How are you? Are you making the most of the new found freedom and meeting up with family and friends? It feels strange being reunited with people after so long apart. And even stranger thinking about the people and places we still can’t visit. But this is where Taking Pictures, Changing Lives really comes into its own strength. As our team grows we are well positioned to assist charities and organizations who are still restricted by travel. Recently Bizi was able to visit Hand in Hand Development in Rwanda 6 months on from his last visit to report on the impact of their projects. He’s taken 6,000 photographs that are being edited ready for them to use! HAND IN HAND FOR DEVELOPMENT Hand In Hand for Development (HIHD) promote the wellbeing of communities living in economically difficult situations - orphans, unemployed youth, widows, and disabled people. Bizi visited a range of their economic empowerment, business skills and social inclusion projects… GRASSROOTS YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVES. Women and youth are major contributors to economic development in Rwanda, yet they face many problems related to a traditional culture that excludes them. HIHD’s economic empowerment project improves the social-economic wellbeing, income generation, production, and employment of single mothers,...

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The Rwandan NGO “Hand in Hand for Development” (short: HIHD) works to improve the living conditions of marginalised population groups and to (re)integrate them into society. Already 2019, the Lemonaid & ChariTea Foundation supported the organisation in promoting two youth and women’s cooperatives. Thanks to training in entrepreneurial skills and easier access to financial opportunities, the members of the cooperatives were able to increase their income and improve their quality of life and consequently their self-reliance. After a successful first year, the project is now being supported for another two years and the number of supported cooperatives is being expanded. Rwanda’s history is marked by the conflict between the country’s two largest population groups, the Hutu and the Tutsi. The conflict culminated in a tragic genocide of the Tutsi minority in 1994. Despite continuing tensions between the two groups, the country has made considerable progress on many levels in the recent years. Rwanda’s government has stabilised, successfully reduced corruption and ensured an economic upswing. In Africa, the country is considered a role model for economic modernisation. Nevertheless, Rwanda is still struggling with major socio-economic challenges. Almost 40% of the population still lives below the poverty line. In particular, the 70% who work in agriculture can hardly live from thei...

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I WAS HUNGRY YOU GAVE ME FOOD

I was hungry you gave me food ,I was in the jail you visited me it's in this way 250 vulnerable people said when they good right food at right time said .from the special initiative from NANCY STRACHAN AND Lisebeth Riis Cooper all those families get food in this critical situation of COVID 19 .Here over 85% relay on their daily work this lock down affected them extremely and we have once case where one of our beneficiary had been killed while he went to steal banana now its hard situation here .in these 250 families 80 are the families living with albinism disabilities 130 are Twa families and the rest are the poorest families at this round every family get (Rice,beans,oil,salt,cabbages and a bar of soap) .and in NYARUSUKU TWA VILLAGE HAND IN HAND FOR DEVELOPMENT teach people how to install the affordable wash station where 50 households have it in this time . Please friend we continue to beg for this community in this hard time these who have a good initiative please you can contact those two friend Nancy strachan or Lisebeth Riis Cooper your support will reach directly those in need . we have a target in this second step to raise $4500 this will help, the rest your donation will make better life in this time If you are financial secure, I hope that you will help. Any little bit helps Stay Home MURAKOZE CYANE

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY IN USA & CANADA.

I had an amazing mom who helped pursue my passion for international travel starting when I was 19. I went around the world on World Campus Afloat, a ship that took me to 35 countries before I was 20. My Mother’s Day images are from Rwandan art accumulated over last 13 years to honor the mothers everywhere but especially Rwanda. It’s been a terrible few weeks for moms there with coronavirus lockdown putting many of their vulnerable families on the brink of starvation. Tragically floods and landslides this week devastated many families, (75 people known to have died), homes, crops, and bridges...this is all in the midst of their annual 100 days genocide memorial April 7- July 4. Hold them in your prayers.

PERMAGARDENS CLASS

The foundation of my work in recent years in Mbyo, Rwanda, a place dear to my soul. What you see here is no ordinary work but paradigm shifting double dug Terra Firma Permagardens being taught by genius Peter Jensen in this Peace and Reconciliation village in Rwanda. What’s being created here is a radical kind of garden/water tank. The source for the water is a roof from a shed they built on the property a few days later. What is also being created is deepening community as people who were once enemies in the genocide work together for the common good. If people supported Permagardens in every rural household in every country world hunger and to some degree climate change would be hugely mitigated. I cannot do this alone. We’ve taught 70 communities but more are waiting. PM me if you can help. $350 provides teachings for 25 people who then teach others. No better way to end world hunger and stop handouts.

WOMAN’S SEWING CO-OP

Today we met with the woman’s sewing co-op. On my last trip, we offered to pay for three modern sewing machines, modern means motorized sewing machines. Within six month of having the machines, the co-op members not only make enough money to feed their families but they have also started a savings account and are able to put in $20/ month to buy more sewing machines. $20 may not sound like much but its HUGE. In Rwanda the average workers salary is $50/month. Many of their sewing projects are children’s school uniforms and book bags. On this trip we brought along a bunch of Simplicity sewing pattens to inspire them to branch into the craft market. Thank you Niyitegeka Patient for coordinating the visit and purchasing the sewing machines.

PROPAGATION OF PLANTS IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK!!

It is extremely satisfying to take cuttings. These were all taken last fall, most of them have now rooted. I have a bucket of water with willow branches soaking next to these and once a week I take a jar and pour some natural root hormone(from the soaking willow bark) to water the cuttings in. Here we have elderberry, dogwood, willow, wild rose, sonoma sage, fig, olive, mulberry, pitcher sage, indigo sage, perennial marigold, rose geranium, rosemary, and thyme. Also pictured are Black Locust started by seed. These were sitting in soil almost a whole year before germinating. Also there are some apricots started by seed in there. Bottom line is: plants are easier to propagate than it seems and they want to share in the abundance and the revegetation of our world. Work with plant allies and trust them to give back ten fold.

PREVENT MALNUTRITION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Prevent Malnutrition and climate change it's our task HIHD have a dream to make BURIMA a model village ,this village is located in Rwanda in Rubavu whereby malnutrition is high in the entire village kids 0-5 years are on the frontline this push HIHD to make a fruits trees forest this village by planting different trees such as avocados, mango ,etc. we have a target of planting 2,500,000 fruits trees in 5 entire villages NYARUSUKU 1200 fruits trees, NYANDOMVU 156 fruits trees, BURIMA 96,000 fruits trees, KAMEMBWE 384,000 fruits trees and BIHUNGWE 412,800 Fruits trees ,Mugongo 568,100 fruits trees Mahoko,245,500 Fruits trees ,Mutura 241,007 fruits trees ,Gihonga 245,000 fruits trees Butaka 285,458 fruits trees ,Buhoma 289,568 fruits trees and Nyamirama 589,568 fruits trees in 2 years ,but we can't afford this without your support please help us to make this happen by donating $5. these who have a good will please PM me or send email to strachanl@aol.com,handinhandfordevelopment@gmail.com

PARTNERING WITH LITTLE SUN FOUNDATION.

More Little Suns brought light and hope to Rwanda last year. Working with our partner Hand in Hand for Development, we brought clean solar light to students living with albinism so that they can play and study safely at home. These children are extremely vulnerable to toxic kerosene smoke and candles since they must spend the majority of their time inside to prevent skin damage and disease.