- raised $50,00
- Goal $50,00
Unbound Giving
EXPERIENTIAL GIVING IN RWANDA
SEPTEMBER 2021 / NEWS
Travelers who experience the amazing gorilla trekking in Rwanda sometimes find themselves wondering what else to do while visiting the volcanic landscapes where options are limited to nature walks, bike rides, and the like. The DreamMaker relishes this kind of challenge.
In September, we designed an “Experiential Giving” activity for a family from Texas, who began their day during their Rwandan adventure with a drive to a local village. Here they witnessed an impromptu demonstration of Procter & Gamble’s miracle water purification packets provided through DreamTrust, cleaning a gallon of water that would normally come close to killing a bull. Before everyone’s disbelieving eyes, the water turned to perfectly clear all the way through, parasite- and bacteria-free drinking water; something the villagers would have to walk 30 minutes to procure every day. We then delighted the amazed onlookers with a supply of packets they can save for the days that leave them without water.
Converting mud into water was the easy part. Now, how do you get vacationers on their knees to plant trees? Experientiality designed what we called our “fruit tree ambush” – the family was taken to visit random houses bearing gifts of “imishanana”(ceremonial dress) for the ladies of the house, a dress shirt for their husbands and pastries from the city for the children. Not a bad start.
As the homeowners began to process as to why there’s 20 Rwandan workers holding shovels in their yard, not to mention a Westerner with big grins asking permission to plant fruit trees in their yard, it became clear these are not debt collectors. After the initial shock wore off, the family pointed to their soon-to-be garden of fruit trees and after 30 minutes of laughs, the family was off to the next “ambush”.
Making families and our hosts smile, while making a difference. Experiential Giving through The House of DreamMaker — Unbound Amazement…for everyone.
