The Taaluma Project

We are 12 Virginia Tech students participating in service learning in Eastern Africa for a month and we want to give back to the community partners. We are raising money for an initiative called Project Home which funds the construction of a home in the community, and supports the recipient family in several other ways, including furnishing their house, providing fees to support the children in school, and making food and water available to sustain life.

If we reach our goal, we will do a polar plunge in Lake Lugano in December!

We are a group of students from Virginia Tech and Roanoke College currently studying in Lugano, Switzerland. Our program, Linking Lives, focuses on social change and experiential learning.

In November, we are going on a journey to participate in a field study in Eastern Africa. We are extremely excited to participate in this journey to not only be of service for this community, but to also live and learn from locals. We will be helping teachers in classrooms by teaching students' different subjects such as English and music, as well as assisting these teachers in the classroom as needed.

We will also be helping to build a home for a family that the village of Ruli decides by fundraising. Project Home, as the initiative is called, will not only allow us to create a home for the family, but also pay for the children to go to school in Ruli and supply the family with food and water. The money raised through this GoFundMe will directly support the Project Home initiative for the family chosen.

If we reach our goal (or close enough to it!), we will record ourselves jumping into Lake Lugano for a polar plunge when we return to Switzerland in December! Thank you for supporting our cause and spreading the message.

On March 28, 2024, we are leaving for Rwanda to participate in a hands-on and interactive learning experience. We will be staying in Musha, Rwanda for 2 weeks learning from the culture and participating in projects that help serve Musha and the community.

Our study abroad program works with Project Home to provide reliable shelter, comfortable living spaces and home security. Other essentials such as school supplies and fees, safe water and food will also be provided for a full year so the family has all the resources needed to flourish within the community.

To raise money for Musha, Rwanda, our group of 11 Virginia Tech students will participate in a virtual 5k. Members participating have the opportunity to raise money for each mile they walk, and may also be given money from people who support the fundraiser.

Our group will proudly participate in Moving for Musha in hopes of raising money.

Hi friends and family,

We are a team of 11 enthusiastic Virginia Tech students embarking on a transformative journey to Ruli, Rwanda. Over the course of a month, we will be fully immersed in the village of Ruli as part of the renowned study abroad program, Linking Lives. This program has been empowering communities in Rwanda since 2014. In partnership with local NGOs, we collaborate each year to extend a helping hand to the welcoming communities. Our collective efforts have resulted in the construction of much-needed homes for families in Rilima, Nyamyumba, and Ruli, Rwanda. Through raising funds and working alongside local professionals, we aim to make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need.

One aspect of our trip will be partnering with Project Home to create a home for a community member in need. Project Home takes a holistic approach to not just building a house, but creating a home. The home we will create will provide a foundation and a safe place to create a future. Where a family can feel and be secure -- in heart, body, and mind. We will work with the local community to identify families in need, and then provide the resources essential to create a future that transforms hope into reality: establish and furnish a house, acquire fees to support the children in school, and obtain food and water available to sustain life.

With your support, we will be able to provide the means for families to live comfortably, offering them shelter, food, water, and essential school supplies. Your contribution, no matter how big or small, will make a significant difference. Every dollar will go directly towards Project Home in Ruli.

As Virginia Tech students, we embody the phrase Ut Prosim – “That I May Serve.” In two weeks a group of 11 students will travel to Rilima, Rwanda in partnership with the NGO Fondazione Marcegaglia Onlus (FMO). FMO’s goals are to ensure sustainable development, allocate resources, and to build a world where social disparities are reduced. We are studying abroad in Rilima, Rwanda to provide service to families struggling to provide time, resources, and creative outlets to their young children. With donations, we hope to build an afterschool program that promotes creativity in preschool aged children in Rilima by providing resources for parents to create engaging and sustainable after-school activities.

Any donations are greatly appreciated, thank you!