CURRENT PROJECTS IN RWANDA
Since 2019, Rod and Sherri Wendorff (founder of Southern Alberta Society for High Andes Relief, nicknamed SHARPERU), have been working in Rwanda independently from their original projects in Peru. In the summer of 2024, they were able to combine these projects with SHARPERU, now under the umbrella of Elevate Hope International.
PIG & RABBIT BREEDING
Our pig and rabbit project has been a fun one. We provide a child with animal care classes and give them a rabbit or piglet to raise and breed. They learn many skills by taking care of these animals.
The goal is: The first 2 females from their litter are given to another poor family. This helps to create income for now another family as they repeat the pattern each time the pig or rabbit has new babies.
This has enabled over 100 children to buy uniforms and to go to school with the money from their animals, and also help contribute financially to their families.
SEWING PROJECT
We have a sewing school that is in the process of becoming a registered NGO.
There are 60 girls who were previously working as prostitutes to feed their babies, but are finding a better way of life by taking sewing and knitting classes on a rotation daily.
As soon as we are set up as a registered local NGO, they will be sewing uniforms for the schools in their community. We pay for the rent for the sewing school, purchased the machines, pay for 3 teachers, a security guard and an intermediary.
HELPING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES DIRECTLY
One of the most tragic situations we have found are very young homeless orphan children who we found living in drainage ditches. We have made it our goal to help them find families in the area who are willing to assist with their care. This one particular boy was found at 4 years old, living in one of the ditches. He never knew his parents. The older street boys said that his grandmother who once cared for him had died, and he went to live with neighbors who ultimately couldn’t feed him so he wandered away to the streets. When Sherri and her team met him, it was raining and he was cold, wet, crying and very hungry. Our team member in Rwanda took him in. This boy is now on the far right. He dreams of being a general in the army one day so he can always protect his family.
We now currently have 13 children in similar situations that we help to provide food, other basic needs and funds for them to go to school.
