The construction site that we work at is on the very edge of the village right next to the gate so while were working, we always see people passing by. Most of them stop to watch us for a while and laugh because they think it’s interesting and funny that white people are doing low end, dirty work. They usually yell things through the gate and sometimes they ask for food or water. Whenever a group of little kids come to watch us, we usually go up to the gate and smile and shake their hands through the holes. They get so ecstatic and giggly when we do this which makes me so happy that a simple act like greeting the kids can make their day.  Yesterday, a little girl that was so skinny  her knee caps looked like they would fall out, came to the gate to meet me and I pulled out a piece of candy in my pocket and gave it to her. Her face lit up dramatically and she quickly ducked down, wrapped the gummy in her shirt, and protectively looked around to make sure no one else saw and went into a corner by a tree to secretly eat it. This, I thought, was so interesting because she knew that if other kids saw it, they would bombard her and try take it away. Even though she was only five or six, she instinctively guarded this candy. When she finished, she smiled at me thankfully and gave me a thumbs up. Even though giving her this is such a trivial, minor thing and in no way am I actually helping her situation, seeing the smile on her face reassured me that for just a minute or two, I am making this adorable child happy.

      One thing that I have learned here in terms of international development is that the most important thing in an organization to help poor, needy countries is sustainability. Giving money, clothing, and food to people will possibly help them for a couple of days, but once they run out, they are exactly where they started. We raised 10,000 dollars to come to Rwanda and instead of spreading it out to many different people, we invested it in the village that supports a group of 500 kids only. The reason why the village is so special is not only are they educating these kids so that when their time here is done they have knowledge and skills under their belt so they can grow up, be successful, and in turn be leaders of the country, but the leaders of the village who are American are teaching local Rwandans to do the job so that eventually, all the Americans can pull out and the village will be able to run smoothly with no outside help. Each position of leadership has an American and a Rwandan working together. The Americans job isn’t to do a task as quickly and efficiently as possible but it’s to make sure that the Rwandan understands how and why he/she is doing it. The village is also a goldmine for the surrounding villages because each day, around 50 or 60 workers come in for various building projects. Also they are starting to make businesses here like drying out fruit and exporting them and selling eggs and milk so they don’t have to rely on American donations and aid. Instead of just feeding tons of kids for a day, this village is focusing on a concentrated group and providing them with four years of comfort- food, therapy, family and a safe place to sleep, and building them up so they can have a promising future

A student named Benny