Day 14 - Ejo Habo Cooperative

July 23, 2018

Our last full day in Rwanda was a very special one.

We drove two and a half hours south to the Ejo Habo ("Their Tomorrow") Cooperative, a community of orphans cared for by Justin's mother, Julian. Ever since Justin was a child, Julian has taken in orphans and made them part of their family - even though she didn't have the means to support her own 6 children at times. Justin estimates she has cared for 200 children over the last 25 years.

Currently, there are 21 orphans (ages 3 to 23) at Ejo Habo. Thanks to our Student Sponsorship program, all of them are in school and have devoted sponsors (except for the little ones who are still too young). An official cooperative, Ejo Habo's president is a determined young woman named Odilla, who is a college student sponsored by our very own Janet.

Pulling up to the beautiful Ejo Habo house (built for Julian and the kids by Goats for Life), we were greeted by 18 beaming young dancers, wearing handmade paper crowns which read "We Love You!" and "Welcome Visitors". Not all of the kids were able to get the day off from school, but we were overjoyed to see the ones who did!

Once inside, Odilla eloquently spoke to us about life at Ejo Habo, and their dreams for the future. The kids cooked a yummy lunch for us all to enjoy together and presented us with colorful necklaces and beaded bracelets. Then it was our turn! We brought bags of clothing, toys, inflatable globes, framed photos of the kids, reusable menstrual pads, and passed out sponsor letters to the students.

Violet, one of the older girls, requested we all join in a special game they had prepared for us. A combination of Simon Says, Duck Duck Goose, and Musical Chairs (but without the chairs), we had great fun playing this cute little game, which was centered around hugging! The game was meant to represent the love and respect the members of Ejo Habo have for each other.

We toured the house and went outside to see the co-op's pig farm, named "Ellen's Pig Farm" by World Dance supporter Kathy Bart. So many adorable, squealing baby pigs - such a productive enterprise!

To conclude our visit, we trekked a few miles down the road and up a steep hill to see the goat farm. There, we met Jean Bosco (photo: third row from the bottom, on the left) who tends to all the animals and farming at the co-op. Supported by World Dancer Marcia Warrecker, Jean Bosco is paid a monthly stipend for his work, but he's more than just a farmhand - he's become part of the family. He even sleeps in a little shack up with the goats!

We descended the hill, and bid farewell to the students before getting on the bus for the last time.

Seeing these students as exemplary young leaders and hearing their excitement for the future left a deep impression on us all - especially knowing none of them would have made it had it not been for the kindness and courage of Julian. No wonder Justin is the way he is! The humanity this family displays is exactly the antidote our world needs.

Tomorrow, we pack our things, head to the airport, and begin the long journey home...