Issue link: http://latinschool.uberflip.com/i/510699
latin magazine » spring 2015 11 the first Latin group went to work at the camp. Over the years, support for Latin in Rwanda has grown significantly, thanks to the fundraising efforts of current students, alumni of the program and their families. A second summer camp has been established in a rural area about 30 minutes outside of Kigali as well as a winter camp (in which Latin students do not participate). Being small, the program has remained flexible, able to evolve with the changing needs of Rwandans. rough the work of groups like WE-ACTx and a major campaign by the Rwandan government, the number of new cases of HIV/AIDS has declined radically. Fewer young children are likely to need the services of WE-ACTx in the future, and Latin in Rwanda has responded by turning its attention to an older group of counselors, providing them with educational and career opportunities. e program is providing college support for one counselor, assisted another in receiving training to become a certified yoga instructor and helped two others complete their high school educations. "is is not just a two-week thing each summer," said Dorer Fitzpatrick. "Our students really think about ways that we can support the efforts that help to change lives over the long term." In the end, it all comes down to relationships. Once the Rwandans saw the students' commitment and their open-heartedness toward a class of people who continue to be stigmatized in Rwanda, they fully embraced them. When Prentiss Koldyke '11 arrived in Rwanda during the summer of 2010, she almost immediately struck up a friendship with Jean De Dieu, or Jon Jon, the man who had been assigned to drive the Latin group during its time in Kigali. Over two weeks of daily bus rides, Koldyke learned about De Dieu's life, work and family. Eventually he invited the group to his home to meet his pregnant wife and son. A few months after she returned to the United States, Koldyke received a call from an unrecognizable number. She was surprised to hear De Dieu on the other end informing her that a baby girl had been born and that he very much wanted Koldyke to be the child's godmother. Today Koldyke exchanges photos and letters with the family, and every summer when a Latin group is heading to Rwanda, she sends along gifts for her goddaughter, who is known as Prentiss to all. "Jon Jon still calls me at least once a month, and I look forward to talking with him every single time," Koldyke said. "He now has four children and they are all healthy and living happily in Kigali." She hopes one day to return to Rwanda to see her new extended family, and especially to meet her namesake in person. News & Notes Rwanda is a second home to me now, and the people there are my family." – Lynden Lee '13 Opposite page and this page: Latin students forge close bonds with the Rwandan children and volunteers with whom they work. 11 latin magazine » spring 2015