Welcome to the latest edition of our Ignite newsletter!
Exclusive updates and stories for our Monthly Ignite Community Partners, updating you on the work you’re supporting, the people you’re partnering with, and the lives you’re impacting.
Year of Anniversaries
2024 marks 20 years of transforming lives in Rwanda for Wellspring. None of this would be possible without you, our committed Ignite partners! Thank you for participating in this journey and making the past 20 years possible.
This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi. Rwandans worldwide will take this month to remember and honour the victims. Wellspring’s own Michelle Rugema shared some thoughts on this significant time:
April 7th, 2024, marked the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Over the course of 100 days, over one million men, women, and children were brutally tortured, slaughtered and killed. The genocide left behind countless orphans, widows, casualties, and a broken, traumatized nation. The education sector was one of the most impacted sectors, with very few qualified teachers left, most schools destroyed, and many students unable to return to school.
30 years later, Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa and is now seen as a shining model for truth and reconciliation, resilience, peace and security, and socio-economic development. Rwanda has risen out of the ashes and is a beacon of hope and light for the continent of Africa and the world. The remarkable stories of resilience, hope, strength, forgiveness, reconciliation, and determination are as numerous as the thousands of hills that make up this beautiful country. A big part of this turnaround is due to the investment in quality education. Wellspring is proud to serve in Rwanda and contribute to the country’s development and the continued development of the education sector through the advancement of holistic education.
Kwibuka, which means “to remember” in Kinyarwanda, is a period of remembrance and reflection that many Rwandans will take this April. During this entire commemoration period, we stand with our Rwandan friends and colleagues, as well as with the country of Rwanda, as we mourn the countless lives lost and reflect on the strength and resilience of the Rwandan people and all they have overcome.
Remember. Unite. Renew. #Kwibuka30.
Leadership Transition
2024 has already been a year of significant changes for Wellspring, as we said goodbye to our CEO, Kevin Dixon and welcomed interim CEO Karen McCullough in March. Karen had the opportunity to visit Rwanda last fall, and she came away inspired by the leadership role Wellspring is playing on Rwanda’s educational front, and deeply moved by the teachers and students she met while there. Watch the video below and listen in as Karen passionately shares insights gleaned on this trip.
Upcoming Events
20th Anniversary Edition
🎂 Lots to look forward to in the upcoming months! 🎉
20th Anniversary Celebrations
We celebrate 20 years of service this year – the best way we know how – with our partner community. Events will be held in both BC and Ontario, with special guests (including staff from Rwanda). Get your tickets now:
- BC 20th Anniversary – Riverway Clubhouse, Burnaby, BC – June 7th, 2024. Get Tickets.
- Ontario 20th Anniversary – Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton ON – May 26th, 2024. Get Tickets.
⭐ As well we are planning an exclusive virtual event for Ignite Partners in June. Keep your eyes peeled for more details because you won’t want to miss it. ⭐
Lake2Lake – 15th Anniversary – Registration is Open for our BC Ride
Another anniversary event is our annual L2L bicycle fundraiser, which is turning 15 this year! We want it to be the biggest and best yet. Early bird registration is now open for Sept 14-15, 2024. It is always a blast to join the group – whether you are a long-time participant or if it is your first time. Sign up today!
2024 Vision Trip
Registration is now open to join our trip to East Africa from Oct 24 to Nov 2, 2024. It will be a very special year seeing – in person – where it all began and how far Wellspring has come in the past 20 years! Sign up here: https://thewellspringfoundation.org/trip/
Would you pray with us?
We would love for you to pray for our teams in Canada and Rwanda and for Wellspring’s ongoing work.
- Pray for effective collaboration as we talk with the Rwandan Education Board to provide social-emotional development for young teens in schools nationwide.
- Pray for our Rwandan team and the country as they commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Genocide against the Tutsi, that healing and reconciliation continue to be worked towards.
- Pray for Kevin Dixon as he transitions into a new area of leadership in the coming days.
- Pray for Wellspring’s Leadership during this time of transition. Pray for Karen McCullough, our Interim CEO. Please also pray for Libby Karangwa-Miles, Amina Bisamaza, Louise Loten, and Louise Reilly, who are assuming leadership responsibilities alongside Karen.