Would you be a mentor? a prayer partner?

by Jason Benedict
RCE Strategist

I began the day in a government office trying to come into agreement with a government official on the details of our upcoming graduation. After some debate we got it ironed out, and I believe we are on track now. It is amazing to me that we will be graduating the second batch of entrepreneurs at the beginning of May.

Speaking of graduates, I was encouraged by a conversation with one of our graduates last night. He has been working steadily to launch his business, a web portal/information service. There is very little in this regard specifically for Rwanda. He told me, “The site is up, can I meet with you and discuss my monetization strategy.” I know a little about this subject, but what he really needs in a mentor with some specific expertise in this area. It is our task to help connect him with such a mentor: someone who can answer a few emails – schedule a few skype calls, or even come here for a week, roll up their sleeves and help this entrepreneur make it. I hope that person is reading this blog. Another thing that most of our entrepreneurs have requested - even those who are not Christians – is a prayer partner.

Stay tuned for something a little different... on “Theological Pathologies Regarding Business”

It begins this way:

Today, I heard yet another story of a business person who came to the Lord in a dramatic way and has begun to think that they "need to leave business and go into ministry." When I hear it put that way it really disturbs me...

Finance and Operations.

"I wonder how many business people back home could come here for a week as a visiting executive or even as a teacher and make something simple for a Rwandan entrepreneur."

by Jason Benedict
RCE Strategist
 
This week our entrepreneurs here in Rwanda are studying Finance and Operations. Tonight we were giving them the skills they need to calculate their startup capital needs. As I was preparing for tonight’s session, I decided I would need a white board for some of the things I was going to teach. I called the building manager in our building to see if they had one we could use this evening, but “We have some but they are all being used – I might be able to find you a flip chart easel – I will get back with you.” In the meantime I decided that it wouldn’t be a bad thing to just have one in our center, so I went into town to see if I could buy a white board (dry erase board).


I looked in a couple of places and finally found a store that had one in the back; it was about 3’ x 4’. The price? $200 USD. Well, I decided to keep looking, so before long I found one in another store. This one was about 20 x 30 inches and they wanted $115.00 for it. Needless to say I returned home empty-handed save for a business idea – one of our students should look into importing whiteboards.

Class went well tonight – they did find a flip chart easel for me. A few of the students groaned a bit: finance does that to some people. Overall, though, they were very engaged and excited to learn the subject so they can apply it to their own business. One of our graduates came to class tonight, and asked, “Hey did we study this? – I don’t remember this exercise.” I told him, “We were learning what to do with your class; this is [an example of] continuous improvement.” He went on to tell me that he overheard one of the current students say, “Hey this is some of the best stuff we have learned so far.”

Last night another student told me, “This is so helpful. I have always been intimidated by this, but you are helping me see that it is simple.”

I wonder how many business people back home could come here for a week as a visiting executive or even as a teacher and make something simple for a Rwandan entrepreneur.

Visitors

Our Cluster Map is about to receive its annual spring cleaning, so I thought I'd post the current maps showing where our visitors are from.

It's a little easier to identify the country of origin on the second map.

Progress

by Jason Benedict
RCE Strategist

I spent some time this morning orienting our visiting executive, and it made me remember some of the reasons that Rwanda is so strategic. I see in Rwanda the potential for it to become a template for what can be in Africa. Their anti-corruption measures are working, they are business friendly, crime is low, streets are clean, the people relatively united and highly motivated. As a country the momentum is moving in the right direction.

We typically include a visit to the Genocide memorial as part of our orientation for visiting executives. The memorial is a tremendously sobering place, and it is an effective way of telling the story of the genocide. However, the story of the genocide is only part of the story of Rwanda. The rest of the story – the story of change, positive momentum, and potential – is just as powerful.

Tonight in class I was encouraged by the progress that our entrepreneurs are making. We have a lot of work to do over the next couple of weeks, but progress has definitely been made. For example, we put one of the students in the hot seat and pummeled him with questions about operationalizing his business – to my delight I found that he was doing what it takes – he has been pre-selling to potential clients, he has been negotiating with potential employees, he is doing the kind of leg work necessary, moving from talking about the business to doing the business. He still has a ways to go, but he is teachable.

everything but the suitcase handle

by Jason Benedict, RCE Strategist
27 March 2011

I made it to Kigali, Rwanda safe and sound – I am so thankful that Ethiopian Air now has a 777:  we no longer need to stop in Rome and refuel, so the flight is direct from Washington DC to Addis Ababa – this makes the trip over much less arduous. At baggage claim I discovered that the handle had been ripped off my large suitcase, but everything else was intact. It was great to be greeted at the Airport by familiar and smiling faces, and cool weather (in the mid 60’s). It is much too cool for Rwandan taste, but suits me just fine.

I had dinner tonight with Gary Dutlow an ICCC member and visiting executive from South Africa. Gary has been running an engineering firm near Durban for the last 23 years. I am looking forward to a good week with our entrepreneurs. The BDC creates so many great opportunities for us to leverage the impact of Kingdom business professionals like Gary. I wonder how many Christian business people are longing for opportunities to use their skills and knowledge to make a significant impact in places like Rwanda – each BDC we start will create opportunities galore.

One of the greatest opportunities we have here is to forge long term relationships. We know that transformation is happening through our programs: training, seminars, peer groups, mentoring sessions, etc., but a lot of transformation happens organically through relationships. For example, I remember spending a couple of hours last fall with Olivier – he poured out his heart and vision – I shared mine. He had deep questions about doing business in a way that pleased God – we spent time in the Word together. Next weekend I will be attending Olivier’s wedding here in Kigali.

Busy comings and goings

About a week ago, Dr Mulford got back from Rwanda after a little delay which left him in Kigali an extra day.

Between jet lag, meetings, catching up on work and home life here in Virginia, and a conference in Atlanta, it has been quite busy around here!

Today, Dr Mulford and Jason have been busy discussing Jason's upcoming trip to Rwanda--he leaves at the end of this week (and we'll be hearing more from him soon!). They are working on the curriculum and other items on a long to-do list.

I have been pulling out receipts and going through files so we can provide data and receipts related to 2010 expenses for our office in Kigali.



The current prayer request is for one of Jason's cars, which suddenly has been giving them trouble--of course, immediately preceding his departure for Africa. At least he has a little time to try and take care of it before leaving!

Lots going on here but not necessarily blog-worthy. ;) I do hope to have a wrap-up post from Dr Mulford on his recent trip soon.

Back at the ranch...

...it sure is a beautiful day here in Virginia Beach! The trees are full of flowers, the cloudless azure sky is bright and the sun is shining. Have a great week!

All photos on this page taken by Andrey Kovalev at Regent University.

Looking for prayer partners

Some of our recent graduates from the Rwanda Business Development Center are looking for partners to support them through prayer as they move forward with starting their businesses.

Some of the graduates from the first cohort of the BDC,
after receiving their certificates (December 2010)

Please contact the Center (send a note to Skye:  sganbaatar [at] regent [dot] edu) if you would like to be matched with a BDC grad who will greatly appreciate your prayer support and encouragement!

This picture shows about half of the students from the first cohort,
after a seminar taught by Regent alum Andrew Root (on far left).

Pray for Japan













Help Japan by James White
http://signalnoise.bigcartel.com/product/help-japan

Operation Blessing is already on the ground and providing relief.  Read more on their blog or give.
You can find a NY Times list of some other organizations helping in Japan here, and can search for aid organizations here.

A live blog with news from AlertNet, Reuters and aid agencies can be found here.

A picture is worth...

 Scenes from Kigali, Rwanda

Kigali International Airport

  

Union Trade Centre is the center of downtown. 
It has stores, Bourbon Coffee, banks, and
Nakumatt, Kenya's version of Wal-mart

 

Solace Ministries:  the tall building has the dining room on the
ground floor and rooms above.  The building in the foreground
has offices, a worship center and our several rooms for guests.

John, Jason and our other partners stay at the Solace Guesthouse when they are in Kigali working with the Business Development Center.

Worship team at Solace Ministries' church service

Guests from Wisconsin at Solace worship

John Mulford (center) with Dan O’Bryan and Gordon Schrank,
Chick fil A operators visiting the BDC to teach, advise, & consult

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Solace Ministries was established in 1995 as a way to comfort widows and orphans who had endured the great tragedies of the 1994 genocide in which over 1 million people were murdered.

Meanwhile, in Kenya



Jeremiah and Ruth Koshal

by Skye Ganbaatar 

Our colleague in Kenya, Dr Jeremiah Koshal, emailed Saturday. He and his wife are living in Nairobi, Kenya. One of the projects Jeremiah is now focusing on is a small tended camp that he and his brother-in-law started, called Oldarpoi Mara Community Camp.

Here's the link:  http://oldarpoimaracamp.com/. They've been featured in the New York Times, and are affiliated with the I See Maasai Development Initiative (ISMDI).

From the Oldarpoi Mara Camp website:

Oldarpoi Mara Community Camp pursues transformational development, socially and economically among the local Maasai communities, helping them become self-reliant and self-sustaining communities through profitable eco-tourism activities.

Oldarpoi Mara Community Camp is affiliated to I See Maasa Development Initiative (ISMDI). This is an organizationn whose missiion is to empower the Maasai economicallby advocating for education and by leading a campaign to eradicate such practices as female genital mutilation (FGM).

Oldarpoi and ISMDI are committed to pursuing holistic development projects, where jobs are created and local income generated; healthcare and education programs are initiated; environment is preserved; harmful traditional practices are discouraged; and clean water is made available to all.

ISMDI on the other hand, handles the accruing profits, by plowing it into sustainable development projects in the community.

Stay tuned for more on this project!

Back home

Dr John Mulford returned home yesterday afternoon (Monday March 14). We'll post an update from the last few days of his time in Kigali, Rwanda soon!

Trying to get home

(note: it's Monday 3/14 now, and Dr Mulford has safely arrived... in DC. Please pray he can get on a flight to Norfolk soon!)

by Dr. John Mulford, Kigali
Sunday

I missed my flight yesterday. I have to wait for the Ethiopian Airlines office to open this morning to see if I can get the same flights today.

Had some great meetings yesterday. Unfortunately, I was in meetings when I should have been at the airport.
Solace (guesthouse) said they were full when I called to get a room last night. Fortunately, they found one for me.

Hope to get home Monday and be in the office Tuesday.

Jana Harp Dean, Regent's March 2011 World Changer

Jana Harp Dean ’97 (Psychology & Counseling) is using her Master’s in Community Counseling from Regent University to change the lives of impoverished women in Central Asia, China, India, and elsewhere. Her nonprofit organization, OneMaker, provides jewelry-making training and literacy courses so women can earn a fair wage in a safe working environment. Jana also uses what she’s learned from working in a hostile, war-torn country to offer coaching and consulting services to other groups seeking to help women in developing countries.

Read Jana's blog

"Eat Mor Chiken" :)

Class was fun tonight. Students responded well to Gordon and Dan (Chick-fil-A operators) and had lots of questions. Many signed up for one-on-ones with them throughout the week. Dan had taken pictures of billboards and other signs around Kigali. This provided some interesting discussion on advertising messages and look and feel. When they understood the message of Chick fil A’s ads “Eat Mor Chiken”, they laughed loudly.

Dan O’Bryan and Gordon Schrank, Chick fil A operators visiting the BDC to teach, advise, consult

MTN is Rwanda's bigest cell phone company. 

Other notes:

1. Had a relaxing Sunday with Gordon and Dan. Nice brunch by the pool at the hotel next to the guest house where we are staying. Then I took them to the Telecom House—we teach in the boardroom and have a small suite of offices on the 4th floor. They took several pictures from the decks on the sixth floor. Good 360 degree views of Kigali.

2. Monday morning started with a meeting at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) to discuss our agreement and their provision of a facility. Difficult meeting. They don’t have a facility that can accommodate our planned growth. They will present a written proposal on Thursday describing what they can provide.

3. Dona picked us up at Telecom House and we drove to UTC (center of town) so Gordon and Dan could change money. Then on to Mille Collines Hotel. Wanted to check on their quote for graduation venue and talk with HR about their customer service training needs. Instead, they had us speak the General Manager, who is from Netherlands. Quite an interesting, intense discussion. We told him that we wanted to discuss his training needs. He said he would never send his people out for training. He does it in house. He said he was hired to turn around a disorganized, poorly run hotel. His management philosophy is quite different from ours, so we didn’t pursue the training opportunity with him.

4. Met with Olivier Kamanzi, the deputy head of the Capital Markets Advisory Commission. Fascinating to hear him describe the opening of their capital market. The first public Rwandan company was listed Jan 31, 2011. He showed us the stock exchange trading floor, which consisted of two whiteboards—one for stocks and one for bonds. Black and red markers showed the trades that occurred today in the one stock. It was interesting to see the start of a financial market. They are already working on putting together the hardware, software and systems they will need for an electronic version of their manual system.

Update

(by Skye Ganbaatar)

Thankfully, the water is back on at the Mulford home in Suffolk, VA. After the water situation was fixed, the heat went out, but that's back on too. Never a dull moment!

Here's a picture of Dr Mulford teaching the first cohort of students in the Entrepreneurship Training course. We'll have another update from Kigali soon!

Saturday

by Dr John Mulford, Kigali, Rwanda

1. Had nice breakfast meeting with six Rwandans to help them with a company they are forming. I already knew four of them. It was fun hearing their vision and helping them think through a strategy.

2. Met with graduates from the class that graduated in December in order to organize peer mentoring groups. We formed three groups of 11-12 per group. We have three excellent group leaders—volunteers who graduated with the first class. (pictures show 2 of our graduates)

The purpose of the groups is to help each other succeed in business and in life. Members encourage, affirm, exhort and hold each other accountable as they launch and grow their businesses. They share knowledge, expertise and contacts. For example, a few people in each group have considerable expertise in information technology. Others are good marketers. They all have their own networks of contacts that they can share. For example, Dona got help determining the medical equipment he needs for his clinic from a doctor who is Ntare’s uncle.

It was so good to see everyone again. We have a special bond with the first graduating class. They were excited to see the beautiful classroom and our offices in such a high quality building.

3. Dona took me to Nakumatt (Rwanda’s Wal-Mart, but one hundredth the size) to buy groceries so I’d have something on hand for our visiting execs, who arrive tonight. One of them has severe food allergies—dairy, gluten, wheat, several spices, and some fruits and vegetables. I got a supply of fruits, nuts and apple juice so he would have something to snack on.

As I was leaving the store, a man approached me asking for help. This is quite common here, even more so with children. I usually ignore such requests, because many of the stories are untrue—just scams to get money. This time I felt I should help the man, so I reached into my bag of groceries and gave him some items. He was probably expecting money, but since he said he needed food for his child, I thought I would provide directly for the need he expressed. I had bought a small jar of mayonnaise for myself, but the man at the register said it was buy one, get one free. At first, I said I had no need for the second, but then I said OK, I’ll give it away. I gave it away (along with yogurt, juice, etc.) to the man who asked for help.

4. I was planning for an afternoon of rest when my phone rang. It was Naizaire, from Burundi. He as in Kigali overnight on his way to Goma (in Congo) for a business meeting. He is the President of the ICCC chapter in Burundi and on the international board of ICCC, so he is very interested in our progress in Rwanda for two reasons. First, from his international role, and second, because we are supposed to start a BDC in Burundi soon. He came by my apartment at the guest house for a long chat. It was interesting to hear about his work with a Development bank for Rwanda, Burundi and Congo. He also gave me some insights on the issues dealing with government officials—proper protocol, etc.

5. Dona picked me up to go to the airport for the arrival of two Chick fil A operators from Texas and New Mexico. Busiest I have seen the airport. They arrived on time. Dan was quite hungry, because he couldn’t eat the airline food. We had a nice dinner at Bourbon Coffee shop. They checked in and unpacked. We share a suite of 3-bedrooms and a living room. I was surprised that they had the energy to talk until almost midnight. Hope they sleep well. We have a busy week ahead.

A "situation" back at home in Suffolk, VA: no water...

by Dr. John Mulford 

 Meanwhile, in Rwanda... (Thursday March 3)

The students are making good progress on their business strategies and positioning. I pushed them to get evidence to back up their ideas. They aren’t used to finding major data sources that report on whole markets or industries, but they have been very good at talking with potential customers and businesses in their industry. We talked about analyzing direct competitors tonight, and many knew exactly who their competitors are.

I continue to walk the tightrope between being sensitive and encouraging (not my strongest suit) and asking challenging questions to make sure that the students have solid plans (I have no trouble doing this). I was concerned that I came down too hard on Mathilde the other night. Her business is home delivery of groceries. I told her that the concept was a huge failure in the U.S., costing the investors millions of dollars. I said she better triple check her assumptions and numbers, or look for another idea (Pretty low on the sensitivity meter).

Fortunately, Mathilde is an entrepreneur who isn’t easily discouraged.

Up with the sun again

by Dr John Mulford in Kigali, Rwanda

Wednesday 2 March

Drove to town so I could get my Tigo modem repaired. The Tigo rep was very tactful and helpful. He said I had inserted the Sim card in a way he had never seen.  It wasn’t easy to remove, but he did it, reinserted it correctly, and had me on my way in five minutes. Dona had gone to the bank, so I walked to Blues Café for the buffet. Two women sat at my table. When I told them what I was doing in Rwanda, one said “that is exactly the program for me.” She works at a bank. I invited her to our open house. She e-mailed me later to say she would come. I think I could recruit at least one [new student] a day just having lunch at Blues Café. It is close to many banks and office buildings.

Other items:
1. Up with the sun again—6:20. Two young Babson College grads came on their motorbikes for breakfast at Solace [guest house]. Ben just finished undergrad and Chris just finished a masters in Int’l business. Their undergrad dean chose them for a 2-yr post-grad fellowship funded with a $100K grant from a donor. They are the program managers of the Babson-Rwanda Entrepreneurship Center, sponsored by PSF (private sector federation), and headed by the undergrad dean back in the States. Seeing all these young, recent grads (Babson and Bridge2Rwanda) spending a year or two in Rwanda makes me think we are missing out—on manpower and enthusiasm—by not attracting Regent grads to do something similar.

From Rwanda: All in a Day's Work

by Dr John Mulford

Kigali, Rwanda

Another interesting and blessed day in Kigali. Everyone should have a chance to experience the adventure and joys of cross-cultural living, especially in such a beautiful and friendly place. One of my many laughs of the day was Marshall’s e-mail response to my request for his flight details. Referring to my Monday blog, he asked “shall we bring chairs?” He arrives with the Chick fil A team next week.

More from today:
 
 1. Nothing like a long day to ensure sleep—slept deeply but not long enough. Up at 6:30 a.m. with the sun. Found my phone is dead. Charger not working. Put it on the To Do list for today. Later, in town, took three stores to find one. Man at Kiosk hooked my phone up to show me it was charging. When I asked how much, he said free. He thought I only wanted a charge, not the charger. Still, his price was less than half what I paid for one that broke in three months of usage in the Fall.

2. Working with Chrystel, made several long To Do lists for her. I don’t know where she’ll find the time to do all of them, especially since she became my chauffeur today.

3. Chrystel and I met with marketing managers of two hotels—Lemigo and Mille Collines—looking for graduation venue. Asked each of them to consider donating part of the bill as a sponsorship. I told them we would have press, top government officials, and key business leaders which would be great publicity for them. Got very different responses. Lemigo manager said they had plenty of business and attracted all the top business and government leaders already. Said they hadn’t done any sponsorships (only opened in Sep) and weren’t interested in starting. Mille Collines manager said no problem. They would probably donate the hors d’oeuvres.

I mention the difference because it reminded me of the responses we got when I asked vendors to sponsor the Business Plan Competition. The accountant said sure, a good idea. The lawyer said he couldn’t see the benefit, but did it out of duty as an ICCC member. The interesting similarity is that the ones who saw the benefit were both Kenyans, while those who didn’t see a benefit were Rwandans. Dangerous to generalize from a sample of two, but Kenyans are known throughout East Africa as top business people. It is difficult to negotiate a win-win when the other party doesn’t see the win for his side.

4. Communicating in Rwanda. I have avoided texting on my cell phone in the U.S. without noticeable problems. Not so in Rwanda. People don’t answer their phones and they don’t have voicemail. I tried phoning someone to set up a meeting. No answer. I texted him (too cryptic a message because of my slow fingers and the old style keyboard). He immediately texted back suggesting that I meet with someone else in his organization. I really needed to see him. May have to be a two-step process.

Next, I couldn’t find a phone number that worked for the American ambassador’s office or for USAID. So, Chrystel drove me to the embassy. Good thing she was with me. She was able to explain why we were there to the guards. Then a comedy as guards called various offices and either had an easy time communicating if the person who answered was Rwandese or a hard time if American. Got an appointment with economic development officer.

5. Weather has been quite hot for Kigali. Everyone complaining of the heat. I like it after a cold winter at home. The nights are cool, so good sleeping weather.

6. Several students arrived for class 10-30 minutes early. More than half there by official start time. Unheard of with our first cohort. Had fun playing the name game, where everyone chooses a nickname beginning with same letter as first name. They had already done this with Jason. I did it so I could learn names. Mathilda changed her nickname from “mature” to “magnificent”. She said her husband didn’t like the first nickname she chose. Several in the group teased her by using both nicknames. Much laughter and playfulness in this group.

Whenever I asked for examples from Rwanda, students used their own business ideas. Shows they are really focusing. That’s good. This group really follows the material and is visibly engaged in the discussion. Many good comments and questions.

Had quite the juggling act during class. Dona came up at break and said his daughter is applying to Regent Undergrad. Application deadline is today and requires $50 application fee. Could he give me cash and I pay Regent. I couldn’t leave class and our Internet was down, so I gave him my credit card to use upstairs where Internet was working. He reappeared in the middle of my presentation with a note: Home address and telephone number needed. I nonchalantly filled it out and gave it back to him without stopping my presentation. You may wonder why I would accommodate this request in the middle of class. You wouldn’t wonder if you knew all that Dona has sacrificed for our program. Once when our wired funds were a few days late, Dona deposited $170 of his personal funds so we could pay our taxes.

7. Rushed back to Solace after class to skype with Gerhard in Germany only to find that Solace wireless was down to “very low” signal. After 4 or 5 dropped calls, we gave up. I tried to install a Tigo cell modem, but this technologically and manually challenged user messed something up (sim card now stuck in modem and probably in backwards), so Tigo is no go until I get help tomorrow.

Research Experience: Orphanage Models

by Hanisha Besant

The current project that I am working on for RCE is on researching orphanage models that provide tools to help orphans survive the “after life” of being in an orphanage as a child. The project was inspired by a partnering organization that facilitates orphanages over-seas. Several disheartening reports from devoted employees at the orphanages were enough to indicate that the orphans seldom fare well when faced with the freedom of adulthood. In this case, the lack of emotional attachment and family support into adulthood seemed to be the root cause of the problem. So, plans are being made to develop an orphanage model which will help overcome these issues.
My journey into cyberspace with the intent of researching this subject was an interesting one. I came across a document which revealed the different types of orphanages that have existed throughout history. To my amusement, I discovered that the original use of the word asylum was for “a place of refuge” founded by hospitals to rear infants who were orphans. By the 19th and 20th centuries, an asylum became known as a place for the mentally challenged.

My readings then led me to an article about the Magdalene Sisters. These “orphanages” were designed for young girls who were promiscuous or had perceived character flaws and were an object of shame to their family. It seemed that the people in authority were given a mandate to break the spirit of the girls because of their perceived innate wickedness. The horror stories of the residents of these orphanages, and their survivors, were disturbing and left me sad for the rest of the day (no exaggeration). This was not the first time I had come across stories of the shameful ways in which orphans were treated throughout history, but the fact that these orphanages were designed on distorted religious doctrines grieved me deeply.

On a more relevant note, as my research became more fine-tuned, I discovered that there were orphanages scattered across Africa which focused on helping orphans become self-sufficient. This was a breath of fresh air to my soul! These orphanages focused of providing skill sets and lifelong mentors/care givers to the orphans. I have not yet discovered the recorded success of these orphanages. My research thus continues…

First day of class*

from Dr John Mulford in Rwanda
(note: subsequent updates are expected to be briefer) ;)
*This is the first day of class for Dr Mulford, but students began the course on January 31st with Jason Benedict teaching the first 2 weeks of the curriculum.

Mon, Feb 28, 2011

1. Up at 3:30 a.m. Must have slept too much over the weekend. Surprised Leigh Ann (my wife) by skyping her so early my time (7 hrs later there). Plenty to do with class planning, Center planning, etc.

2. First one to arrive for breakfast. Warm greetings from Jean Marie—the full hug with heads touching on alternate sides three times, followed by intricate handshake (think secret pledge handshake). He made a delicious omelet for me.

3. Met Chrystel at our new office—4th floor Telecom House.

• Our stuff was there minus our desk chair—RIAM wouldn’t let Dona take it, because they couldn’t locate it on their inventory. One more hassle to overcome. [Now it is evening and Dona was able to get the chair, PTL!]
• Having no chairs, called building manager to ask to borrow, but he was busy.
• That led to our going to elevator to check classroom in basement. Much to my surprise, the wing opposite ours is occupied by Bridge2Rwanda (Dale Dawson, the founder, is a friend). Their ops director said they want to serve as in-country base for organizations that want to send teams, invest, etc. They are coordinating trips for Stanford, Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, etc. They will offer college entrance exam—SAT, GRE, GMAT, TOEFL—prep courses. Also have a tourism/marketer who will arrange in-country logistics for any team that wants to come. They have five sharp Americans working in the suite. All that to say that they lent us three chairs. Nice to have friendly neighbors engaged in similar work.
• Classroom in basement is big improvement over past spaces; however, not ideal for group work. Set up in tiered seating with fancy desks, microphone on each desk, big chairs—for Rwanda Senate to use for some meetings. Does have A/C, good lighting, plus two big photographer floodlights on stands, which light it up for video recording. We had to rearrange seating to get 32 in front of the speaker—has a big stage with desks, kind of like Moot Court. Hope we don’t have to do that every night.

4. Dona arrived at Telecom House. We worked out peer mentoring groups. Tried to get personalities, gender, and industry mix the best we could. Plan to meet the group as a whole Sat morning for a pep talk; then have them assemble in their groups and plan for further meetings on their own.

5. Met Franklin, Marketing Mgr Rwandatel, at lunch. He just happened to sit at the table Dona and I occupied at Blues Cafe. Had a nice talk about data services. He said Rwandatel has about 200MB connection to outside world (120 fiber from Uganda and Burundi; 80 MB satellite). Said Satellite cost (to Rwandatel) is about $1000/mo. per MB bandwidth, and falling. Wouldn’t tell fiber cost because once the fiber is laid, cost is so low they don’t want users to know it. He said they charge about $3,500/mo for 1 MB line, but that prices will drop fast. Franklin said he was interested in our program. Wants to start his own business. I invited him to visit class.

6. Paul Kayoboke, our contact at Rwanda Development Board, e-mailed asking for meeting to draft formal agreement on the space they provide for our Center in Rwanda. I’ll be glad to get that completed. We have been in limbo too long.

7. Last minute prep for class. Still no Internet, which is a problem, since half the class involves using it.

8. Carine, “Encourager” award winner from Cohort 1, called to invite Dona and me to breakfast at her house on Friday.

9. Arrived to set up for class at 5:15. Room being used by bldg mgr for meeting w housekeeping staff. He finished in five minutes. Gave me chance to meet him. Very friendly and welcoming. Asked if we had everything we needed. Said he’d take a picture of our chair arrangement and reset each evening if others moved them during day meetings. He made sure the IT person fixed the wireless internet in the classroom. He had a table set up so I could use projector. Very nice, big screen. Really looks sharp. Only problem: two lights just over screen put glare on it. He said he’d have those two bulbs removed tomorrow. He gave us keys to both inside and outside doors, so we can have the students enter directly from the parking lot thus avoiding delays through security in the lobby. What a refreshing change from our treatment in other facilities.

10. Class went great.

Fancy technology in the room is nice, but a mixed blessing. Every student has a microphone, so we can hear them. But I want them to learn to speak up. One cool thing. They don’t have to raise hands; just press their button and a red light on the neck of the mic lights up. I told them they should think “SFB classroom” (Jason taught first two weeks in this less-than-ideal environment) when they get their first space and furniture. This room is much too plush for start-up entrepreneurs. They laughed, but also nodded agreement.

Students introduced themselves and their business ideas. Heartbreaking to hear how many lost family members in genocide. One man said he was lastborn of 8 children, and the only survivor of his family. As a result, many have deep passion for helping orphans/survivors and helping their country in general.

Very diverse group in terms of backgrounds and business ideas. Many businesses similar to Cohort 1—pigs, poultry, added goats; consulting; doing business in Rwanda portal; Christian school. Not as many in health care or IT. I only got a glimpse of their ideas. I’ll know more by the end of the week.

Students remember lots of what was covered in first two weeks—well done Jason! They were very good on values, purpose of business, and loved the life purpose topic. I sensed that we have a more highly educated group. Now, we’ll see if that translates into stronger entrepreneurs.

11. 11:30 p.m. Handling a bunch of e-mails, finishing this blog and then off to bed. E-mail from Chick fil A guys says they are psyched. They can’t wait for Sat. arrival.

Kyrgyzstan: Civil Society Flexes Strength in Orphanage Row

Originally published by Eurasianet.org
February 22, 2011 - 11:02am, by Chris Rickleton

Children take an afternoon nap at Bishkek's Shining Path children's shelter for orphans. A backlash against plans to close this, one of Bishkek's most successful orphanages, has ensured the it will stay open, at least for the foreseeable future. (Photo: David Trilling)

On a bright winter’s day in Bishkek, a group of children play in the front yard of the Shining Path shelter, a home to orphans and young people from broken backgrounds. “Take the guests to mother,” a nurse instructs Daniyar, 6, who is swinging on the monkey bars. The guide leads the way through colorfully painted corridors to the office of Valentina Kochetkova, the shelter’s director.

“Here we are one big family,” Kochetkova says. “Russian, Dungan, Kyrgyz – the children don’t know the difference, and that’s how it should be.” The state-owned building, she explains, was first designated as an orphanage in the mid-1990s. Since then, the organization has thrived with a rent-free arrangement and substantial grants for maintenance, food, clothing and medication from foreign donors. More than 3,500 children -- many of whom grew from infancy to adolescence under Kochetkova’s watch -- have passed through Shining Path’s doors since 1996.

Yet this playful world was hurled into uncertainty in December when Bishkek city officials announced their intention to disperse the 56 children at the Shining Path facility and install a kindergarten in its place. Critics called the decision a misplaced attempt to address the ballooning kindergarten shortage in the city.

City officials say state-run kindergartens in the capital are operating at 40 percent over capacity. The problem is exacerbated by the steady influx of migrant families from the country’s regions and the privatization of formerly state-owned buildings that could have been converted into kindergartens. Given budget challenges, children’s shelters, which aren’t a source of profit for the state, are easy targets for conversion.

“At the end of November last year, a representative of the mayor’s office invited me to City Hall and told me that the agreement regarding our free use of the building would be terminated on December 31, 2010, and that as of January 1, 2011, it would not be renewed,” Kochetkova explained. “Naturally we were extremely distressed at the thought of children in need of our help being redistributed amongst other children’s homes across the city, already themselves overcrowded.”

At present, roughly 20,000 children attend 78 kindergartens in Bishkek, says Ainagul Malikovna, director of the city Education Department. “At full capacity, these kindergartens should accommodate no more than 12,500 children,” Malikovna said, adding that another 1,500 children were on waiting lists.

For Anna Zakharchenko, a single mother, the mathematics of life creates a painful dilemma. “Ideally I would like my child to attend a private nursery, as the state nurseries are overcrowded,” she says. But unable to afford the fees on her part-time job, she waits for a spot at the local state nursery, which charges $65 per month. She has waited six months so far. It’s a vicious cycle. Until her son, who is two-and-a-half, starts nursery, “I can’t take up full-time work. Some skip the lists with gratuity payments, but on a part-time salary I can’t afford those either.”

The story of the Shining Path facility would probably not have had a happy ending just a few years ago. But things are different now – even amid the prevailing economic uncertainty. In the aftermath of Kyrgyzstan’s political overhaul, featuring the switch to a parliamentary form of government, civil rights organizations have forged relationships with emboldened MPs. This alliance has made it easier to identify causes, conflicts and municipal shortcomings – and to rectify them.

In the case of the Shining Path orphanage, Shirin Aitmatova, an MP in the opposition Ata-Meken faction, proved instrumental in getting city officials to reverse course. Aitmatova first called attention to City Hall’s designs on the Shining Path site, aiming to produce pressure in opposition to the conversion. “Isa Omurkulov, as mayor of Bishkek, encroached on children. He wants to take a shelter away from orphans,” Aitmatova told parliament on February 3.

Others, such as Nazgul Turdubekova, who heads the Child Rights Defenders’ League, a non-governmental organization, argued that the mayor’s office “chose to try and evict these children to create space for children from functioning families,” thus displaying a “fundamental misunderstanding” of the state’s responsibility to children on the margins of society.

 Aitmatova and Turdubekova were able to generate media coverage that exposed kindergarten and orphanage shortages and framed a seemingly local issue in the context of a national debate. All the public attention induced Mayor Omurkulov to issue a verbal promise that the shelter would remain operational for the foreseeable future. Shining Path’s Kochetkova described Aitmatova’s contribution to saving the shelter as “indispensable.”

For now, the orphanage looks safe. Rather than evict children from Shining Path and other homes, Malikovna from the city education department told EurasiaNet.org, “Municipal buildings rented to different organizations will be returned [to the government] for the purpose of creating new kindergartens.” Since the controversy began, “we have created space for 280 more children.”

Editor's note: Chris Rickleton is a Bishkek-based journalist.
Originally published by Eurasianet.org (http://www.eurasianet.org/).