The two boys live with their widowed mother and two younger brothers. And all five of them live in a one-room house. We sat on their mattresses since there was no other furniture. They had their clothes hanging from the ceiling, with no place to put a dresser or closet. The mother was not ashamed about the conditions we had&nbsp;</span></i><br/><i style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">walked into, but rather thankful to have us there and&nbsp;</span></i><br/><i style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">to&nbsp;</span></i><i style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">be putting her sons through secondary school.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span></i><br/><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-FCPj2p4iWXg/T4giBTvNbuI/AAAAAAAAPOE/ItUS7IipRpI/s1600/IMG_1091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-FCPj2p4iWXg/T4giBTvNbuI/AAAAAAAAPOE/ItUS7IipRpI/s320/IMG_1091.JPG" width="320" /></a><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-tSVeMtLqcYk/T4giIu5dDXI/AAAAAAAAPOU/xpDCDsqGz2U/s1600/IMG_1170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-tSVeMtLqcYk/T4giIu5dDXI/AAAAAAAAPOU/xpDCDsqGz2U/s200/IMG_1170.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">At another house we talked with a father about how he was retired and using his pension to pay for his son's schooling.&nbsp;</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-Hm0iIpdvh2M/T4giG9l00LI/AAAAAAAAPOM/J6RAYco9PZ0/s1600/IMG_1076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-Hm0iIpdvh2M/T4giG9l00LI/AAAAAAAAPOM/J6RAYco9PZ0/s200/IMG_1076.JPG" width="200" /></a><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">The pension ran out and he had no other source for payment. His wife had to move far away to live with relatives with a plot of land for gardening. She sends the little money she makes on occasion. Yet, this wasn't enough. I had tears in my eyes as he described the joy he has that his son is once again getting an education.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">It was story after story from one home to the next. The living conditions were much worse than I could imagine. There were mattresses on dirt floors, piles of clothes hanging from doors, and holes in the tin roof that would leak during a rain. These folks are the poorest of the poor in the village. They have hopes and dreams for their children, just like any other parent does. They want to see them succeed in school, so they can get jobs and make fulfilling lives for themselves.<span class="apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="line-height: 200%;"><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span class="apple-converted-space"><br/></span></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">Our scholarships enable the children to go to school and begin to stop the cycle of poverty in their life. Hopefully one day our students will live in a house that has more than one room, or a bedroom with a bedframe and concrete floors, or a roof that doesn't leak.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">&nbsp;</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Helvetica&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><br/></span><span style="background: white; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">The next time you are sitting in a room in your house or work, think about five people living in it. It will bring the situation of our students' families into a new light and help you understand the need for our Right2School scholarships."<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">It’s very encouraging to see the group of people here together with the common&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">purpose of supporting and giving to Global Capacity.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">You have a lot of other&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">commitments going on in your lives and we appreciate your taking the time to let&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">us celebrate you.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">I don’t care about the dollar amount that you gave last year –&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">whether it was $100 or $1,000 – I just care that you gave.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">In Rwanda, where&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">77% of the population is living in extreme poverty, every penny counts.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">One&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">thing we want you to get out of tonight is that we value and honor you for not only&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">your financial commitment in 2011 but also for your support.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">I hope you have&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">enjoyed the food, drinks, and conversation so far.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">You’ll have to thank the other&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">half of the donors who weren't able to make it tonight because that means more dips in the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">chocolate fondue for you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Stats in Rwanda:</span></div><ul style="color: #111111; font-family: Helvetica, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; list-style-type: square; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 2em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><li>About 50% of the population of Rwanda is under the age of 18.</li><li>There are 860,000 orphans among the population, ages 0–17 years-old<span style="font-size: 13px;">(Source: Unicef)</span></li><li><span class="style1"><span class="blue">30,000</span>:</span>&nbsp;the number of child-headed households&nbsp;<small>(Source: Unicef)</small></li><li><span class="style1"><span class="blue">10%</span>:&nbsp;</span>the percentage of children ages 13–18 years-old enrolled in secondary school&nbsp;<small>(Source: Economic Development &amp; Poverty Reduction Strategy 2008-2012, Rwanda Gov't)</small></li><li><span class="style1"><span class="blue">$350</span>:</span>&nbsp;the average cost of one year of secondary school fees</li><li><span class="style1"><span class="blue">$370</span>:&nbsp;</span>the average annual income&nbsp;<small>(Source: USAID Rwanda)</small></li><li><span class="style6">90%</span><span class="style5">:</span>&nbsp;the percentage of the population whose occupation is&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subsistence_agriculture" style="-webkit-transition-duration: 0.3s; -webkit-transition-property: all; border-bottom-color: rgb(20, 53, 161); border-left-color: rgb(20, 53, 161); border-right-color: rgb(20, 53, 161); border-top-color: rgb(20, 53, 161); color: #303330; text-decoration: none;">subsistence farming</a></li><li><span class="style1"><span class="blue">77%</span>:</span>&nbsp;the percentage of the population that falls below the international poverty line&nbsp;<small>(Source: Unicef)</small></li><li><span class="style1"><span class="blue">50%</span>:</span>&nbsp;the percentage of unemployed people who live in the village of Akindege&nbsp;</li></ul><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Those stats are why we are in business.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">In 2008 my boss came to me and said, “Matthew, I would like the company to start a nonprofit and want you to head it up. I give you free reign over what you want it to do.” I chose to start work in Rwanda because of a trip I took there the year before.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">I saw the potential in the youth, who had been dealt a different and less privileged hand than me.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">I didn’t see myself as any better than these poor people, just as someone who God had chosen to be born among American parents.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">We do not choose where we are born and I didn’t want these kids to experience less than they should.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">I hate the concept of unmet potential, so Global Capacity seeks to help the kids improve their lives and exceed potential.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">We do so by providing scholarships that cover all expenses a student incurs while he or she is in school.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">We see the scholarships as a means of blessing our kids and their families with more than just school tuition.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">This is what we cover: <a href="http://www.right2school.org/scholarship-gifts/" target="_blank">Scholarship components</a>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-ct5gMVM3IaA/T4giU54XtYI/AAAAAAAAPOk/Mkmbv24_mhc/s1600/IMG_1288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-ct5gMVM3IaA/T4giU54XtYI/AAAAAAAAPOk/Mkmbv24_mhc/s320/IMG_1288.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Your support of Global Capacity means that more people in Rwanda will have&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">fuller and more meaningful lives.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Our students will be able to provide a better life&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">for their husbands and wives, kids and grandkids because of the education they are receiving now.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">What you are doing is changing these peoples’ legacies.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">At one point these students’ futures looked like that of their parents’ everyday routine: waking up in a one room house with no electricity at 5 am to walk a mile to the neighborhood supply, farming in the small family garden plot with the hope that it will provide enough food for the day, and cooking that food over a charcoal stove.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">With the help of your donation and support, the students are getting an education, thereby ensuring better jobs for themselves and more financial security.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">We are able to look their parents in their eyes and guarantee them that their son or daughter will have a better life than they did.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">That is something every parent wants to hear.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-wSx3ps785Tc/T4giP70_-3I/AAAAAAAAPOc/j8r_YR-_CLM/s1600/IMG_1324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-wSx3ps785Tc/T4giP70_-3I/AAAAAAAAPOc/j8r_YR-_CLM/s320/IMG_1324.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Our outlook is very high for the 2012 school year!&nbsp; One of the major changes for this year is an increase in the number of our scholarships.&nbsp; Because of your generous donations in 2011 we were able to add 12 students to our program, which means you are helping 40 students get a high school education this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Another change to the program is that every single one of our students is going to boarding school and sharing in that experience together.&nbsp; This was a leap of faith with our youngest students (in grades 7-9) this year because we didn’t know how the kids would react.&nbsp; Imagine being a 13 year-old and going off to boarding school for three months at a time, away from your parents and home.&nbsp; Well, our leap of faith ended up being a more positive change than we could have imagined.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/--x37QtoQtX4/T4giiPq_RMI/AAAAAAAAPO4/SX_eQMAaIE4/s1600/470596_10150729444779710_9562099709_8905667_768827029_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/--x37QtoQtX4/T4giiPq_RMI/AAAAAAAAPO4/SX_eQMAaIE4/s320/470596_10150729444779710_9562099709_8905667_768827029_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">The kids are rooming and taking classes together.&nbsp; They are getting better grades than ever before.&nbsp; Their parents are so excited and see the change in their children. They have formed a parents’ group to have regular contact with the school to stay informed and George is the representative.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Another change will enable us to care for our students better.&nbsp; We are in the process of implementing our student visitation schedule.&nbsp; We are making it our goal to visit each student in their boarding school three times/year, at least.&nbsp; This is a large task since our students attend 18 different schools, but it is important to us to check in with them to ensure they are thriving. An aspect of visitation will also be checking up on the student’s community service in their school.&nbsp; We are trying to instill a value of serving within our scholarship program, and are requiring for our students to identify a way they can serve their community.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We could not be doing our work without the help of our two staff in Rwanda –<a href="http://www.right2school.org/a-voice-for-rwanda/" target="_blank">Yvonne Parr</a> and <a href="http://www.right2school.org/michael-muvunyi/" target="_blank">Michael Muvunyi</a>.&nbsp; They live in the village of Akindege and see the families on a daily basis.&nbsp; Their work with the students are more than just doling out the supplies and paying the school tuition.&nbsp; Our program is about personal wholeness and healing for the students.&nbsp; Yvonne (and her husband Les) and Michael counsel with the students, helping them understand who they were created to be, and encouraging them to reach far beyond their potential.&nbsp; To help you understand exactly what we are doing, you need to see for yourself.&nbsp; So, here from Rwanda is….<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">[We had a phone call with Yvonne and eight of our students, who discussed the impact of our scholarships in Akindege. &nbsp;It was very powerful to have them on the call and hear directly from them how thankful they are for our work.[</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br/></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">Once again we thank you for your support in 2011. You are helping to change the lives of a village in Rwanda, one student at a time. We know that we could not have done this without you.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 200%;">&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><br/></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Genocide Memorial: In Memory of Jean Bosco's Parents</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/5/genocide-memorial-in-memory-of-jean-boscos-parents.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/5/genocide-memorial-in-memory-of-jean-boscos-parents.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-04-05T12:37:00Z</published><updated>2012-04-05T12:37:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Genocide Memorial: In Memory of Jean Bosco's Parents</b><br/><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(used with permission to share)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><br/><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Saturday, April 7 marks Genocide Memorial Day in Rwanda and kicks off the National Week of Mourning. It is a difficult week in which the nation remembers the horrific</span><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/istory-of-genocide-/9rlxq/374679631" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0084a9; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">1994 Genocide</span></a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">when close to 1 million people were killed in 100 days. Most of our students have parents and siblings who are among the victims and have scars that will last a lifetime, having witnessed unimaginable accounts of suffering and death. It is our responsibility to help them pick up the pieces. We want to share a story with you about one of our students, in his words:&nbsp;<span style="color: #58595b;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f9J7zs9N5rI/T32RvlG0rvI/AAAAAAAAPIY/ii34ui40QuY/s1600/121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-f9J7zs9N5rI/T32RvlG0rvI/AAAAAAAAPIY/ii34ui40QuY/s320/121.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/><i>"My name is Nsekuye Jean Bosco. I was born in Kigali in 1990. I am 22 years old and now in S-6 (12th grade). I lived with my brother and sister. We had a housekeeper who cared for us. My mother was a Christian. She was also a singer. My father worked with Rwandex and my mother was a businesswoman. I loved my mother so much. She used to tell me to attend Sunday School and follow up the Word of God. &nbsp;My father was not yet saved, but he loved us so much. We like to go with him to visit our grandmother. I lived with my parents very well.</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/>The problem&nbsp; became a genocide which started in our country when I was four years old. I remembered guns' noise in the night. I cried, but our father opened the door to our room and told us not to worry. &nbsp;In the morning many families escaped. We also escaped with others. We passed through many dead bodies. I was young, but when I think about what I saw, I feel that it was supernatural (like a dream). I saw people kill other people. I praise God because He protected us. We hid in empty houses and schools. One day when my father went to find food for us, they shot him. We waited him until someone came and announced his death to us. I don't know if the dogs ate him or what, I just don't know. We continued to be with our mother and other relatives. We started to ask ourselves how will we live. We saw death in front of us. We always prepared ourselves for death.</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br/>One day my mother took my young brother on her back, she wanted to go. I asked her where she was going. She did not want me to go with her. Instead she came back when I started to cry. But when I became asleep she went. Maybe she knew that she was going to die. After a long time I heard a burst like a shot of a heavy gun. &nbsp;After a short time I saw my elder brother came in with our young brother who was in two pieces. Then grandmother explained to us about about how they shot my mother who I loved so much. we continued to escape until we reached the Hotel of 1000 Hills (Hotel Des Mille Colline). Our grandmother said "Let's enter there".</i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The RPF (Rwanda Patriotic Front) met us there while we lived with the U.N. army. We continued to live in a very bad condition. To get some food was difficult. We drank water from a swimming pool. To get fresh water was like to see God's angel. None of us suffered from cholera. God protected us there. Then the RPF army told us to go back home, that our country is under control."</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/>Eighteen years later Jean Bosco is now completing his S-6 grade of school. Being sponsored by Global Capacity for these last two years has helped him tremendously. He is taking Computer Management section and will be working hard in the next trimester in defending his project (thesis). His topic to defend is "Utility and Utilization Using Email". His Global Capacity scholarship helps in the financing of his project and he is very happy. Having all of his needs met for school helps him study harder.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">He loves his school. They keep them busy with academics and sports. He is doing well in his studies although he is finding this last year much more difficult. As Jean Bosco grew from surviving the genocide and the years after he felt he had no hope. As people like Global Capacity behind him he is filled with hope as well.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When asked the question "Right now when you are sitting here, what do you think about hope for your future?" &nbsp;He says to them, " You wait, someday I will employ you". &nbsp;He has hope and is dreaming bigger things and trusting God to do great things. Jean Bosco stated "No one can dream for you, you must strive for it. He is moving forward&nbsp; and looking towards very good things." &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Yvonne Parr, our partner in Rwanda and co-founder of&nbsp;</span><a href="http://www.right2school.org/a-voice-for-rwanda/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">A Voice For Rwanda</a></div></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Student Spotlight: Jean Paul Nsengiyumva</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/5/student-spotlight-jean-paul-nsengiyumva.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/5/student-spotlight-jean-paul-nsengiyumva.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-04-05T12:20:00Z</published><updated>2012-04-05T12:20:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">STUDENT SPOTLIGHT<b>:&nbsp;</b></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">JEAN PAUL NSENGIYUMVA</b><br/><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-UJWuYXidOUA/T32NCbJQ_KI/AAAAAAAAPIQ/3SBMNsosGAc/s1600/127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s3.media.squarespace.com/production/1039322/17052494/-UJWuYXidOUA/T32NCbJQ_KI/AAAAAAAAPIQ/3SBMNsosGAc/s320/127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jean Paul is in S-6 (12th grade) this year and is studying auto mechanics. This past year of school has been extremely difficult for Jean Paul as he has just been reunited with his siblings that had previously been in an orphanage. He is now the head of his home with much responsibilities on his shoulders. He has still chosen to go to Boarding School since it is his last year. It is difficult to begin in a new school when you are in your last year of school.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/>He is very thankful for his scholarship from Global Capacity and all that it offers. It helps him to know all his school needs are met and he can attend school in peace. He does very well in all his practical courses but needs to improve in the theory portion of auto mechanics. In this second trimester (to begin in May) he must present and defend his S-6 Project (like a thesis). His topic is " The Automatic Gear Box". His scholarship with Global Capacity relieves the pressure in having to come up with the money to pay for these type of materials. He needs to research the topic on the internet, photo copy research and then present it in a printed and bound booklet. This can be an expensive project and he is thankful for the support he is receiving.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/>Jean Paul enjoys the school he is in even though it is far away from where he lives. He is hoping to obtain his driver's license after school is completed. This is crucial for most students of mechanics and is helpful in obtaining a job. &nbsp;The second trimester will be busy in research for his project and the third trimester (to begin in September) he will be busy due to studying for his national exams. He must pass his national exam in order to receive a diploma. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br/></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Yvonne Parr, our partner in Rwanda and co-founder of <a href="http://www.right2school.org/a-voice-for-rwanda/" target="_blank">A Voice For Rwanda</a></span></div></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>You could help us win $2,500!</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/2/you-could-help-us-win-2500.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/4/2/you-could-help-us-win-2500.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-04-02T17:51:00Z</published><updated>2012-04-02T17:51:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br/><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">You could help us win $2,500! </span></strong><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We are participating in </span><span style="color: #0084a9; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/2012-04-02/9nytd/371325861" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0084a9; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Jumo's Welcome to Good Challenge</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">, which is a contest in which organizations submit ideas about doing good and the general public votes on the best one. &nbsp;The organization with the most number of votes at the end receives a grant of $2,500 toward their idea.</span><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;">We think what we are doing in Rwanda is pretty darn good and should be considered. We submitted our Right2School program as our idea, which&nbsp;provides secondary school scholarships to extremely poor children in Rwanda. &nbsp;Education helps to change the cycle of poverty and promotes community development and improvement. &nbsp;A grant of $2,500 would enable us to send three more kids to secondary school for one year.</span><!--\span--><o:p></o:p></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.0pt;">All we are asking from you is to consider voting for our idea. &nbsp;Please take a moment and </span><span style="color: #0084a9; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/rojects-RIGHT2SCHOOL/9nytq/371325861" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0084a9; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cast your vote</span></a></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.0pt;">&nbsp;to help us win! Note that voting begins&nbsp;Tuesday, April 3&nbsp;at 3 PM EDT and ends on Tuesday, April 17 at 3 PM EDT. &nbsp;</span><o:p></o:p><br/><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.0pt;"><br/></span><br/>  <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">We look forward to your continued support of </span><span style="color: #0084a9; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.globalcapacity.org" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0084a9; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Global Capacity</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> and for lots of good to come in Rwanda!</span></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Global Capacity News, March 2012</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/3/20/global-capacity-news-march-2012.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/3/20/global-capacity-news-march-2012.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-03-20T14:38:00Z</published><updated>2012-03-20T14:38:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Student Spotlight: Isaac</span><br/><div style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><img align="left" alt="GC Students" border="0" height="200" hspace="6" src="http://go.energycap.com/l/5792/2012-03-20/8z9zw/5792/63276/IMG_1325.JPG" title="GC Students" width="267" />Name: Issac</div><div style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Grade: Secondary 5</span></div><div style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Issac is progressing very well. When we first met with him at the beginning of the year we were impressed with his humble attitude and his desire to continue school. He had previously attended school in Secondary 5 (S-5) in construction. He wanted so badly to continue with school but had no sponsor. He had failed in S-5 and was trying to go to another school where he knew the headmaster and thought he could skip to S-6. We advised him we would not do that and encouraged him to repeat. Usually students have difficulty in this because they feel they have failed those who love them.&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 11pt;">He impressed me because he rode his bicycle to school which was a long way. He never once asked for transport and was thrilled when he found out it was part of his scholarship.</span></div><div style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">As he walks by the office tall, thin and his chiseled face containing his beautiful smile he always stops in to say hi. Since construction comes with technical drawing he was discouraged one day since he did not have the materials he needed. We discussed all these things and we were able to purchase the drawing materials he needed. Again his appreciation is expressed in that beautiful face of his and the smile! He is busy studying for exams. He is happy and feels he will do well on his exams. The school trimester ends at the end of this month. He lives with ten others in his household which is challenging. He is very thankful for Global Capacity and what it has done for him. Issac speaks some English and applies himself . He has attended the English classes and tutoring. He has shown to take every initiative in what is offered.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Our Youngest Students Get Boarded&nbsp;</div><div style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Due to a change in our program for our youngest students, the Secondary 1 to 3 (equivalent to Grades 7 to 9) students have moved to a boarding school. This means throughout the year they will be living at the school for three months at a time and then have a month vacation at home. &nbsp;Although it may sound difficult for a 13 year-old to handle, the children and their parents are "extremely thrilled" for it. &nbsp;The 18 students are rooming together and establishing a close connection of shared experience together. &nbsp;</div><div style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Our partner overseeing our operations in Rwanda, Yvonne Parr notes the positive change: "This will definitely help us in establishing relationship, visitation and helping the kids scholastically since we can become familiar with the grading system, expectations etc. This school and the other [the S4-6 next door] are the easiest to communicate, meaning that when we call there is someone who answers the phone."&nbsp;</div><div style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 15px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Since they moved to the boarding school on February 13, the students have been thriving. &nbsp;&nbsp;For some it is their first time away from home so it was difficult.&nbsp;Yvonne and Michael (our staff member) have visited the school multiple times to make sure things were ok. We have put a procedure in place with the school and with the students' parents, wherein a parent representative (George) speaks for the others. It is now exam-time, which is ok for them because they love the academics. It is a much better school than what they were in. In their spare time they play soccer, sing and visit with friends.</p><p><b>Question: Does our youngest students' success at boarding school surprise you?</b></div></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Global Capacity News, February 2012</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/2/1/global-capacity-news-february-2012.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2012/2/1/global-capacity-news-february-2012.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2012-02-01T16:07:00Z</published><updated>2012-02-01T16:07:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br/><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 100.0%;"> <tbody><tr>  <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in;"></td>  <td style="padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 375.0pt;" valign="top" width="500"><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 12.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">February 1 is National Heroes’ Day in Rwanda!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><img align="left" alt="Right2School" border="0" height="199" hspace="6" src="http://go.energycap.com/l/5792/2012-01-31/7wb47/5792/57636/hero_photos.png" v:shapes="_x0000_s1026" width="265" /><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">National   Heroes’ Day was created for the opportunity to reflect about and pay tribute   to the past and present heroes of the nation. We believe that our students   will one day be heroes themselves because of the community development they   will foster as a result of their education. &nbsp;In honor of the holiday we   asked some of our students who their heroes are and why:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Esther: "My hero is my grandmother, she brought me up and   gives me good care and advice."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Eric: "My hero is my father who brings me up in a good way."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Pacifique: "My hero is Global Capacity because it pays   for my school fees and all school requirements."<o:p></o:p></span><br/><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br/></span><br/><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Jean   Claude: "My hero is my brother and sister who look after me daily."</span></div><o:p></o:p><br/><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;">Manasseh:   "My hero is God who provided me donors. Without them I would be in a bad   situation."&nbsp;</span><br/><o:p></o:p><br/><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We   are launching an effort for you to deliver a video message to our students   about your heroes:</span><o:p></o:p><br/><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #58595b; margin-top: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Go to our <a href="http://go.energycap.com/e/5792/lobalcapacity/7ww88/310685417"><span style="color: #4a94db; text-decoration: none;">Facebook        page</span></a> and upload a video answering the two questions: “Who is        your hero and why?”<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #58595b; margin-top: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Videos should be no longer than one minute in length<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #58595b; margin-top: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Videos need to be uploaded by February 14 at Midnight        ET<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #58595b; margin-top: 11.25pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The videos will be entered in a drawing to win a $100        VISA gift card<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 15.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Important Changes to Right2School Program<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">2012 brings some exciting changes to the Right2School Program!   &nbsp;At this time we have&nbsp;added nine more students to the program,   enabling 37 children the opportunity to get an education and be better   equipped for community development. &nbsp;We expect to add three more   students soon. Our scholars attend a total of 17 different schools across the   country. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #58595b; margin-top: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">15 students are in grades Secondary 1-3 and attend        our after school program of lunch and tutoring<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #58595b; margin-top: 11.25pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">22 students are in grades Secondary 4-6 and attend        boarding school<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We have also added the option of vocational (trade) school for   students who so desire. &nbsp;Vocational school lasts between nine months and   three years and allows the students to specialize in a concentration,   enabling some to get jobs quicker. &nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 3.75pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 11.25pt;"><span style="color: #58595b; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It is our hope to provide everything our students need while   in school, which is why we offer holistic scholarships. &nbsp;This year we   are giving them even more, to ensure they don't have anything else to worry   about but their studies. Visit our website to learn more!&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div></td> </tr></tbody></table></div></p>]]></content></entry><entry><title>Thank you to our recent volunteers!</title><id>http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2011/10/7/thank-you-to-our-recent-volunteers.html</id><link rel="alternate" type="text/html" href="http://globalcapacity.org/blog/2011/10/7/thank-you-to-our-recent-volunteers.html"/><author><name>Matthew Heinz</name></author><published>2011-10-07T19:43:00Z</published><updated>2011-10-07T19:43:00Z</updated><content type="html" xml:lang="en-US"><![CDATA[<p><div><b>Phew! We have had a busy few weeks!  Global Capacity wishes to thank the following volunteers for their hard work and assistance over the past few weeks.  They have served in many ways in the following areas:  redesigning our website, creating our Gift Brochure, preparing for or helping at </b><b>our Open House, </b><b>running our Silent Auction, preparing for and serving at our African Marketplace, revising our scholarship applications, designing activity booklets for elementary school, or speaking to 3rd and 4th graders about us.  We could not have done this without you! THANK YOU!</b></div><div><br/></div><div>Lois Abdelmalek<div>Kristen Arnold</div><div>Sarah Bailey</div><div>Emily Burns<br/><div>Corrie Clark</div><div>Lucas Corish</div><div>Mandy Cruz</div><div>Allison Dower</div><div>Sonia Felker</div><div>Kendra Gettig</div><div>Matt Gross</div><div>Theresa Heinz </div><div>Ben Henderson</div><div>Jonathan Hetler</div><div>Curt Himmelberger</div><div>Sara Hoy</div><div>Hannah Ingram</div><div>Laurie Kellermeyer</div><div>Joe Knight</div><div>Todd Lawton</div><div>Enette Louw</div><div>Andrew Marker</div><div>Sara Marker</div><div>Joe Mayo</div><div>Matt McKinney</div><div>Mugisha Niyibizi</div><div>Thierry Nzigiye</div><div>Denny Rhule</div><div>Gloria Rhule</div><div>Barb Roan</div><div>Mary Steel</div><div>Lisa Thompson-Hess</div><div>Matt Yates</div></div></div></p>]]></content></entry></feed>
