Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Friends of Tubeho met our matching challenge of $3000, well before our goal of January 15! Your continued support makes a tremendous difference in the lives of the Tubeho scholars, and will allow them the opportunity to pursue their academic goals and dreams in 2012. On behalf of the Tubeho scholars and of the Friends of Tubeho board of directors, MURAKOZE CYANE and Happy New Year!
Here is a song written and performed by one of our Tubeho scholars, Elise. She expresses what it means to her to be able to study, and thanks all the donors of Friends of Tubeho. Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHM3hgHNs28
Elise’s song:
The God of whom I sing is the God of mercy.
Even in times of trouble, I will never forget what he does for me;
When I was hungry, you gave me food to eat
In times of trouble, you were my God.
When my enemies chased me and wanted to kill me, you saved me from death.
Many times, they wanted to take my life from me
I have had many problems, but you gave me good friends who supported me.
I can sing now, whereas I couldn’t do that before.
My God, I thank you for that and I thank my friends.
If you and my friends had not been there, I would never have achieved anything.
You are my best friend, Lord, and you proved that to me at Golgotha.
The God of whom I speak is the God of mercy,
The God of love, the God who can never disappoint me.
Among my friends who give me hope and the taste for life
I can never forget Alex Dauge-Roth and his family
I can never forget all of the Friends of Tubeho
all of the friends who supported me during difficult moments.
The unhappy, all vulnerable and wounded people
Come to him for protection.
The All-Powerful whom I name is the God of mercy
A God of love, God who never betrays.
We have raised $2,500 towards meeting our matching goal of $3,000 before January 15th! There has never been a better time to give.
Only $500 more to go!
An anonymous donor has offered to match gifts dollar for dollar — up to $3000 — between now and January 15, 2012. This means that if you renew your donation to Friends of Tubeho or make a new one between now and January 15st, your contribution will be worth twice as much.
So far, we have received $1000 in contributions towards our $3000 goal. There is no better time to contribute! Just click on “Donate” at the top of the page, or send a check to Friends of Tubeho, 933 High Street, Bath, ME 04530.
Murakoze cyane!
This month 20 members of Tubeho who are in the process to apply for FoT scholarship starting in 2012 are taking an English test. One the 11th of December, they passed the written test that focused on reading comprehension, grammar and written expression. On the 18th, they will pass an individual oral test. Their results will be a key factor in the selection process for the 6 new FoT scholars who will be able to start or resume their education next year since 6 FoT scholars are graduating in December 2011!
CONGRATULATION ALEXIS MUTIMUKUNDA
!!!
On December 6, 2011, Alexis just defended brilliantly his thesis in Economics, Science and Management works on “Analysis of Human Resource Management Procedures and its Contribution on the Performance of Serving and Credit Cooperatives in Rwanda.”
He passed with HONORS!!!
This January, I had the chance 
to go back to Kigali and to meet the members of Tubeho who are creating hand made cards with dried banana leaves. If you are interest to support them by buying some, please contact me via email at adaugero@bates.edu. These motives are just superb!
Here are some samples of the numerous traditional Rwandan motives Tubeho members are creating!
Elise Rida Musomondera (3rd Year in Sociology—ULK)
Elise has been a FoT scholar for the past three years and she has successfully passed her exams for the academic year 2010. She will soon start her final year in Sociology at the ULK (Free University of Kigali). In addition to her academic work, Elise has found the energy to open a small gift shop “ALOE Art Objects” in Kigali where she sells traditional Rwandan art objects and cosmetics. Her vitality and sense of entrepreneurship is a beautiful tribute to the transformative virtues of education. Elise thanks all FoT donors whose generosity helped her to open new expectations and paths for herself.
The Rwanda Convention Association Recognized the important work done by Friends of Tubeho in the area of education for orphaned survivors by attributing our president the “Friend of Rwanda” award for 2010. (Boston, May 2010)
RCA FRIEND OF RWANDA AWARD
Dr. Alexander Dauge-Roth
“We recognize the enormous impact Dr. Dauge-Roth has had on our country as the founder of the Friends of Tubeho Association and for organizing and hosting an international conference on the 1994 genocide in Rwanda at Bates College. We want to honor Dr. Dauge-Roth not only for the volunteer work he’s doing in Rwanda but also recognize the significant impact he’s had on his students as a professor over the past 10 years.”
For more information click here:
I am very happy to announce that Alex’s new book “Writing and Filming the Genocide of the Tutsis in Rwanda: Dismembering and Remembering Traumatic History” just came out with Lexington Books in the series “After the Empire: The Francophone World and Postcolonial France” (“African Studies • Literary Studies”)
Check it out on Amazon.com at the following link:
http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Filming-Genocide-Tutsis-Rwanda/dp/0739112295/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273284756&sr=1-11