Written by: UWAMAHORO Jeanne d’Arc Sewing is an activity that is found at the Art Center at Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village. The Sewing Room makes clothing with their hands with needle and thread. Kids can study sewing in an Enrichment Program for six months, and then go on to study in the sewing club. In the club, participants study for a year and create book bags for other students to use at school. Family mothers lead both activities. Upon entering the sewing club, I was amazed by the nice bags that were found there and began to interview one of the members about her work. Chartine discussed how she sews bags and sometimes even clothes, and that the bags are given to students. Every big bag costs fifteen thousand francs and the small bags are only two thousand. When Chartine sees a finished product that she has created and that has high value it makes her very happy and encourages her to work hard in order to make more bags. This young lady said that for her to know how to sew is empowering, like having a weapon that she can use to fight for her future. After studying in Agahozo-Shalom, Chartine will make her own sewing business and be able to employee many people.

She will not need to buy clothing or bags because she will be able to make them herself. Chartine has developed good plans from what she has learned in sewing, and she wants to develop her career with these talents. “Needle and thread will be the weapon I can use in the fight for being successful”

In This Edition’s Newspaper: 1. Chartine Sews to Success 2 Isheja Dance Troupe

3 Stars at ASYV 4 Victory in Female Sports

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Chartine Sews Her Way to Success In ASYV Sewing Club  

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Get to Know the Stars at ASYV

Written by: UVUITONZE Innocente Isheja is a family, which is composed of three groups, dancers, singers, and support team. There are around 25 dancers both boys and girls, seven sing and about five support. Everyone attends practice as usual, so that the group can become the first troupe in the country. It is all about knowing how to dance very well, so that the students may be able to win small rewards to support themselves. The Isheja group is continuously improving in many things, not only in dancing, but also even in understanding our culture. Vice President of the Isheja group, Irebe

Interview with Merci from Isheja Dance Troupe Written by: Bella Honorine 1. During this second term, your team went up against some of the best dance groups in the district. How was the competition? In brief, the competition went well, even though we didn’t succeed in the way that we wanted to. 2. Which comments did the judge give you according to your performance? Actually the judge told us that we were pretty good, but of course there must be a winner. 3. Lastly, what do you think that you’re going to do in order to be the winners at the national competition? We are going to commit to more practices, so that we will be organized and well prepared. I believe that we will be the best!

Isheja Dance Troupe

Ange Bernice spoke of the team saying, “We have been faced with many challenges, which helped us to work hard and develop love. What we consider success is not being champions, but it is about doing what we are supposed to be doing very well, without mistakes and fulfilling our mission”

A Look Inside Agahozo-Shalom’s Isheja Dance Team

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Sharp Teeth Tears Up The Dance Floor

Written by: Mukeshimana Ines Slight P is an artist whose own name is Ishimuse Francais. He decided on the name Slight P because he likes P Fla from Tuff Gangs. He started his talent when he was 14 years old in P6. His first song is called Twihane, which he sang at ASYV with music producer and Cousin Max

Get to Know the Stars at ASYV Continued…

Performers

Rewak. He gets inspiration from his friends and their behaviors. I asked him his purpose in music and he told me that he wants to be the best singer in Rwanda. Slight P is also in a music group called Black Eagles, which includes Pachico and Cuse. In conclusion, Slight P advises that, “If someone goes confidently in the direction of their dreams, they will achieve more than they have ever imagined”

Slight P Pursues his Musical Passion

Written by: Irakozi Uwase Vanessa Sharp Teeth, a Modern Dance group at ASYV was founded in 2013 by Nick G and Ally. They founded the group because they both like to dance, so that is why they strive to increase their talent. After deciding on the name Sharp Teeth, they began selecting people who knew how to dance very well. They stay strong and have eight members.

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Success Continues in Girl’s ASYV Football Team

Written by: NGABONZIZA Libens 1. When did you start to play basketball? I began playing when I was nine years old 2. How are you preparing for the match on the 31st of May? How do you feel it will go? I’m going to work hard in order to make more experiences with my friends and family at ASYV, but this match will be difficult because we have a Mock exam on the first of June. 3. What do you want to be in your future? I want to become a businesswoman. 4. What are your hobbies? I enjoy watching movies and NBA matches, and sleeping. 5. Who is your favorite basket player in the world? His name is John Fon, a player from the Miami Heat.

 

Sports in ASYV

Written by Kabera Hussein  

During their last match, the Girl’s Football team won against Bicumbi with an exciting score of two to zero. She told The Sunlight Times

that her team was able to win by practicing commitment, being confident, and remembering the advice their coach gave before the match.

Vanessa is confident for their next upcoming match in the Semi-Finals, because she thinks her team has practiced well and has great potential.    

The Girl’s Football team has many fans because their team is strong. In the last days, I went to meet with Irakoze Uwase Vanessa, one of the team players, who is from Golda Mier family in Icyizere grade. She is 18 years old and began to play football in 2007 because of her sister’s encouragement. Vanessa has no problems on her team, although she wishes she could practice more, but she has to prioritize revising her school

Interview with Basket Player Germain

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Tribute to the Beginning of ASYV: Imbuto Graduating Class Written by: Assoumpta Uwineza

Back in 2013, Village Director JC Nkukiyimfura opened the second graduation ceremony in ASYV history by extending a warm welcome to distinguished guests, guardians, families, and staff in New York and at the Village. He went on to express how proud he was of every student, “Our graduates accomplishments are a reflection of a journey which began on December 12, 2010. They were young and they all

wanted to become doctors and lawyers, like every other kid who is still learning to find himself. Most were broken with very little hope in life. At Agahozo-Shalom, they have found love and embrace from family mothers, big brothers and sisters, volunteers, teachers, and people who work tirelessly for them to be strong and intelligent people, who will become agents of change in society. Today they express their thoughts, ideas, and dreams in ways we would not have imagined. Above all, they have grown to understand that it is very hard to have achievements when you do not have a vision and a sense of purpose. We are very proud to say that our graduates are ready to move on to the next step in life. They will embrace challenges and turn them into

opportunities. They are ready to make their community, their country, and their world a better place. Thank you for being with us to celebrate this great accomplishment!” The Foundation of Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village: ASYV Founder Anne Heyman created the Village in 2009, as a place where young people learn to “dry their tears” (Agahozo) and live in peace (Shalom). The Mission of ASYV is to enable orphaned and vulnerable youth to realize their maximum potential by providing them with a safe and secure living environment, health care, education, and necessary life skills. Education and service are used to model and create socialy responsible citizens in Rwanda and around the world!

Thank you for reading!

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