Inshuti of Rwanda is a nonprofit organization working in collaboration with Rwandans to meet urgent needs: shelter from the elements, jobs, and minimizing the risk of disease.
Our goal is to provide a foundation for the future to the families that dwell in these homes, giving them an opportunity to build their own lives once the fundamental need for shelter is met.
We have raised over $56,000 in the first four years of operation. To date, 100% of our funding has been spent on building homes; none were allocated for administration costs. Thanks to your generous contributions and the hard work of Rosa (Lauren Rose), Felix, and the rest of our team, we’ve built 17 new houses, completed the construction of four more, providing a foundation for the future of 21 different families.
To learn more about how Inshuti of Rwanda got started, read the story about our first house.
Lauren Rose’s 1st Trip to Rwanda
April 2011
Lauren Rose travels to Rwanda for the first time with the University of Florida, Arts in Medicine Program. She meets Felix, the program translator and falls in love with Rwanda. She sees a need, but doesn’t know yet how to help.
Lauren Rose Returns to Rwanda
November 2012
Honoring her initial impulse in 2011, Lauren Rose returns to Rwanda and volunteers for Rwanda Sustainable Families, a micro-loan organization. During this trip she and Felix conduct home visits to loan recipients.
Lauren Rose Becomes Rosa
November 2012
Lauren Rose notices people in Rwanda having a difficult time pronouncing and remembering her name. Felix suggests going by Rosa, a more common name.
Solome and Rosa Meet
November 2012
During a home visit Rosa meets Solome, and her family, who were living in a corrugated metal structure with a tarp roof. Walking home, Felix turns to Rosa and says, “You should come back next year and build them a house.”
A House for Solome
November 2012
Rosa decides to build a house for Solome even before she leaves Rwanda.
Rosa’s 3rd Trip to Rwanda
March 2014
Rosa raises $4,000 and returns to build Solome’s house. Felix & Rosa begin to learn how to build a house in Rwanda.
Inshuti is Unofficially Created
May 2014
When Rosa returns home she raises $9,500 in the hopes of building more homes. Inshuti of Rwanda was unofficially created.
Four Houses are Built
January 2015
Rosa and Felix assist in the construction of 4 homes. This year, the standard Inshuti house model was developed. They also visited Solome, one year after building her house, to find that she’d made it into a home. The children were clean, in school, happy and healthy.
Inshuti Becomes a Non-Profit
September 2015
Rosa decides that Inshuti needs to become official. A board of directors is created and 501(c)3 paperwork is filed.
The 2016 Build
February 2016
With $15,000 raised, Rosa returns to Rwanda and oversees the construction of 6 new homes. One year later, the 2015 families are happy, healthy and able to focus on their own futures.
New Beds for New Homes
March 2016
Exceeding the fundraising goal allowed us to provide beds, mattresses, bedding and mosquito nets for all our 2015 and 2016 families.
2017 Brainstorming
March 2016
Rosa and Felix, alongside local Rwandan officials, make plans for 2017 with the goal to raise $28,000 for the construction of 10 new houses.
Inshuti Website Launch
October 2016
During most of the summer, Scott and Rosa work at creating a website for Inshuti.
10 New Homes are Built
January 2017
What a successful year! Felix, Hussein and Rosa oversee the construction of 10 new homes for Inshuti families.
Cookware to Help Our Families
February 2017
In 2017, Inshuti added kitchen supplies to the list of things we stock in our new homes. Previously, women were cooking in pots with holes in them, as there was never enough money for new ones.
Collaboration with the Local Rwanda Government
February 2017
Inshuti and the local Rwandan government are teaming up to build two Umuryango Family Houses, housing eight families in total.
Our Most Successful Year Yet
February 2020
In 2020, we raised $36,000 which allowed us to build 11 standard Inshuti homes and two Umuryango Family homes. A total of 19 families were housed this year.
40 Families Housed !!!
March 2020
Inshuti of Rwanda has housed 40 families in five building seasons!! Stay tuned for more…