This spring, Tufts University President, Anthony Monaco, announced that Sara Willner-Gweric, who worked to create the MGS STEM MakerSpace, is a 2020 recipient of the Presidential Award for Civic Life. Each year this award recognizes undergraduate and graduate students from across Tufts University for outstanding achievement in community service and community leadership.

Congratulations to Sara for this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your hard work and contributions!

We want to thank you for the outpouring of support for those in the Maranyundo community experiencing hardship during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite school closures across Rwanda, your ongoing support enables teachers to continue to be paid, provides devices and Internet access for MGS students to continue learning and connecting with teachers and friends, provides food and basic needs to families unable to work, and sends a message of solidarity and hope.

We wanted to share an update on what life is like at the Maranyundo Girls School. This update came to us from Sister Ann Fox who had traveled to Rwanda in February, just prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, and until recently was at the school with Sister Laetitia.

As anticipated, the Government announced some easing of the strict lockdown measures, enabling some activities to resume while continuing to enforce Covid-19 preventive measures including hand hygiene, social distancing and wearing of masks in public. While some activities will be permitted to resume beginning Monday, May 4, it was announced that all schools will remain closed until September.

It was wonderful to see the girls “step up” and explain the LEGO building and recyclable activities on the first floor. It was amazing to hear students like Leslie (S-4) and Sonya (S-5) explain and demonstrate the 3-D printer process. Other students explained the COSMO robotics, Makey Makey and other electronics.