The Elevation Project is a partnership between Greater Vancouver Youth Unlimited and Rwanda Youth For Christ. We have committed in the beginning to find donors for 50 kids in one of the poorest neighborhoods of Kigali so that they can have hope for the future through and education. After those 50 there are 50 more and then 50 more. The more sponsors we can find, means more children getting an education which means more hope for the future.
Elevating Canadian and Rwandan Young People
In the summer of 2008 we took 34 young Canadians and leaders out to the Kigali Christian school to run a two week long youth event for over 250 children. It included a feeding program, fun events, sports, teaching, music and so much more besides. The team partnered with a similar group of Rwandan young people and together, they ran a program that served as a template for future teams and indeed, for youth work in Rwanda in years to come.
Those young Canadians also worked alongside the team from Rwanda YFC in major school renovation project, painting classrooms, installing equipment, making repairs and on numerous other needs around the school as well.
Alongside this, our team built four houses for widows and children who previously had lived in tiny one room huts in a nearby village, helping to stimulate a project that has resulted in a whole community of 42 homes being built.
We also provided funds for job skills training and micro enterprise funding for these and other women, in order to elevate them and others that Rwanda YFC work with, out of desperation.
As if that was not enough, we had a touring team, led by musician and Evangelist Sam Rowland, who conducted concerts across the country, including two very moving events in prisons where he ministered to many who had been involved in the genocide of the 1990’s.
It was an amazing experience for all involved and our hope is that these young Canadians have come back to Canada changed, motivated and with a better understanding of what it means to be a good neighbor in a global village. We plan on more events like this in the future so stay tuned!
