Mwaramutse (good morning)

This is a photo of the street I'm staying on, with Nicolette's house through the gate on the right. This image is reflective of many streets in Kigali. Whilethe main roads are wide and paved, but side streets and many residential areas are tracks like this, where cars often seem to get stuck. They aren't helped by the fact that Kigali is built over a series of quite steep hills (visible in the background), which I spent much of today climbing up and down.

Today was another introductory day. I went with Ezraz to see the Umubongo house for boys, and the house for girls. rYico provides them with support, advocacy, skills training and fulll education fees, as well as trying to reintegrate children into their families when appropriate. The approach they take emphasis patience and a holistic outlook, trying - and often succeeding - to cover everything to make sure the children have a better future.

These visits also provided the focus for my particular fundraising project. The houses are separated by a significant distance from each other, and from the office, and as they are rented their condition isn't great and the rent increases every year. Last year, the Centre bought land for their own property, to house all the projects, and the next 6 months will be about laying the groundwork to raise the necessary money (£50,000-£100,000) to build the perfect place. Tomorrow that begins in earnest.