Today was a very full but exciting day! We started the day early and went to the Milk Collection Centre to see the milk being received from the farmers. They deliver the day’s milk between 6am and 9am as that is the best time to collect before the sun and heat affect the raw milk. We watched the whole process from collection, to testing the milk for freshness, pasteurizing the milk, placing it in a vat for cool down to final packaging. The process is much more complex than that but, needless to say, we all learned quite a bit about milk processing. Video was taken of the whole process to document the workings of the center.
We discussed many things with the veterinarians and staff at the center especially how, once the center is at full capacity (receiving >1000 L of milk per day) the hope is that it will generate enough money to pay all the staff as well as have a profit where the proceeds will go towards the continued activities of the Food Security Program. We were very encouraged by what we saw and how well the Centre is working having only been open for 2 months. There are some challenges that will be faced in the next year but we do not doubt that this will be a successful endeavour.
While we were at the MCC, we were able to give them supplies that Rachael had brought from Canada. Felicien and Viateur were very excited to add them to their pharmacy.
We discussed many things with the veterinarians and staff at the center especially how, once the center is at full capacity (receiving >1000 L of milk per day) the hope is that it will generate enough money to pay all the staff as well as have a profit where the proceeds will go towards the continued activities of the Food Security Program. We were very encouraged by what we saw and how well the Centre is working having only been open for 2 months. There are some challenges that will be faced in the next year but we do not doubt that this will be a successful endeavour.
While we were at the MCC, we were able to give them supplies that Rachael had brought from Canada. Felicien and Viateur were very excited to add them to their pharmacy.
After the visit to the Milk Collection Centre we visited Murico Parish. This parish is led by a very enthusiastic and forward-thinking Pastor named Jean Bosco. We saw some significant changes with the Parish including new Chapels being built and the planting of 5000 trees. The parishioners are seeing improvements in their animals’ health and production.
We had a lovely lunch and conversation with Pastor Jean Bosco, Peter the paravet and the Food Security Team.
We had a lovely lunch and conversation with Pastor Jean Bosco, Peter the paravet and the Food Security Team.
Our last stop for the day was to visit an association called KORANUMURABA which means “working with courage” in Kinyarwanda and that they are. Again, we felt an overall sense of hope and anticipation for a brighter future. They are well motivated and have made some positive changes since last year. Rachael encouraged them to continue that motivation and to share the knowledge that they have gained from Dr. Felicien and Felicien the paravet with others in the area.
After that we came home and had a few good conversations with friends that came to visit. Rachael tried doing laundry but Josephine (our Guardian Angel and preparer of food) laughed at Rachael’s attempts and kicked her out, finishing our laundry.
We are treated so well here by our Rwandan family. Maybe we will stay…………..
We are treated so well here by our Rwandan family. Maybe we will stay…………..