Columbus Zoo and
Partners In Conservation
The Columbus Zoo and Partners In Conservation have been our main and leading donor since the UCC opened in 2006. In addition to the construction of our main center, they continue to fund the center’s operating expenses, including special projects that improve the quality of services that we offer to our beneficiaries.
Congregation B’nai B’rith
Since 2010, Congregation B’nai B’rith (CBB) together with the Santa Barbara community, has been the main donor and supporter for our inclusive pre-school and primary school. They have helped us realize our long-time dream to start an inclusive school. Since the construction of our pre-school facility in 2010, they continue to support our school in different ways: school supplies and other needs, especially school books, sponsoring children with special needs, supporting our school staff, and so much more.
The Kramer/Celeste family
After the construction of our pre-school was completed in 2012, our inclusive education dream was not yet realized. We needed additional classrooms so that the inclusive education for our children could start in our pre-school and continue through Primary 6. Nancy Kramer’s visit to the UCC in 2013 was such a blessing because her family decided to fund the construction of our primary school! The family continues to support various UCC programs.
The Edwards families
Once the construction of the inclusive school was finished, children with disabilities faced a huge challenge to reach our facility as most of them were unable to walk to school. This family funded the purchase of a bus to transport these students. They continue to fund the operating expenses for the bus that has to travel the bumpy, unpaved roads to transport these students. They also support the salaries of our physiotherapy services staff and support advanced medical treatment for at least six individuals who need surgeries and prosthetics.
National Commission for Children and the National Council for People with Disability
The government of Rwanda through the National Commission for Children (NCC), National Council for People with Disability (NCPD), and Rubavu District have been very supportive of our daily activities and programs. In addition to their annual support that is used to provide health insurance for children with disabilities and education support, they have provided the land that was used for school construction and a vehicle that we use for our outreach programs. They have also provided a plot of land where we hope to expand our activities to other parts of Rubavu District. The support of these government agencies encourages and facilitates our community sensitization and awareness activities for people with disabilities.
As a member of the Joint Action Development Forum (JADF), we have opportunities to connect and partner with other organizations, both local and international, who share our same mission.
The Point Foundation
A Better World Canada
A Better World Canada began partnering with the UCC by supporting medical treatment for beneficiaries who were unable to afford these services. In 2018, A Better World Canada funded the construction of our physiotherapy facility and the necessary equipment. A Better World Canada continues to support our physiotherapy services.
Rwandan Futures
Rwandan Futures has been working in partnership with the UCC since 2016 and currently partners with the UCC to implement three programmes: Inclusive Futures, UCC Mwogo and UCC Craft Business Development. Inclusive Futures involves working in partnership with 22 schools and 4 technical and vocational education and training institutions to enable 52 children and young adults with disabilities to receive an education that meets their individual needs and abilities. This includes the provision of medical support and prosthetic and other assistive devices. 25 of these children and young adult’s families have been supported to start up small income generation activities and businesses, as have 16 young adults with disabilities who have recently left school or training.
Rwandan Futures has recently begun to support the UCC to purchase land and build a new branch of the UCC in Mwogo Sector, Bugesera District and also to help the UCC to develop its Rwandan craft production and business programme.
The Woodburn family
Due to increasing community demand for students to attend House of Children School, our classrooms were over-capacity. We needed additional rooms to reduce the number of children in some classes. The Woodburn family funded the construction of two ‘smart classrooms’ that are used for students in Primary 5.
Robin and John Klein, Janice and Marshall Harrington Knopf, and friends from the Jersey Shore
Each year this group of friends organizes a fundraising event for UCC programs, especially to support our skills program. This support includes sponsoring our Skills Training department, providing lunch for our students, and training supplies as they learn tailoring and sewing, knitting, or handicraft skills.
Rwanda Union for the Blind
Through the Rwanda Union for the Blind (RUB), vision impaired students from all over Rwanda arrive at the Ubumwe Community Center for vocational training and braille classes. RUB provides for the students’ basic needs, including meals and accommodation, while they receive training.
Canyon Hills Presbyterian Church
Canyon Hills Presbyterian Church supports various special projects for the Center each year. This support includes: school supplies, wheelchairs, and other assistive devices for our beneficiaries. In addition to that support, church members come to the Center each year to assist us through volunteer work.
Camphill Association of North America and Camphill Foundation
The Camphill Association of North America and Camphill Foundation have been very supportive during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have provided food to the families of our beneficiaries who could not work and earn a salary. They have also supported many of our staff, especially teachers at House of Children School who were not receiving their full salary when parents were unable to pay their children’s school fees.
Move Together
Move Together along with Dr. Cara Whalen-Smith and Jessica Burger provide key support to our physiotherapy and Community Based Rehabilitation programs. Through staff training, they have provided tools and techniques to improve the quality of our physiotherapy and rehabilitation programs. They also financially support some of the special projects in these programs,such as giving rabbits and chickens to beneficiaries also supporting their farming projects.
The Karl König Institute for Art, Science and Social Life
is a charitable organisation, registered in Berlin, Germany, with an office in North America and Scotland and linking to partners in other countries. It provides the legal basis for the work arising from the life and work of Dr. Karl König, founder of the Camphill Movement.
Its tasks are to co-ordinate the work of the Karl König Archive. Also Cultural, scientific and social initiatives that are in accordance with the anthroposophic and holistic intentions of Karl König are encouraged and supported.
The aims of the Karl König Institute are:
- publication of a comprehensive New Edition, making König‘s work available to the general public
- establishment of subject areas to cooperate with professionals internationally in the process of editing Karl König‘s Literary Estate in twelve thematic sections
- continuation of Karl König‘s research aims
- to initiate and support publications and events related to these research areas
- to encourage and implement international net-working and co-operation with initiatives and institutions following related aims.